A nap without my pap

[mayondair]

Big mistake, I've been 100% compliant since day 1 , all night, every night, no naps without. Fell asleep on the couch after dinner, woke up with a sore throat, roaring headache, and sweaty. All in 45 mins. If I ever thought about seeing if I could go without, that answered the question. Think I'll look into a back up, don't think I could make it through a night or weekend if the darned thing quit on me.

[Tired Linda]

I've been thinking about a back up machine, too. It's not that I've slept without mine; I can't even lay in bed without it. Before I began treatment, I used to work on a crossword puzzle or read before turning out the light and going to sleep. Not anymore...I've noticed I start getting anxious and almost panicky. Put on the mask and turn on the blower, and everything calms down. I really don't know what I'd do if the machine wasn't working.

[roster]

I need a device that will sound an alarm if I fall asleep in front of the TV.

[mayondair]

Rooster, you will make a fortune from wives everywhere if you can make such a gadget

[Lizistired]

I made a carrier for mine to easily take it to the living room if I am going to veg in front of the tv an might doze off. I'm thinking a bad nap is worse than no nap at all.

[KellyR]

I've only been using my CPAP for 6 nights. The first 2 nights, I used it for 4 -5 hours a night and then took it off because I couldn't get back to sleep w/it, and I was exhausted. Now I use is and am comfy w/it for all sleep, including naps.

I'm not noticing a marked improvement in how I feel yet, my focus is just on getting thru the night and getting used to it. But I am a bit confused about what happens when we use it for a long time and then don't. My symptoms are, as I understand it, from a cumulative effect of lack of sleep. If I am getting good quality sleep for a long time, and don't use the machine for one night, I would expect to feel tired the next day, kind of like after having a late or a short night. The symptoms described here sound more serious than that, though.

So, what am I missing?

[roster]

If I am getting good quality sleep for a long time, and don't use the machine for one night, I would expect to feel tired the next day, kind of like after having a late or a short night. The symptoms described here sound more serious than that, though.

So, what am I missing?

I think there are a couple of things going on.

1. Before being treated our body had gradually built up defenses to the trauma it was suffering every night. For example, hematocrit levels have been found to be high in untreated apneics. This allows the body to better use the sparse oxygen it is getting. There is also some evidence that mitochondria have adapted to low oxygen. After using CPAP successfully for some time, these adaptions go away and are not able to help with the defense if you sleep without CPAP.

2. Then there is the mind's perception of what is going on. Most of us probably started out years ago with a very mild case of obstructive sleep apnea that gradually became worse as we became older. We mentally adapted to it and forgot what it is like to feel energetic upon arising. Now skip CPAP and that horrible feeling comes back as we compare it to the previous night without CPAP.

[mars]

I need a device that will sound an alarm if I fall asleep in front of the TV.

Hi Rooster

If anyone has problems in staying awake whilst watching TV, the best product was at -

http://www.nonap.com.au/

but currently the business does not seem to be operating.

I found another possibility at -

http://www.thenonap.com/

which looks like much the same product, but I am not sure.

A similar Uk product is no good for driving, but would probably work well for TV watching -

http://au.shopping.com/drive%20alert%20 ... id-8023280

cheers

Mars

[MoonBear]

Maybe its bad hygiene, but I have my tv in my bedroom now. I set the timer on the tv to go off if I fall asleep, which I sometimes do. sone nights I have to "trick" myself into falling asleep. I listen to the tv and drift off. If I could only have the tv in the living room, I'd have a comfy place to sleep there. Insomnia is a problem for me; falling asleep is my issue.

Namaste,
MoonBear

[KellyR]

Thanks, Roster, that explains a lot. I think at this point I am so used to feeling exhausted that I'm, like, what's one more night? But it makes sense, that once one has experienced some healing and is used to feeling normal, going back to this kind of fatigue, even for a day, would be hard. Like having the flu or something. "Normal" people probably only ever feel this tired - I call it sick tired - when they are ill, right?

After a week of using my CPAP, the fact that I am going to be using this machine for the rest of my life is beginning to sink in. The thought of feeling better than I do now is a great one, though.

Thanks again.

[mayondair]

Kelly R, it took a while for me to feel better on APAP, gradual improvements, never thought I would feel so bad so fast without, Now I find it hard to imagine how I functioned before APAP .I'm definitely looking for a back up. kathy

[roster]

I need a device that will sound an alarm if I fall asleep in front of the TV.

Hi Rooster

If anyone has problems in staying awake whilst watching TV, the best product was at -

http://www.nonap.com.au/

but currently the business does not seem to be operating.

I found another possibility at -

http://www.thenonap.com/

which looks like much the same product, but I am not sure.

A similar Uk product is no good for driving, but would probably work well for TV watching -

http://au.shopping.com/drive%20alert%20 ... id-8023280

cheers

Mars

Those items will not work for most of us when watching TV late in the evening. We usually do it while reclined with head propped up. Even when sitting on the sofa, the head is supported. So when we fall asleep the head does not nod and those types of alarms would not be activated.

Maybe the Zeo folks could add an optional alarm?

[mars]

Hi Rooster

Of course, you are right.

However, I have the answer

If you put the device on your finger, and just hold that finger sticking up when you think you might doze off, then when you fall asleep and your finger drops down - the alarm will go off.

Please consider this invaluable advice your belated Christmas present, and I wish you a Happy New Year.

cheers

Mars

[roster]

Hi Rooster

Of course, you are right.

However, I have the answer

If you put the device on your finger, and just hold that finger sticking up when you think you might doze off, then when you fall asleep and your finger drops down - the alarm will go off.

Please consider this invaluable advice your belated Christmas present, and I wish you a Happy New Year.

cheers

Mars

I do quite often watch TV with one finger sticking up. That's when some politician is on TV telling me what good things he will do for me.