falling asleep and staying asleep

I have been on the cpap for a week. I had a horrible night last night. I couldn't fall asleep or stay asleep. I had to keep getting up to go to the bathroom and only slept in about 1hr intervels. I finally got up to take a simply sleep to take the edge off and it didn't work. How long is this going to last? Are the sleep habits that you develop hard to break? It seems like the patterns are not changing. I am worried that since I have developed such poor sleep patterns and habits (like getting up to go to the bathroom several times a night) that it will be hard to break these patterns. Any thoughts or experiences on this?

bam wrote:... How long is this going to last? Are the sleep habits that you develop hard to break? It seems like the patterns are not changing. I am worried that since I have developed such poor sleep patterns and habits (like getting up to go to the bathroom several times a night) that it will be hard to break these patterns. Any thoughts or experiences on this?

You are correct that it can take a long time to correct poor habits and patterns. Fortunately, you are a thinking person, who recognizes this might be an issue. THAT is the first step. You might want to review the various websites about sleep hygiene.You can even find some concise ideas such as at:

http://www.wramc.army.mil/Patients/heal ... ctions.pdf

But if the problem continues, do go back and talk with your doctor.

You may need some medication to help you fall asleep initially. That will help you stay awake for a while. As you readjust to normal breathing and better sleep habits you will find that you will sleep longer.

It is also possible your xPAP therapy is not meeting your needs. If you really need to go to the bathroom that frequently, you might still have some underlying problem (including continued apneas) that impact your ability to stay awake.

But yes. It can take a while to readjust. I know it's discouraging. I do understand the situation. But you will be able to reach better sleep with a little persistence.

You might try Melatonin.......available OTC at your local pharmacy.

Most seniors will probably encourage you to stick with it. I'm a newbie!

My sleep doc told me - day 1 try one hour, if no good, sleep without out. And continue with this for first few days, usually after a few days and one hour per night, you'll get used to it. And I think the doc mention getting 5-6 hours on cpap as the initial objective, then extending longer as one get acclimated.

Or do what I am doing now - I'm on week 4 of cpap therapy and still find it difficult to fall asleep with my nasal mask. Partly because I 'think' about what occurred during the day at work and home.....

Rather than fighting it, I go to sleep at normal bedtime (btwn 10:30-11 pm) and set alarm clock for mid-night. I then get up, slip on the mask and usually fall back to sleep within a few minutes (I have 10 minute ramp time). In my personal case, I get up a couple of times at night for brief bathroom room so falling back asleep never an issue. And I then wake up for good around 7:15 am - which is much later than my regular pre-cpap time of 6am. This procedure gives me about 7 hours on cpap.

Most people says it gets better over time, just be patient and don't stress out over it. Good luck!

I fought being hooked to a machine something awful--read this forum until my eyes crossed and decided to much info in the beginning can be a bad scary thing-so i got into sleepy time tea even thou the doc said on test to give me some hi powered sleeping pill at first--didnt want to go that route as i am a bull head and got to do it my way--started out slow and when they said make your room sleep friendly--well a little tv and watching the nanny or a funny show with timer before sleep worked-- but again it was not recommended for a sleep friendly room but works in mine---set my ramp to 45 min so i would be asleep when it kicked in at 12 %--since starting a month ago i have discovered the heated hose--made myself a pillow with cutout curves on sides for mask to rest in--have a elevated bed- and happy thoughts before laying head on pillow--i now find myself preaching the evils of not breathing to other folks and wish we had a good place for them to go to get help--this board is a God send so stick with it and all these wise folks--they are my sleep doctor---now i read this board like a bible

LSAT wrote:You might try Melatonin.......available OTC at your local pharmacy.

Make sure to just get the 1mg version...Melatonin in higher doses can cause other hormonal issues.

Also, ortho-molecular makes a product called natural ZZZZZZ's works great.

My sleep doc gave me ambien CR to take the edge off..I alternate the Ambien CR and the Natural ZZZZ's every other night when I need to take them.

Even just 1 mg of Melatonin leaves me hung over the next day.

riveredge1 wrote:read this forum until my eyes crossed and decided to much info in the beginning can be a bad scary thing

Amen to that