Naps

[bhebert]

I had a wonderful nap today, after a day of driving all over Southern California and working I was almost too sleepy to get home. My shop is a convenient and quite place where I can shut myself in and hide from consciousness for a while.

I used to live in fear of naps; waking up with a parched dry sore throat, the thought of my nightmarish snoring creating strange impressions, alerting cops to my (illegal) sleeping in my car under shade trees along southern California streets.

If I can sneak a quiet moment at home, especially if I can do it without my wife finding me out (she usually correctly interprets the blankets), I pull on my chin strap and mask, throw a jacket over my head (aren't CPAPs wonderful; sleeping under the covers) and set my alarm clock, usually half an hour will do it, making the rest of the day a notch better.

Today, in my shop, I opened up a folding reclining chair, the kind you can take to the beach and unfold, like scissors, unfurled a lap blanket, strapped on a chin strap and propped my head up with a U shaped driving pillow. With just the right angle, this chair is perfect, I can get a great nap without my CPAP.

I measure the quality of my sleep by my dreams. Vivid dreams that are easily remembered (at least the last one) mean I usually wake up well rested. I recall the years of dreamless sleep, waking up with sore chest muscles, exhausted for the rest of the day.

If I could only convince my sister.

[dave21]

It's amazing how much we forget about dreaming until we start receiving dreams again. I don't dream every day, but probably once or twice a week that I remember when I wake up.

[slibhart]

I absolutely love the dreams I have been experiencing since starting cpap! The deep sleep is incredible and I am so grateful that I finally found out what was "wrong" with me. I will occasionally take a little cat nap and have found that putting the mask on helps me to fall asleep quickly. The frequency of wanting a nap has greatly reduced since starting cpap.

[dave21]

Most of mine lately that I remember are falling down lift shafts I think that usually means anxiety. It's nice when you get nice dreams though and even nicer when you remember them the next day or two.