Wake up after 3 or 4 hours with CPAP and can't go back to sleep

[mason.smith1975]

Hi,

I have been on CPAP (ResMed AirCurve BiPAP Auto) with nasal pillow mask for only a few weeks, and I can say I'm pretty comfortable sleeping with now.

I have noticed over the last few nights that I tend to go to sleep fairly quickly (while it was a struggle when I started CPAP) but only stay asleep for 3 or 4 hours. I therefore wake up at 1am or 2am, quite refreshed and feeling well. However, I struggle to go back to sleep with or without the mask. I tried taking melatonin, l-theanine, valerian root, ashwagandha but none helps me stay asleep more than 3 or 4 hours. So I just lay in bed for a few hours before I could fall back to sleep again, which I think is a waste of time and I woke up more tired.

Is this usual?

I am assuming 3 or 4 hours is matching a sleep cycle? I tried going to bed later like 10pm, 11pm, 12am but ended up waking up around 2am, 3am, 4am respectively.

[LSAT]

Try Benadryl..they are OTC and they are cheap. Check with your doctor first.

[ragtopcircus]

Hi,

I have been on CPAP (ResMed AirCurve BiPAP Auto) with nasal pillow mask for only a few weeks, and I can say I'm pretty comfortable sleeping with now.

I have noticed over the last few nights that I tend to go to sleep fairly quickly (while it was a struggle when I started CPAP) but only stay asleep for 3 or 4 hours. I therefore wake up at 1am or 2am, quite refreshed and feeling well. However, I struggle to go back to sleep with or without the mask. I tried taking melatonin, l-theanine, valerian root, ashwagandha but none helps me stay asleep more than 3 or 4 hours. So I just lay in bed for a few hours before I could fall back to sleep again, which I think is a waste of time and I woke up more tired.

Is this usual?

I am assuming 3 or 4 hours is matching a sleep cycle? I tried going to bed later like 10pm, 11pm, 12am but ended up waking up around 2am, 3am, 4am respectively.

I struggle with this too. My sleep was very broken up for years with untreated apnea, so I suspect it is going to take a while to re-adapt to sleeping. I've been having some luck with using time-release melatonin (REMfresh 5mg). It isn't a total fix, but when I do wake up, I can usually get back to sleep quickly. I'm still only getting around 6 hours of sleep most nights, but that is an improvement.

[Miss Emerita]

I wonder what is waking you up? Any chance you could download the Oscar software and then post a chart or two? That might shed some light.

Oscar is here: https://www.sleepfiles.com/OSCAR/. Try reading the manual before you start on this. I didn’t, and I wish I had!

[mason.smith1975]

Try Benadryl..they are OTC and they are cheap. Check with your doctor first.

I have Benadryl at home, but I heard it sedates you and blocks deep sleep so you don't actually "sleep"

I struggle with this too. My sleep was very broken up for years with untreated apnea, so I suspect it is going to take a while to re-adapt to sleeping. I've been having some luck with using time-release melatonin (REMfresh 5mg). It isn't a total fix, but when I do wake up, I can usually get back to sleep quickly. I'm still only getting around 6 hours of sleep most nights, but that is an improvement.

I just bought slow-release melatonin on Amazon, it's arriving tomorrow. I'm gonna try that then.

I wonder what is waking you up? Any chance you could download the Oscar software and then post a chart or two? That might shed some light.

Oscar is here: https://www.sleepfiles.com/OSCAR/. Try reading the manual before you start on this. I didn’t, and I wish I had!

Attached are my past two nights. It looks normal to me, I don't know why I woke up refreshed.

[ragtopcircus]

We are so used to getting horrible sleep that a little bit of good sleep feels great! For a while ....

Others may be more qualified than me to say why you woke up. My point is just that if you were disturbed somehow after getting more sleep than you are used to, even if it isn’t enough, that little sit of Adrenalin may make you feel pretty good ... for a little while ....

[Bdre06]

My Capp will stay on for about 2 mins then it shuts off and starts beeping and stops.

[Miss Emerita]

MasonSmith1975, I don't see any clues in your charts either, though maybe one of the experts will. My one other thought is for you to zoom in (using Select and the Up arrow if you need a tighter zoom) to the time-span when you woke up and scroll back and forth to see if you notice anything.

It's hard to say whether this is just an adjustment phase; that is quite possible. In any case, the "sleep hygiene" protocols would say that if you can't get back to sleep within 20 minutes, you should get up and do something like read until you feel sleepy again.

It can't ever hurt to review these protocols:


Keep a consistent sleep schedule. Get up at the same time every day, even on weekends or during vacations.
Set a bedtime that is early enough for you to get at least 7 hours of sleep.
Don’t go to bed unless you are sleepy.
If you don’t fall asleep after 20 minutes, get out of bed.
Establish a relaxing bedtime routine.
Use your bed only for sleep and sex.
Make your bedroom quiet and relaxing. Keep the room at a comfortable, cool temperature.
Limit exposure to bright light in the evenings.
Turn off electronic devices at least 30 minutes before bedtime.
Don’t eat a large meal before bedtime. If you are hungry at night, eat a light, healthy snack.
Exercise regularly and maintain a healthy diet.
Avoid consuming caffeine in the late afternoon or evening.
Avoid consuming alcohol before bedtime.
Reduce your fluid intake before bedtime.

[mason.smith1975]

Hi everyone,

Thanks so much for your replies. Last night, I took 5mg melatonin and I got about 5 hours of non-stop sleep, then woke up and was able to fall back to sleep quickly. So that's a good sign. Though 5mg is a lot and it caused me drowsy and foggy during the next day. I ordered 300mcg slow-release melatonin on Amazon yesterday, and it arrives today so I'll try it tonight.

This is last night

Screen Shot 2019-10-31 at 10.56.53 AM.png (627.13 KiB) Viewed 20460 times

[Miss Emerita]

Fingers crossed!

[Brounmoney]

Just wanted to say good luck, and I am with you. Was on vacation the first part of the week, and I got some great sleep. Came back last night, and it was not nearly as great. Woke up several times, but went back to sleep. Still working on getting use to it all, but getting there slowly but surely. I haven't tried the time release melatonin, but I am going to give it a go. See if it helps. Stick with it though. It's worth it.

[mike291068]

Mason, I noticed you have been on here since 2013. Is this issue just coming up recently or have you been dealing with for a while? Hoping the former as I am brand new here and have similar issues. I wake up usually every 2 hours. In the past I always attributed my sleeping issues with anxiety and/or depression and had no clue I even had sleep apnea until recently. I am on my way to better sleep but have a long way to go.