Apnea and Insomnia

[Kite]

Does anyone have suggestions for how to break a short-term insomnia episode ? I have been sleeping great the last 6 months or so but as of last week I had one bad night where I couldn't fall asleep except for three 1 hour sessions. And since then it has been marginally better with the help of sleep aids. There has been no changes in my life, no changes in my CPAP therapy so I'm really puzzled. My AHI's are about 3 per night (mostly hypopnea). I wonder if there's something going on with my CPAP that is causing all of the arousals or if it's some insomnia pattern ? Very dazed and confused.

[twokatmew]

I'm using light therapy (in the mornings) and Melatonin 3mg about an hour before bed. I don't know if the light's helping, but the Melatonin sure is! Since I have asthma and Crohn's, I spoke with my doc before trying the Melatonin, and he said it was fine. Before that, they had me on AmbienCR, Desipramine and Valium. Nothing worked! But the $7 (high quality) Melatonin works, and it sure feels great *not* to be on all that other stuff. By the time I was diagnosed with OSA in May, I'd gotten to the point where I just dreaded going to bed, because I'd lie there awake for hours and hours, and finally fall asleep when it was time to get up. The Melatonin helps with my relaxation routine before bed, and I think it's also helping me to sleep in spite of the mask.

I know getting to and staying asleep can be really difficult issues to resolve. I'm still working on mine, but at least now I've got something that looks like it might be working, and it doesn't involve sleep meds or benzos.

Good luck!

[harry33]

melatonin is worth trying but it disnt help me, I rely on the occasional benzo or sedating antihistamine

[roster]

Since you have been sleeping "great" for six months, I would recommend staying away from drugs. (Well if you hadn't been sleeping for six months, I would still recommend staying away from drugs, but that is a discussion for another thread.)


Are you practicing top notch sleep hygiene? If you are and you are satisfied with your AHI, I would just relax and wait it out.