Falling and staying asleep?

[cybermom53]

I switched from an Escape to an Elite in about mid-December. I had been sleeping quite well with the Escape (sometimes 7 hours straight a night) but wanted to see my numbers and monitor leaks. Just after Christmas I started having a LOT of trouble getting to sleep and was sometimes awake for hours. I posted and several people offered advice. Many suggested I stop using the ramping feature. (My pressure had been set for 4 to 8 and I was ramping for anywhere from 20 to 40 minutes). I followed that advice and now I'm not using the ramp at all. I've tried a number of over-the-counter sleep aids and have also tried nights without sleep aids. I think I'm falling asleep a bit better, but I wake up almost every two hours in somewhat of a panic. Often, I take the mask off for a few minutes, or go to the bathroom, and then start all over again. Sometimes it's taking me quite a bit of time to get back to sleep in the middle of the night. This goes on most of the night. Up every two hours. Sometimes close to morning, I've given up on the mask and slept an hour or so without it. But as a result of the trouble falling asleep and staying asleep, I'm often feeling less rested than I did before I started CPAP (on Nov. 17). I think, by the way, my numbers are fairly good. I'm averaging: 0.17 leaks, 1.93 AHI, 0.23 AI, 1.68 HI. Those are OK, right? So my real issue is both getting to sleep and staying asleep. I've cut way back on caffeine. I've tried drinking herbal sleepytime tea. I don't think I'm unusually stressed about anything - except sleeping or lack thereof. I must admit I dread going to bed these days. Any advice? Do you think I should go to the doctor and get a prescription sleep aid? Is there anything else that I should be checking on my machine? Do you think this is somehow related to the switch from the Escape to the Elite?

[brazospearl]

Don't know your age, but since we sometimes get REAL personal on this forum, could you be in menopause or perimenopause? Your symptoms could be tied to hormone fluctuations. There are probably a hundred other reasons as well, but this was what came to mind based on your symptoms. Sleep aids aren't the best way to go if hormones are the problem, but there are many other avenues of treatment that can make you more comfy.

[cybermom53]

Just turned 57 and past menopause. So I don't think that's it.

[Spirit]

You may be having a mask issue, like I once had, during spells of insomnia. I developed insomnia and didn't know why? Quattro was the answer/solution. At first, I thought Swift and Hybrid were very comfortable, but in time sleeping was not a pleasure, but became a nightmare. Cause I was up every 2 hours, making mask adjustments. I dreaded wearing a FF, and wanted so badly for the pillows to work. Couldn't imagine going to sleep, looking like a jet pilot. Quattro looked so uncomfortable.

But I began to notice, I would stay up longer, prior to falling asleep, because I knew I was going to wake up, to make mask adjustments. So I would stay up purposely, to the point of exhaustion, pass out and hope I slept through the night. I felt miserable.

I try the Quattro mask, if I didn't like it, I could alway's go back to Swift or Hybrid, after a few adjustments, I've sleep solid through the night, no waking up during the night, for months. What a major relief

Might try a different mask, to see if it helps. Hope you discover solution, for better night sleep soon.

[Gerryk]

How about changes at work or home or an increase in stress? Stress can be terrible for sleep.

[kteague]

Hi. When you were 3 weeks into treatment you posted about having developed knee pain. I think you might have missed my post then, as I just looked back and didn't see a reply. Were there any limb movements mentioned on your sleep studies? My earliest signs of a limb movement problem were leg pain and restless sleep.

[cybermom53]

Sorry. No leg movement wasn't a problem. Folks speculated that the knee pain was caused by arthritis or finally getting a good night's sleep and not moving. Ironically, now that I'm not sleeping well, the knee pain is gone!

[cybermom53]

Spirit: Your situation sounds a lot like mine. A couple of dumb questions: When you decided to try a new mask, how did you figure out what other kind of mask to get? Did you try those hybrids too or just go right to the full face mask? And I'm assuming whatever mask I get I'll have to buy because insurance won't pay at this point right? I have thought about getting a second mask in part because it's hard to use the one I have when I have a cold. The weird thing, to me, is that the first few weeks I really slept like a log with this mask - through the night.

[KatieW]

I'm averaging: 0.17 leaks, 1.93 AHI, 0.23 AI, 1.68 HI. Those are OK, right?

I'm wondering about your AHI, numbers. Are these from the screen on your cpap?...I haven't seen them expressed to 2 decimal points before. Do you have the software?

You said you're not using ramp. What is your pressure setting, and are you using EPR (exhale relief)? I find that using EPR is much more comfortable for me, and helps with gas. There are 2 options--medium and fast, I prefer the medium.

It may be that the waking up is unrelated to cpap, but it's good that you're systematically looking at everything.

[cybermom53]

EPR is set on medium. Don't know how to change that. Re the numbers: I followed instructions posted on this forum and look at the data that way (before noon) on my machine. Don't have any special reader or anything. I don't think I have any special stress in my life. In fact, life is pretty good - if only I could sleep for more than two hours at a time.

[KatieW]

EPR is set on medium. Don't know how to change that. Re the numbers: I followed instructions posted on this forum and look at the data that way (before noon) on my machine. Don't have any special reader or anything. I don't think I have any special stress in my life. In fact, life is pretty good - if only I could sleep for more than two hours at a time.

Here's a link to the Clinical Guide, which will tell how to change the settings:

http://www.internetage.ws/cpaphelp/manuals/ResMed/