For Those Who Like To Nap - Update No 2

[mars]

Hi All

I have mentioned the following in one or two posts, but having had no response I thought I would put it out to the general population.

My sleep routine is still not a disciplined one regarding hours, so I sometimes like to nap later in the day. But I also want to keep breathing.

So I have set my oximeter to sound an alarm if the SpO2 goes below 90%, and wear it when I nap. So this allows me to relax, daydream, whatever, and possibly go to sleep.

According to my sleep study there were periods of sleep when no events occurred, not for very long - maybe for 5 to 10 minutes, and this during a very uncomfortable night. On the machine there can sometimes be one or two hours without events, and maybe this is the machine doing its job, and maybe I am simply breathing normally during that period. Or both.

So if I feel like a nap, I put the oximeter on my finger, turn it on, move the cable out of Dusty's way, and close my eyes. Sometimes the alarm will go off, and I wake up. No damage done. At other times I have slept for up to an hour before waking up. And here is the coup de grace, I feel refreshed after the nap, even a short one, instead of feeling terrible and worse than before I took the nap, as I used to do.

You may ask - why not use the machine. Well, sitting in my arm chair, and just drifting off, doesn't happen with the mask on. Logistically it is difficult, and the whole process of relaxing and closing my eyes would not be possible; whereas I keep my oximeter next to the armchair, and it only takes a few seconds to put it on.

So there it is for what it's worth. Not of world shattering importance in the world of sleep apnea recovery, but just a little thing that adds to the joy of living, and may do the same for you, if you want to try it.

And my cat does not mind being on my lap when I use the oximeter.

cheers

Mars

Edit - This thread gets a bit messy after a while, but it is still worth persevering to the end

[Froro]

I have found now that I'm on cpap even if I take a short nap without it I feel like I've been hit by a truck.

Off cpap I start apneas within minutes.

My kids, my husband, everyone has been told if I doze off (which I sometimes do) watching the tele or reading a book in the gazebo they are to wake me immediately.

Most of the time they haven't noticed I've dozed off until I start the very recognizable gasp, snore, grunt, and they wake me up right away. If I'm that tired that I need a nap I'll go up to bed and don the mask.

There are times no one has been home and I've dozed off (not so much now but earlier in treatment). I woke up with severe headache, groggy, and just awful.

[Hoze-Zay]

Getting a normal people snooze sure sounds like fun. I don't think I am there yet but I do take a one hour cpap mask nap each day at 1pm. Wonderful stuff.

[Pugsy]

Perhaps you do well napping because you are sitting somewhat upright in a chair?? Minimizing the chance of the airway collapse? Just a thought.

I have tried to limit my naps because I have so much trouble get those hours of sleep at night. On the rare occasion that I have accidentally fallen asleep it is on the sofa and I end up in the reclining position and usually wake myself up snoring. Those naps have not been recuperative at all. Maybe it is the sofa...

[mars]

Hi All

We all seem to agree that naps without some kind of protection are not worth having. Waking up and feeling lousy and even more unable to get on with my life has been my experience.

But I have found that even short naps, with the oximeter, and consequently no events, are refreshing.

I do sit up in the armchair, with my back just on a slight incline, usually my head leaning forward. But hey, I have just realised, I don't dribble like I used to. I forgot to mention that, of course, having learned many good things from DSM, I eat a couple of bananas

I like it. It is much more conducive to napping than getting the machine out, and no oxygen deprivation. And when I wake up, I am bushy tailed and starry eyed. Well, nearly.

cheers

Mars

[5aces]

Leather Reclining Chair + Oximeter Alarm + Naptime = Epic win!

My naps without the blower are pure chaos but I like your idea.

[Kiralynx]

On one of my mom's hospital stays, I took my oximeter, and figured I would check out sleeping semi-upright in a chair. Could be handy if we had a power outage due to a hurricane.

The upshot of it was that I was desatting at exactly the same points I had hypopneas at the start of the therapy. And the desaturations made my hips hurt.

So, for me, napping without my mask isn't an option.

[mars]

On one of my mom's hospital stays, I took my oximeter, and figured I would check out sleeping semi-upright in a chair. Could be handy if we had a power outage due to a hurricane.

The upshot of it was that I was desatting at exactly the same points I had hypopneas at the start of the therapy. And the desaturations made my hips hurt.

So, for me, napping without my mask isn't an option.

Hi Kiralynx

I hope you will be able to expand on your experience, because I cannot understand how you can have a desaturation if you had set the alarm level to go off before desaturation occurs. If the alarm level and the alarm were not set, then naturally you would get your usual desaturations. Sorry, I just cannot follow you.

cheers

Mars

[WearyOne]

Mars, that sounds like a great idea to me. If you're having the alarm go off before reaching too low an oxygen level, I wouldn't think there would be a problem. I wish I could afford one of those oxygen thingys, and I'd try it myself. It's definitely an idea I'm going to remember when I reach I point I can buy one.

Pam

[tattooyu]

Mars, I like that idea. What is the minimum "normal" SpO2 level for the body? Isn't it somewhere around 93%? If so, that's where I'd set the oximeter.

[mars]

Mars, I like that idea. What is the minimum "normal" SpO2 level for the body? Isn't it somewhere around 93%? If so, that's where I'd set the oximeter.

Hi All and Tattooyu

My personal normal SpO2 level is 97%. Whenever I measure it, day or night, its usually at 97%, but at times I have seen it at 93%.

The default setting for the SpO2 alarm on my CMS-60D is 88%.

On my overnight sleep study desaturation was considered to start when less than 90%. So I guess we can give ourselves a little leeway if we want to, as long as the alarm goes off when we get to 89%. I have set mine to 90% just to be sure.

Would love to know how you all get on with this.

cheers

Mars

[Muse-Inc]

...Would love to know how you all get on with this.

Me too! Would love to be able to nap again and not worry about desats.

[roster]

No breaks for me. Long apneas in all sleep stages in all sleep positions.

Fall asleep in front of the TV for 15 minutes and boing - awaken with high heart rate and very unpleasant feeling.

My side or tummy sleeping pressure requirements are much lower than on back. So I have tried side or tummy naps and not good!

Mars, I can't remember those discussions about positional sleep apnea. What is yours like?

[mars]

No breaks for me. Long apneas in all sleep stages in all sleep positions. Fall asleep in front of the TV for 15 minutes and boing - awaken with high heart rate and very unpleasant feeling.

Hi Rooster

You are describing what most of us experience when napping without an oximeter set to alarm us when reaching the start of desaturation. Did you manage to try a nap with an oximeter set to alarm you when reaching desaturation?

Mars, I can't remember those discussions about positional sleep apnea. What is yours like?

I nap in my armchair, and sleep on my left side at night. Still not worked out a better position, the left side being reccomended for minimising reflux, and my mask and the feather pillow fit perfectly.

cheers

Mars

[roster]

.....
Hi Rooster

You are describing what most of us experience when napping without an oximeter set to alarm us when reaching the start of desaturation. Did you manage to try a nap with an oximeter set to alarm you when reaching desaturation?

.....Mars

It would be a waste of effort for me. Asleep two minutes without CPAP and I start having apneas. I don't want that even if I haven't desaturated at that point.

I still have the thought to try an oral appliance for naps.