OT - Maybe Insomnia

Here is a unique question for the panel - I usually suffer some insomnia and was wondering if the CPAP will help during an insomnia spell of maybe even prevent it(finger crossed!!).

Rich

Will cpap help insomnia?

It really depends on the source of the insomnia.

If significant sleep disordered breathing problems are triggering an unconscious (or conscious) dread of going to sleep or being asleep, then a properly adjusted CPAP that eliminates the breathing problems should allow one to be more comfortable in getting to sleep and staying asleep---if you don't have any problems adjusting to the machine in the form of aerophagia, mask discomfort, troublesome and annoying leaks, and so on and so forth.

But if the insomnia is caused by something other than SDB, I don't see how CPAP would make things any better. And it could make it worse since sleeping with a PAP is not exactly natural at the start.

Well if you "usually" suffer from insomnia then you have chronic insomnia, i.e. that happens regularly
which means that there is a cause which is keeping you up, so if you don't know what that cause it discover/treat it and insomnia will go away

As far as CPAP masks, they can increase your discomfort, especially if you are new to them and naturally less comfort = more insomnia
However, if you are used to CPAP masks already then there is no reason for them to worsen your insomnia

From what you have said the above is all I can say. I will put a notification to this thread, If you add more, I'll see if I can help more.

I suppose it depends on the cause of your insomnia. If it offers any consolation, my 16 year bout of insomnia is non existant on the nights that I have leak free mask.

Do you think you have OSA? CPAP won't do anything for you if you don't have OSA. BUT if you do have OSA, you should get on CPAP right away, no matter what. I and my doctors had great hopes that CPAP would help my insomnia. No such luck. I am getting even less sleep than before, but feel much more alert and have a much higher quality of life. OSA degrades one's quality of life, and it can kill. Insomnia or no insomnia, everyone with OSA should be on CPAP.