very unrested feeling

[dab]

Recently I posted very much dissapointment upon my initial cpap therapy, really appreciate everyones promp and caring feedback, as I found out I am not alone in my initial feeling of unrest and extreme lethargy. I am wondering ,however, about how long it might take for a little reprieve I understand that I may have built up a substantial sleep debt,but I'm afraid that if I keep feeling this horrible it is unrealistic to think I can keep up with my job responsibilities. I actually have been falling asleep with some trouble but I am managing staying asleep for about seven hrs. Any idea when I can expect things to improve slightly or is it completley different for everybody, please give me some feedback..... Also I have been waking up after about six hrs and taking the mask off and sleeping for an additional hr, is that a bad thing to do? Any feedback weould be greatly appreciated!

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[GoodnightHoser]

I have no advice for you as I am also a newbie (about 6 weeks) but I want to commend you on being able to leave your mask on for 6 or more hours at a time already. In six weeks I have never made it past 3:30 in the morning before I have to fling the thing off. (I go to bed at 11 and get up at 5:30). I figure the two hours of sleep I get before I have to get up is worth it. I just CAN'T get used to the mask, the noise, the leaking, my nose freezing (does anybody else get that?) I've tried nasal pillows and the new cradle cushion. Both leak every time I change position so I try to "freeze" in whatever position I'm not leaking in. Then I stare at the clock til I take it off so I can some sleep. I feel like bad sleep is better than no sleep. Sugar and caffeine keep me going... I know things will get better. (At least all you guys keep telling me that!) I guess I'm just in a whiney mood! I must be overTIRED!!! Good luck!!! All of us newbies have got to just hang in there.

[ColinP]

Sleeping at any time without the hose is risky. Your blood pressure goes through the roof when you have an apnea event, and your heart is under great strain. It can happen while you are having an extra hour in the morning or a nap during the day. The golden rule is don't sleep without it. But it is tempting in the beginning when you are fighting the darned thing all the time

Colin

[Moby]

Ditto. Don't sleep without your mask, though I have twice in the last 24hrs and feel significantly crappier for it.

If you wake up and take/find the mask off, put it back on if you don't get out of bed.

The problems can be addressed so sleep is possible.

Freezing nose - I recommend a heated hose/heated humidifier/tube cosy. I like the air going in my nose warm and moist, can't sleep otherwise. I use all three of the above.

Dab, you probably need more than 6/7 hrs sleep every 24 hrs. Any chance of nap using cpap during the day? I still do that occasionally, the sleep debt is still latent after a years therapy, if I have a bad night I have to have extra sleep over the next few days.

good luck to you both. You are doing great perservering and asking for the help you need. The effort is well worth it, you won't know yourselves in a few months, you will feel so much better.

Di

[preemiern]

I found when I first started therapy, that initially I felt better right away. Then, as I was sleeping better, I found myself craving naps during the day. The way I interpreted that is that as I was getting better sleep, my body was craving more of that good sleep to make up for all the years of not sleeping well. I saw that as a good thing.
You have to go easy on yourself, and let yourself nap as much as you can in the beginning...WITH you machine...your body wants more of the good sleep that it has missed out on for years. Eventually within the first few weeks, my naps phased out all on their own as my body began recovering from the damage of years of sleep apnea.
good luck and hang in there--it is worth it and your body will thank you!!

[michaelho]

I have many nights like Goodnighthoser where I get to about 3.30 and cannot cope with the mask because it's cold air, claustrophobic or whatever (just can't get back to sleep, because I feel panicky with the mask on). Anyway I go to sleep without and then wake myself up with the old symptoms but then get through to 6am and get up. I feel like #@# all day (even with a nap) until I can have a full night.
So I do understand the symptoms, but think somehow it's best to sleep with it on rather than off. Someone tell me strategies to overcome the feelings described above.
It's all fun isn't it!

[Pineapple]

Dab,

I understand how you feel about your job responsiblities. I "stopped sleeping" (didn't get enough sleep to realize I had slept) Dec 27, and didn't get my CPAP until Feb 1 - I was a walking zoombie. The only thing that got me through was forcing myself to "keep going", My co-workers knew I was having a health issue that was causing me to be forgetful, they patiently would call me with reminders. My family has been very supportive, I joke that my husband has been my mask alert - "the therapy can't work if the mask isn't on" DO NOT SLEEP WITHOUT YOUR MASK, not even a nap.

You said the other day that you felt like you got some sleep - it is a sign of progress. I will get better, keep telling yourself that.

[Guest]

Everyone's response to therapy is very very individual. No one can tell you when you'll start seeing positive results.

We can tell you ways to sort of "crutch it" until you DO start feeling better. For me, that was Provigil. I took it from May to August 2007, and it helped me enormously. I was afraid to go off it. But I inadvertently ran out, and went off cold turkey, and surprise!!!! I was fine.

My positive steps have been small and slow. And I've had some setbacks along the way. I've gained 20 pounds. I blame an increased metabolism, and increased energy, which makes me want to go do too much at work, and then rush out for fast food at lunch instead of eating healthy.

I'm trying to eat healthier, and I've lost 10 pounds so far.

Good luck!!!!!
Babette

[glenwood73]

I too feel unrested and fall asleep watching tv.I have no trouble with leaks or masks or anything about cpap,but still feel unrested,maybe a nap during the day would help for me or provigil.but I have no clue what provigil is?






thanks mike

[birdshell]

There is a section under the Yellow Lightbulb that addresses some of this issue:

[URL=cpaptalk-articles/31/Help-For-New-or-St ... Users.html]Click Here for Help for New or Stuggling CPAP Users



RE: removing mask

Six hours IS very good at this stage. However, I always think that if one is tearing off the mask, there is SOMETHING wrong. It does take some time to become accustomed to wearing the thing. Maybe you just need to have some more adjustment time. My brother found it slowly took him about 4 months to build up to 8 or so hours of sleeping with the mask each night.

However, you may also want to review whether or not your mask is actually fitting properly and comfortably. It makes a difference, IMHO, because something that feels good for a few hours may wear out its welcome after 6 hours!

You are doing very well and you are well on the way to a better life. I recall that insurance companies consider 4 hours a night to be compliance. See? You ARE way past that benchmark!

Best wishes.

Karen