I can't fall asleep, nothing works.

[gasp]

Lately i found a very simple and so far effective way of calming my mind, dealing with anxiety and doing some light meditaion before sleep.
Breathing: The Master Key to Self Healing by Andrew Weil (audio).
Following the breathing exercises described by Andrew Weil helps put me in a calm and relaxed mood. And the bonus is the inhale exhale of the CPAP machine really helps with some of the final breathing/meditation exercises before i fall asleep.

Such a good suggestion. It helped me remember when I first began from time to time I would imagine the air going in and out as an ocean breeze and off I'd go to sleep.

[moresleep]

Looks like you use a full-face mask, Catherine. Have you tried something less obtrusive, like nasal pillows? That's what I use. I tried a full-face mask, but the constant leaks and "full" feeling were just too uncomfortable for me.

If you want another idea for a sleep medication, I use a small dose (25mg) of Seraquel--one of its off-label uses. I use it more to stay asleep than to fall asleep, though. My problem, which predated my use of CPAP, was that I had no problem falling asleep but tended to wake up after several hours. But, be sure you research the side effects of the drug...

[Kahfree]

Catherine,

This is how I was in the beginning. I was afraid to sleep with the mask, had anxiety, and the stress caused me to have insomnia. My trouble now lies in keeping it on all night and NOT removing it. I am trying to learn how. Once I do that, I will be on the road to better sleep and better health.

In the beginning, someone suggested to me to hold the mask while watching tv. Just holding it and examining it makes you more comfortable with the components. Eventually I just put on the mask but did NOT turn on the machine. I would leave the Swift FX in my nose and watch television. When I felt sleepy, I would turn on the machine and hit the RAMP right away. However, the HUGE blast of air at first is enough to drive me crazy, so now I disconnect the small hose from the main hose and hit ramp. I hold the hose till I feel the air pressure decrease to a small barley noticeable breeze. That is when I connect the pieces and while doing so, take a deep breath through my nose so it does not feel like too much. Then, I lay there and watch television with the lights on. All the more I am getting more and more relaxed. When I really feel sleepy, I shut off the light, but leave the tv on. In the past, I could lay there two hours before I fell asleep. Now, I hardly see the show for more than 10 minutes and am gone. This all started for me in January.

Its a slow process, but it can be done with determination. My goal is to keep on the mask more than 2.5 hours to a nightly sleep of 6 hours with the mask, and eventually 8 hours. I refuse to used meds to fall asleep. I think that some people really need it, and if they do, they should. For me, it was more about fear of suffocating with the mask on then the actually sleep process. I worry about things that usually wont happen, so I have to train myself to think positive and not dwell on what could happen. I think with time I will eventually sleep all night with the mask. It can be done because I have done it at least 8 times since January so what I need to know is why those nights were better than all the rest so I can duplicate it.

Catherine, keep trying and be in control of the mask, do not let the mask control you. I hope you can achieve at least going to sleep with it, even if you end up like me and tearing it off your face, that too can be solved. Its just a matter of discovering the key to the puzzle. All I can say is NEVER give up. The benefits are better than the health problems we could have if we do not control the apneas.

Good Luck
Kelly

[Gaga58]

Catherine...I might add too...aromatherapy can help a lot with wearing the mask. If you have a scent you really like, just add a drop or two to a cotton ball or some other absorbent material and place it behind your machine near the filter. The scent wafts up through your hose and mask and makes for a very pleasant "air"! I'm only a little over a month into this myself, but I had read on another's post about using the scents to help alleviate the "power of the mask". I love aromatherapy just in my house, so I use it with my machine now and it is so nice to have the scented air. Helps to take your mind off that hurricane blowing up your nose!! I also read and had always done that prior to cpap before bedtime...haven't been able to do that until I recently got my swift fx, so it took me a little getting used to falling asleep without my book. Now though, I mask up and can read AND I've found I don't read near as long before I'm ready to go to sleep! I do believe you will get used to cpap and there are certainly many on here who can give you good advice. I also agree with Cflame and Peg on the melatonin and chamomile tea as alternatives! I applaud you for wanting to get away from sleep drugs, so hang in there and don't give up!!

[ozze_dollar]

It gets better in time. Just give it time.

[avi123]

Catherine is probably doing OK by now after all the ideas given.

I just want to respond to her posting:

Avi123: Perhaps I shouldn’t call this an addiction, I was talking about my sleeping meds issue. I’ve been using them for 4 years. I had terrible insomnia and without any pill I just couldn’t fall asleep. For 1,5 year now I am clean, I got over it by myself so maybe it wasn’t an addiction, because it wasn’t so hard to throw it away?


I gave up on Zolpidem (generic Ambien) 5 months ago after using it to get used to the mask. But I take a small dose of Xanax that was prescribed to me for the Ambien withdrawal. I have no problems falling and maintaining sleep. But the sleep is fragmented to every 2 hours, 2 to 3 times a night. This could be b/c of underlying medical conditions. I don't have Insomnia but pure OSA. But interesting, may be once or twice a month when I get excited and can't fall a sleep, with or without the mask, I take one tablet of 10 mg of Zolpidem which always put me to sleep within 15 min. So far, I don't need to repeat it more than once or twice a month. I am going to keep this a secret for my next PSG if I would not be able to fall a sleep there right away.

