Insomnia

jonnyboy · Post by **jonnyboy** » Fri Feb 10, 2006 4:42 am

Hi all

I have had a CPAP machine for several months now but am still struggling to use it as I suffer from insomnia so find it difficult to fall asleep with it on.

Does anyone else on here suffer from insomnia or am some kind of freak?

My doctor didnt believe me at first when I told him I had sleep apnea and insomnia.

Jon

ozij · Post by **ozij** » Fri Feb 10, 2006 8:28 am

Do you mean are you a freak because you find it difficult to fall asleep with:

1. Headgear
2. Mask on you face
3. Hose dangling about you
4. Air blowing up your nose - or in your mouth
5. A machine connected to the hose and pumping the air up it?

O.

_________________

CPAPopedia Keywords Contained In This Post (Click For Definition): hose

Garyb · Post by **Garyb** » Fri Feb 10, 2006 8:34 am

You might want to get checked out for depression. This same thing is happening to me and the sleep center I go to sent me to a Physciatrist and I was diagnosed with depression.

gary

Gerri · Post by **Gerri** » Fri Feb 10, 2006 8:42 am

Hi jonnyboy

Your are not a freak. I have severe sleep apnea. I have been using CPAP for 1 1/2 years. I also have insomnia. I have found when my sleep apnea is not under control, that my insomnia becomes worse. I gasp for air, sleep very shallow, don't get into REM sleep, and then I am up walking the house after maybe having two hours of sleep.

Since having another sleep study my pressure raised from 9 to 14, my insomnia has subsided. I am now getting about 6 hours of sleep. Still have minor problems with sleep apnea.

I guess what I am saying is maybe check into possible problems with sleep apnea. Maybe you just need further fine tuning.

Gerri

Gerri · Post by **Gerri** » Fri Feb 10, 2006 8:46 am

Hi GaryB

It is not uncommon to have depression with sleep apnea. I am not on medication for depression, yet, but I do see a social worker - to help me keep on track with my thoughts. It is helping. I did find getting my sleep apnea undercontrol has help with my depression and panic attacks.

Gerri

ozij · Post by **ozij** » Fri Feb 10, 2006 9:06 am

Gerri is right on both counts.
Having your sleep interrupted by apneas is one way of devloping insomnia.

Bed becomes the place where you are literaly being choked every night.

Knowing bed is a battlefield makes sleep much more difficult and, as someone once wrote "being prescribed this new way of sleeping" takes time for many of us.

Try to be more specific about where the difficulties lie (no pun intended), give us more details, and we might be able to help.

Of course you're no freak! It a freaky way of having to sleep, but it's great when you get used to it - because you finally get to sleep, and boy does that change your outlook on life!

O.

tomjax · Post by **tomjax** » Fri Feb 10, 2006 12:06 pm

Although insomnia can be problmenatic with some people, it is normally self correcting in the majority.

You should not lose any sleep over insomnia.

NightHawkeye · Post by **NightHawkeye** » Fri Feb 10, 2006 12:43 pm

ozij wrote:It a freaky way of having to sleep . . .

Nope, not for me! I think it's great! Sure beats trying to sleep sitting up.

Regards,
Bill

David · Post by **David** » Fri Feb 10, 2006 12:58 pm

Hi Jonnyboy.

I too suffered from insomnia. I have been on cpap fro 9mths and have found a solution that works fro me. I'm no doctor but you might want to discuss using a low dose of Ativan with your doctor. I'm sure it's not for everyone but it worked for me. Good luck.

Dave

jonnyboy · Post by **jonnyboy** » Fri Feb 10, 2006 1:39 pm

Thanks for all the replies. Its nice to know I am not the only one. At first it seemed strange that I could have sleep apnea and insomnia at the same time but it makes some sense now.

I dont think I am suffering from depression, I am a pretty upbeat person, but then I have no idea what the symptoms are other than I guess the obvious.

I have just moved house so am having to register with a new doctor and get an appointment with my local sleep. When I eventually get an appointment, which will probably be next year, I intend to discuss some other options with the doctors.

Thanks

Jon

Guest · Post by **Guest** » Fri Feb 10, 2006 2:34 pm

jonnyboy wrote:Hi all

I have had a CPAP machine for several months now but am still struggling to use it as I suffer from insomnia so find it difficult to fall asleep with it on.

Hi Jonnyboy,

My doctors told me one must realize that sleep apnea and insomnia are two separate and distinct disorders. Each should be treated for their own peculiar problems. Sometimes an existing case of insomnia will disappear when one starts treatment for sleep apnea by using CPAP. Sometimes it does not go away with OSA treatment.

IMO, CPAP is the best way to treat sleep apnea. It does take time for some people to get used to all the stuff we must wear to relieve our apnea, and some people do take longer that others. But, our *attitude* plays a major role in how soon we get used to the treatment. Please determine if you are fighting CPAP treatment. If you are not ready to do whatever it takes to treat your apnea, you will never, ever be also to use CPAP. You must absolutely KNOW that it is the ONLY way you will get better.

Insomnia can be treated several ways. Medication is only one way to treat insomnia. One *must* be prepared both physically and psychologically to sleep at bedtime or he will not either be able to fall asleep easily (called *onset* insomnia),or he will not stay asleep long enough (called *maintenance* insomnia). You can have either or both. I had both.

For me, medication helps a little, but only a little. I had to take a whole lot of drugs to get asleep and stay asleep. However, I found out that my doctors were right: I have to be ready both physically and psychologically to fall asleep and stay asleep long enough. Doing the right things before bedtime for a few weeks in a row, showed me I really could sleep well with minimal meds.

Please do a Google search for "insomnia" or "sleep hygiene" AND do a search on this site for insomnia.

Your search will tell you several things to do and not to do. A few are: for two hours before bedtime DO NOT watch exciting TV, read a thriller-type book, get into an argument, or take a shower (bath OK). Don't have caffeine after noon. Don't exercise for five hours before sleep. Etc.

DO exercise sufficiently earlier in the day but not for five hours before bedtime, DO establish a *pattern* of regular times for going to bed and getting out of bed - For this item, you need to go to bed and get up (alarm clock) at the same time for *seven* days a week for a couple/few weeks to establish a pattern. There are other suggestions you should follow>

Please do your own Google search and learn more.

It works! It really does.

Good luck my friend.
Andy

FL andy · Post by **FL andy** » Fri Feb 10, 2006 2:36 pm

That was me above. And I know I logged in.

Andy

NightHawkeye · Post by **NightHawkeye** » Fri Feb 10, 2006 3:02 pm

FL andy wrote:That was me above. And I know I logged in.

You took too long composing your post and the server timed you out.

If you hit preview every now and again while composing, the server will keep you logged in.

Regards,
Bill

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