Difficulty Waking Up After Sleeping w/CPAP

[palerider]

I would appreciate a little more consideration and empathy in replies here.

you want your feeling coddled, go over to apneaboard.com, they care more about feelings than facts.

if you want the best advice, then toughen up and answer the questions posed here, and people will get you the *BEST* help.

it comes down to: do you want help or sympathy.

[palerider]

I should say that there is software that will track his sleep and Cpap overnight, but as he's on straight Cpap and not getting much sleep at all, I'm not sure if it would be appropriate yet to use it.

it would, because at this point, who knows whether his treatment is even anywhere near correct, he might be way over pressure, or way under pressure, either could be causing terrible sleep.

[Sylvia54]

Hi there,
For someone with claustrophobia, sounds like your husband has at least made some progress since first starting. Maybe at first, the fear kept him from sleeping at all on cpap?
So he needs to keep trying.
My progress sleeping with cpap has been gradual too, as I suffered with chronic insomnia in the 4 yrs prior. After almost 5 mos. of using cpap most nights, I'm just now reaching 5.5 hrs sleep on the machine. People on this forum suggested raising the pressure and the DME therapist adjusted my machine to variable pressure. Sleep clinic NP approved increase in min. pressure and I think this helped. My progress is intermittent. It's often tempting to go back to sleep without the machine but that can interrupt treatment.

We're all different in how fast we recover with the unique obstacles we face.
Sleep clinic should be able to help your husband in case he needs a change in pressure, type of machine, or mask.
They might offer counseling for claustrophobia.

[palerider]

He has already had one accident due to falling asleep at the wheel and everyday he walks out the door I pray for his safety as well as those around him.

Unfortunately taking his license away is not an option either.

you want serious? how about him in jail for vehicular manslaughter, or worse... it's a real possibility.

you need to get this fixed.

[49er]

My Husband recently started using a CPAP machine for severe sleep apnea. It has taken him months to get over the fear of claustrophobia and now can get about 2-3 hours nightly on the CPAP. The problem he is having now is waking from use of the CPAP. He says that he feels like he is waking from the deepest sleep. Often he has to go back to bed without the CPAP to re-wake up.

Has anyone else experienced this?

Hi Bingham16,

The issue of difficulties with sleep on the machine can be due to several factors. First of all, if you could use the link in my signature to register your husband's equipment, that would enable members to better tailor their responses to his situation.

And by the way, it would be far better if he was participating in the forum. Any reason why he doesn't want to?

Assuming his machine is data capable, I would use the links in my signature to download sleepyhead software and post screen shots to make sure the therapy is optimized.

Additionally, does he have any nasal congestion issues as that can interfere with being able to sleep on the machine?

I would also have him google sleep hygiene to make sure he is practicing it since that can make a difference.

Regarding driving, if he had an accident and fell asleep, he needs to stop driving. Not only is he putting his life at risk, he is doing the same to other folks on the road. Sorry, I don't mean to sound harsh but that really is a non negotiable issue. I would rather say something than have him kill himself or someone else on the road and have so many lives destroyed.

49er

[Bingham16]

Thank you all for the information and tough love.

We have an appointment in the morning with the Sleep Specialist.

[chunkyfrog]

So glad to hear you are moving forward.
We are in your corner.

[cancun]

Not an option? He may well drive for a living, but killing himself or others is not optional. I'm sorry if I sound harsh, not my intention, but if there are no quick easy answers here - yet, that's because there aren't any - yet. I strongly suggest he be seen by another doctor, qualified in sleep medicine, and/or a neurologist who specializes in sleep problems. Without knowing more about what's happening there (and believing his wake-ups are as likely due to 'silent' GERD (reflux) that may well need more attention, I'm not sure what else to suggest. It might be helpful if your husband wrote in, giving a direct explanation of what he feels when... too often small, subjective details get lost in translation.

I should say that there is software that will track his sleep and Cpap overnight, but as he's on straight Cpap and not getting much sleep at all, I'm not sure if it would be appropriate yet to use it.

Asking again - "he's waking 'from use of the Cpap" - how does he know it's Cpap that's waking him vs whatever else it might be? Does he complain about trouble breathing with the machine on? Is the CO2 vent (patch of tiny holes) being covered by bedding when he sleeps? It must remain uncovered so he doesn't rebreath CO2.

Is there a reason he's not on autopap vs plain Cpap? I wonder if his own MD is completely qualified to deal with this situation.

Julie, she clarified that:
My husband is having trouble waking up in the morning after using the CPAP. When he wakes up he is extremely groggy and very much in a sleep like state, in fact he drifts in and out of consciousness.
That might change how you would help.

[Julie]

Really? How so? I didn't miss what she said.

[cancun]

Really? How so? I didn't miss what she said.

She did say what is in red. It is also in the title of her post.
Her response after LSAT

[Julie]

Don't know what you're talking about....

[cancun]

Don't know what you're talking about....

She said her husband has a difficult time waking up after using the CPAP not that the CPAP is waking him up.
But never mind.

[Julie]

"now is waking from use of the CPAP" - I suppose that could also be interpreted as waking following use of Cpap, but I read it differently.

[JimW159]

[quoteJulie, she clarified that:
My husband is having trouble waking up in the morning after using the CPAP. When he wakes up he is extremely groggy and very much in a sleep like state, in fact he drifts in and out of consciousness.
That might change how you would help[/quote]

I, too, am confused as to how anything in the quoted statement provided any information that could lead to anything other than a lot of questions. There is nothing about the medical or treatment modalities or their issues; nothing to help the CPAP user's acceptance of help or willingness to move vigorously towards real compliance (not simply >4 hours/night). In my mind real compliance includes the acceptance that effective treatment MUST include taking control of what will become a critical component in one's life for - probably - the rest of one's life. If one wants to continue to live, this is mandatory. There was, also, not one thing helping readers understand the environmental issues impacting the user's attitude or behavior. In short, there was zero information helping to achieve anything that could even be considered help.

[avi123]

Alprazolam is used to relieve symptoms of anxiety, including anxiety caused by depression. It is also used to treat panic disorder in some patients.