[sickwithapnea17]

I tried zolpidem at 5mg but it doesn't seem to do much, but if I take more it seems that I would build up tolerance and it would become less effective. I've been taking it with 9gm melatonin

[Wonka]

Catherine-

I have the same problem, except I have Acid Reflux (isn't that the same as GERD) and have never been told Ambien can't be used. For the past 3-weeks I took 10mg Ambien to sleep at night, but the mask always comes off very early and I don't remember taking it off. I tried 1/2 or 5 mg of Ambien now for the last two days, it puts me to sleep but I have the same mask removal problem. My sleep doc suggested 5 mg for 7-days, then 1.5 mg for 7 days and then no Ambien to try to discontinue it's use (mostly because I don't like taking it long-term). I'm going to try that, but I need to find a solution for the mask removal. My compliance has dropped from 75-80% to almost Zip even though I put the mask on each night. I haven't been able to figure out what's happening.

[perpacity]

For those out there who have had tolerance or addiction problems with sleep inducing drugs, there are a few medications that induce sleep and do not have tolerance issues, yet they are often unprescribed for this purpose. I am speaking specifically of the gabapentanoid class of medication which includes gabapentin (neurontin) and pregabalin (lyrica). After years of personal benzo use, and subsequent tolerance to their hypnotic effects, I have switched to high dose lyrica (300mg-600mg) per night and experience a much improved night of staying asleep. Most doctors do not know of it's hypnotic effect, but a simple google search for "pregabalin sleep" and "pregabalin sleep efficiency" show the actual research...there is even more on gabapentin.

I just wanted to throw this out there since I have tried virtually every known form of non medicated sleep enhancement that has been recommended, yet nothing has worked as well as the medication counterparts.

[Catatrina]

I recall for myself;that in the beginning first 6 months; the longest I could last on CPAP was about 4 hours; had problems with masks; also i had problems with machine being loud; I had the Resperonics RemStar M-Series by the end of 2009 I switched to Intellipap by DeVilbiss Auto Adjust travel; it definitely helped but I also create an environment that prepares me for sleep; I stay away from using computer for at least 2 hours prior to sleep; i have it little cooler in the bedroom; I also take Melatonin 6 mg; I also use L-theanine tab which really does cut out the anxiety aspect [usually I take 2 tabs daily 100mg each] when your more relaxed you can let go easier [and your not relying on prescription drugs; I use to take Lunesta 1 mg but I was able to get myself off; i mainly did that because i was affected by some memory problems when I got up in the morning] I no longer have that problem and I have been off since April 2011. I also enjoy listening to music and I actually wear my Bose Headset I choose music on my I-Pod that is conducive to sleep [Liguid Mind Chuck Wild; Deuter;Marshall Styler [his music gets you in the groove to relax and let go of your day - then when you listen to Liguid Mind you actually fall asleep pretty quick].Bottom line is things get better; you will be able to relax and letgo, suggestions of others were great as well; but your mind and body have to be able to let go for restful sleep to happen; Take good care

Catatrina

[TIGGER1]

MY SON GAVE UP , HE TAKES ENOUGH MEDS TO KILL A WORLD OF PPL SO NO MORE OPTIONS THERE. HE TRIED FOR A YEAR AND IT AIN'T HAPPENING. I EVEN GOT HIM A SPECIAL ONE WITHOUT MASK OR SOMETHING THINK WISP? AND IT WAS NO BETTER. HIS LIFE IS WITHOUT A CPAP.

[Julie]

1) writing in all caps is yelling at people (in internet manners)

2) this thread is 6 yrs old - couldn't you have started a new thread to tell us that discouraging (pointless here) story?

[49er]

MY SON GAVE UP , HE TAKES ENOUGH MEDS TO KILL A WORLD OF PPL SO NO MORE OPTIONS THERE. HE TRIED FOR A YEAR AND IT AIN'T HAPPENING. I EVEN GOT HIM A SPECIAL ONE WITHOUT MASK OR SOMETHING THINK WISP? AND IT WAS NO BETTER. HIS LIFE IS WITHOUT A CPAP.

Tigger,

You might want to have your son register for the forum and start his own thread about the problems he is having with cpap. Knowledgeable people can help him troubleshoot the issues.

Sorry your post was referred to as pointless because going without treatment for sleep apnea is a serious matter. Obviously, you have great concerns about your son because otherwise you wouldn't have posted.

49er

[Julie]

Do not apologize for me! That's arrogant and you don't speak for the forum. I called it pointless because it sounded like he'd long ago given up and the note did not ask for help, just ranted (out loud).

[49er]

Do not apologize for me! That's arrogant and you don't speak for the forum. I called it pointless because it sounded like he'd long ago given up and the note did not ask for help, just ranted (out loud).

You are right, I should have called you out directly on it instead of apologizing in the way I did.

But how do you know the rant wasn't a cry for help? Why not give someone the benefit of the doubt even if you may be right?

49er