is it just me? I've become a lite sleeper.

Josh S · Post by **Josh S** » Tue Jul 25, 2006 11:06 am

I have been using my apap for close to four month now. I use it every night and love how it has changed my life. I feel so much better in every way.
An odd and not so cool side effect though is that I have become a light sleeper. My wonderful wife has been able to move back into our bed now that my snoring is gone. However now I find myself waking when she snores (non apniac) but loud enough to wake me. After all the years she put up with my house rattling fog horn, I feel terrible even mentioning it. But I need my sleep.
Is one of the side effects of my APAP, waking a few times a night?
I use melitonan to help get to sleep, but I can't seem to stay asleep all night.
Any thoughts?

kurtchan · Post by **kurtchan** » Tue Jul 25, 2006 1:18 pm

Josh,

Glad that you're having continued success with your CPAP therapy, but sorry to hear that you're not sleeping as deeply as you once did.

Curiously, I've found quite the converse to be true. Since starting with the CPAP two months ago, I'm sleeping much more deeply than ever before -- not hearing the NYC traffic or people on the street -- and often being awakened in the morning by my alarm clock rather than my internal clock. Each morning I find myself in almost exactly the position I was in when I turned off the light and the only ill effect has been stiffness and body aches in the morning from being in one position too long.

Have you consider earplugs to dampen the noise of your wife's snoring? With all the rest of the CPAP gear I know it's one more added hassle, but it might help.

Good luck!

Kurtchan

neverbetter · Post by **neverbetter** » Tue Jul 25, 2006 1:27 pm

Do you have a fan in your room? Sometimes a little "white noise" will drown out the little snoring sounds enough for you to sleep through it.

Josh S · Post by **Josh S** » Tue Jul 25, 2006 1:55 pm

Thanks for the tips. With this heat wave in LA, we have two fans going strong, not quiet enough white noise I guess. As for ear plugs, the seemed to cause ear pressure, could be a combination of the APap pressure - I don't know. I have been trying the sponge type. Maybe it will just take getting used to them. So much to get used to, but the rewards ar fantastic so I'll keep trying.
I'll look at some different types of ear plugs.

Thanks again.

kurtchan · Post by **kurtchan** » Wed Jul 26, 2006 7:06 am

Josh,

You might try to find earplugs that are specifically made for swimming. Unfortunately, I can't remember the brand name, but they're made of an opaque, waxy material (doesn't that sound attractive?!?!) and are meant to cover the opening to your ear canal, rather than to stick into it.

As a classical musician, I have a terrible fear of going deaf which translates into absolute panic anytime my ears are clogged or covered, to the point where I don't even like earmuffs. (Now you're thinking -- what a wacko!) But, I found the above-described earplugs to be quite workable for me, especially on long, trans-pacific flights.

I'll try to stop at the pharmacy today at lunchtime and, if I can find them, I'll send you another message with the brandname.

Good luck!

Kurtchan

kurtchan · Post by **kurtchan** » Wed Jul 26, 2006 11:11 am

Josh,

Pursuant to my earlier posting, I went to the pharmacy and found the brand of earplugs I was trying to remember. They are Mack's Pillow Soft Earplugs. Hope this helps!

Kurtchan

Josh S · Post by **Josh S** » Wed Jul 26, 2006 11:18 am

Thanks Kurtchan, I'll give 'em a try.

Guest · Post by **Guest** » Wed Jul 26, 2006 11:21 am

josh,
don't be so sure your wife's snoring isn't the result of sleep apnea. make an appointment for a sleep study for her. you will be doing both of you a favor.

Malibu · Post by **Malibu** » Wed Jul 26, 2006 11:24 am

Josh,

I use ear plugs, the foam type, to eliminate the noise from the Remstar Auto's motor going up and down in speed with every breath.

The only ones that I have found effective I bought at Walmart a week ago. They are dense foam, unlike most that are kind of flimsy feeling. They expand nicely and you don't hardly notice them in your ears. I also use a chinstrap to keep my mouth closed and have found it very effective for keeping ear plugs in their proper place.

The brand name I found at Walmart is "Flents Quiet Time" and they come in 10 pairs or 50. The 50 pairs cost around 9.50.

And yes, I have become a light sleeper since using CPAP, mainly because I think the noise and mask etc bother me even though when I go to sleep things seem comfortable enough. Before CPAP I could sleep through the night but felt like crap during the day. I guess the trade offs for better health outway the noise and mask bothering me syndrome...

Later,

Marc

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