1 month and really struggling...............

[jacob006a]

I use a time release version of melatonin, which helps keep me asleep. I do have some insommnia from time to time, but seem to have it under control since upping the dose of mirapex I take at night.

You could also add in some vitamin D3, which I have heard helps too.

[Buckhorn dan]

Thanks everyone. I'm glad to report that even though my last post was at roughly 1030 last night I did go to bed and had a good nights sleep! Amazing. I used the CPAP and actually brought my iphone to bed with me and listen to one of my app's that has all kinds of soft sound bites like water rolling into the beach, birds singing, fireplace etc.... now all I need to do is sleep like that without the aid of the Zopicone. Tonight I'm going to go for a run before dinner, eat as early as possible and hopefully feel tired enough to hit the sack and be sleepy at a good time.

Iam claustrophobic to a certain degree but feel that the issue is more of the unnatural feeling of wearing a contraption to bed vs feeling claustrophobic. The pillow mask has to be one of the least intrusive masks out there however it's still something on your face to which I have to get used to. Before being tested I was a person who tossed and turned all night long and I'm hoping (my wife more so than me ) that the CPAP will eventually provide such a good night sleep I won't need to toss n turn which measn so need to navigate the tubing or re-position the mask as often.

If I could have a couple of good nights in a row perhaps I'll lose that fear of going to bed at night...... hard to beleive since it was only one month ago that I couldn't wait to get to my ever so comfortable bed every night. LOL how things change......

[pats]

Iam claustrophobic to a certain degree but feel that the issue is more of the unnatural feeling of wearing a contraption to bed vs feeling claustrophobic. The pillow mask has to be one of the least intrusive masks out there however it's still something on your face to which I have to get used to. Before being tested I was a person who tossed and turned all night long and I'm hoping (my wife more so than me ) that the CPAP will eventually provide such a good night sleep I won't need to toss n turn which measn so need to navigate the tubing or re-position the mask as often.

I tend to toss and turn in warm weather. In cool weather I snuggle down with the comforter wrapped around my shoulders, and stay that way all night. In the last few weeks I had increased hose problems due to moving about. For me, the solution was to buy a hose holder, and put it at the head of my bed: http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B0034CHMRU. I am finding it very effective, with more continuous sleep even in hot weather.

I understand many people have made their own hose holders, including ones that are attached to a headboard etc. It may be worth while looking at your hose management to see if you can make it less intrusive. The ideal is to be over to move about the way you would if asleep without the hose getting in the way or needing manual adjustment.

[Sloop]

Been using a hose holder, or some version of it, for two decades. My first setup was I attached a small hat rack above my headboard and just draped the hose over it. It was kind of pioneering as the forum I was on way back then had never heard of doing that, and most everyone was having problems with the hose. Today, I have a very high head-board with a curved section in the middle -- perfect for hanging the hose.

[JohnO]

If I could have a couple of good nights in a row perhaps I'll lose that fear of going to bed at night...... hard to beleive since it was only one month ago that I couldn't wait to get to my ever so comfortable bed every night. LOL how things change......

I'm only 16 days on the hose myself, but if you can get a couple of good nights, I think you can get past this hurdle. I did.

I had a similar situation. I enjoyed going to sleep! I usually slept very well. Unlike many here, I did not go to the sleep study because I was tired during the day, I went only because my wife said I was starting to stop breathing throughout the night! Well, that and my outrageous snoring.

I took an Ambien during my sleep study, as I was having trouble falling asleep quickly, and they had explained that with the split study I had, they needed to see lots of sleep, otherwise I would be coming back for a second night.

The first night at home with the machine, I was very anxious about everything. The mask, the hose, turning it on and turning it off, etc.
The first night was pretty lousy. The second night was better - mainly because I was exhausted. The third and fourth nights were tough. By the fifth night I was making peace with the machine. Now, two weeks in, I'm back to looking forward to going to bed. I still have some minor mask leak issues, and plan to investigate a nasal pillow mask. Other than that, I've turned the corner!

So, as others have said, make sure you are tired before bed. Have some other source of soothing noise (I use a room fan). Make sure it is dark.


Good Luck!

[wilsonintexas]

You are not alone. A lot of us have and had trouble adjusting. Sorry to say, but even when you get to sleep it may take a while to get use to pressure adjustments, mask movements, leaks.....

But there is hope.

In addition to everything else, try using the machine while you are awake. Set the machine up in the family room, by your favorite chair.

Put it on while you are watching TV. Get use to breathing with it, having it on your face. That way when you lie down it is not so new.

I use a white noise generator to help mask the noise. That way there is one less thing drawing attention to my breathing pattern, (My wife has used one for years, so it is now strange to not have one)

Try getting a badge extender as a cheap hose management system. Use a 3M temporary hook, and a bit of string to attach the badge retractor and use it to hold the hose out of the way.

(I work in a building where we have to swipe badges to enter.... they have this retractor thing, like a key ring the cleaner use to have....) I had an extra one and it was free....

Do not give up.

Try a ramp, if the pressure is bothering you. OR TURN OFF THE RAMP. I did much better with the ramp off, I found that as it changed pressrue it was bothering me, and I was better off with the pressure helping me breath right away.

[carbonman]

My primary problem (at the moment) is getting to sleep with or without the CPAP unit. I'm dreading going to bed because I know no matter how tired I am heading up those stairs the moment I get into bed means lying there hour after hour desperately trying to go to sleep.

Mind over matter....
Sound sleep, sound mind
--Barry Krakow

This is the psychology of sleep hygiene.
Sleep dynamic therapy
Wonderful techniques to help you over come your mind.

Close your day
Lose the clock watching, sleep killing habit
TFI(thought,feeling,image) balancing

Not as easy as popping a pill.
Takes an effort to learn and practice to make
these techniques work. So worth the effort....

IF you want to sleep.

It's your life.
It's my life.

[BlackSpinner]

Iam claustrophobic to a certain degree but feel that the issue is more of the unnatural feeling of wearing a contraption to bed vs feeling claustrophobic. The pillow mask has to be one of the least intrusive masks out there however it's still something on your face to which I have to get used to. Before being tested I was a person who tossed and turned all night long and I'm hoping (my wife more so than me ) that the CPAP will eventually provide such a good night sleep I won't need to toss n turn which measn so need to navigate the tubing or re-position the mask as often.

Try wearing the mask with the machine going early in the evening while watching tv or reading a book. The idea is to distract your conscious mind and get your body/mind used to having the thing on your face. It is like training a toddler to go potty. Lots of reward and practice sitting on the potty, getting angry or frustrated at the toddler doesn't work.

You will find the tossing and turning stops as soon as you start really sleeping with it. In fact many of us have had problems with hips and necks because we end up not moving for 7 - 8 hours on end.