Do you sleep through the night ?

[TrueBlue]

I'm 56. In my younger days I would sleep soundly through the night but over the last few years have been waking regularly (waking around once every two hours - I normally fall back to sleep again quite quickly but wonder whether this continual waking stops me going into a deep sleep). I have been using CPAP (nasal pillows) for around 9 months but still wake as much throughout the night. When I was first diagnosed with sleep apnea my sleep doctor told me that the waking was most likely due to the apnea condition but I wonder now whether it's just an age thing as CPAP therapy doesn't seem to have stopped the sleep disruption. I was really hopeful when starting the therapy that this was the key to an uninterrupted night's sleep but so far that hasn't happened ! Would love to know whether others find that CPAP therapy gives them a good night's sleep where previously they had broken sleep. I've been prescribed a 9 pressure and am using a Resmed Autoset Spirit II with pressure set between 6 - 12.

[bdp522]

Before starting xpap I would wake every 2 hrs or so through out the night. Within a few nights of starting xpap, I was sleeping steadily through the night not waking even once.
What is your AHI and leak? Have to figure out if your therapy is working for you. You have an auto machine. I found that having my machine in auto mode disrupted my sleep due to constant pressure changes. Do you use exhalation relief? Some have problems using c-flex or epr, try shutting it off for a few nights.
Please fill in your profile so we can see what mask and machine you use. It will help us give you better answers to your questions.

Brenda

[rosiefrosie]

No. I was hoping that when I started xpap therapy 3 1/2 years ago, I would sleep through the night. That has not happened. My numbers are good and I feel so much better. Waking up at night is something I have adjusted to and am usually able to fall back to sleep. My waking up is not related to events, but at times are related to leaks. I don't let it bother me because I do feel so much better than I did before I started therapy.

Rosie

[RipVW]

Before I started CPAP, I'd await 3-4 times every night. Now, I sleep through the night, so I attribute this to good CPAP therapy controling my apnea events.

[Ronsil]

I am 64 and have always awakened several times a night. I,too, was hoping that using CPAP would help me sleep straight through. Now I not only wake up several times,but my mouth is so dry I have to have a drink on my nightstand. Now I'd like to sleep straight through and not wake up with drymouth. Any ideas from anyone please?

[BleepingBeauty]

Before I was diagnosed, I thought I was sleeping through the night (with the exception of several trips to the bathroom). As soon as I started CPAP therapy, my trips to the bathroom were reduced to one. (On occasion, when I've slept more than 8 hours, I might have to make two trips during the night, but that's rare. A few times, I've slept right through the night, with no interruptions.)

If I'm "waking" during the night now (unrelated to a bathroom trip), I'm not aware of it, and my data indicates I'm doing well.

I'm 56. I wonder now whether it's just an age thing as CPAP therapy doesn't seem to have stopped the sleep disruption.

I don't think it has anything to do with age. I'm 52, and there are many here who are older than you and I.

I've been prescribed a 9 pressure and am using a Resmed Autoset Spirit II with pressure set between 6 - 12.

It would help us to help you if you have data reports that you can upload and then post here. It sounds like your therapy is not effective, but it's impossible to pinpoint where the problem is without more information.

The only suggestion I'd make (with the info you've given thus far) is to up the minimum pressure setting to 8, thereby giving your machine a smaller range in which to operate. If the pressure range is too wide (and starts too low), it takes the machine too long to reach the higher pressures needed to stop events from happening.

[BleepingBeauty]

I am 64 and have always awakened several times a night. I,too, was hoping that using CPAP would help me sleep straight through. Now I not only wake up several times,but my mouth is so dry I have to have a drink on my nightstand. Now I'd like to sleep straight through and not wake up with drymouth. Any ideas from anyone please?

Usually, dry mouth indicates you're mouth-breathing. I see you have the Liberty, so your mouth is covered, and you're maintaining your therapeutic pressure, even if you are mouth-breathing. That's a good thing. Either increase the heated humidifier setting or try taping your mouth.

I use a full-face mask and am able to breathe through my nose the vast majority of the time; on the few occasions when I've woken up mouth-breathing, I'm very dry.

[millich]

I don't sleep through the night either. As long as I go straight back to sleep, though, I don't worry about it too much.

[Kiralynx]

I'm 57. From June 2002 up until xPAP, I was awakened every 1.5-3 hours with hip pain, had to take something, then would lie there until it kicked in, go back to sleep for a few hours, then wake again with pain....

Now I sleep around 6 hours, get up and go pee, then come back and can usually go back to sleep again.

[DreamDiver]

I end up sleeping about 4.5 hours. Pee. Then I try to get back to sleep. Usually, it takes about half an hour, but then I'll get about 3 more hours of less-restful sleep.

I find I'm taking naps again during the day.

It seems to be cyclical - the need to take naps - for a couple weeks every month to six weeks.

[TrueBlue]

Thanks for your replies. I don't seem to have much autonomy with my treatment in that I've never been given the option to download my own data. The sleep tech does this on my visits and and so far has told me that things look 'good' meaning I am having minimal apnea events and leakage. But I will ask on my next visit whether I can purchase the software as that hopefully will tell me whether the treatment is actually working for me and I can monitor it on a nightly basis rather than only on visits to the sleep tech. I've found the whole CPAP process confusing mainly due to my lack of knowedge although this website is a great help.

Brenda - you ask whether I am using epr and I was using this when I had a fixed pressure at the start of my CPAP treatment but when I went to autopressure I was told epr wasn't relevant so I would assume the epr isn't operational on my autoset machine. I am still undecided whether autopressure is the best option and have just obtained a letter from my sleep doctor permitting me to switch my pressure between autoset and fixed so that I can experiment a bit and hopefully find the correct settings for me.

[cflame1]

If you ask about downloading the data... they'll tell you no.

In order to do this, you have to take the initiative and go get the software and reader yourself.

There is data on the LCD on your machine... you can get some off of it and there are directions around somewhere.

[bdp522]

Instructions for your machine;
http://www.apneaboard.com/CPAP%20Adjustment.htm

Brenda

[roster]

........ I don't seem to have much autonomy with my treatment in that I've never been given the option to download my own data. ...........

Generally the sleep medical profession wants to keep control. You just have to take control for yourself.

Get the software and hardware and have a look at what is going on with your breathing at night. You likely can then adjust some things and improve your therapy and sleep.

Your pressure settings are a little suspect. With the software you can find out if they are correct.

[Trinity101]

I always woke up every hour to two, had to get up to use the bathroom, would take at least a couple of hours to get back to sleep WITh taking more meds for pain due to arthritis, fibro, etc. I started xPap in mid-March of this year. Had little success with longer sleep periods until I went to my rheumatologist, who switched around my meds for arthritis relief. Now I am sleeping most nights about 3-4 hours at a time without a bathroom break, then am able to get back to sleep quickly most nights. I still have some nights when I am more back to my old ways, but they are getting fewer and farther between, so I am thankful. I am still VERY sleepy in the daytme, tho, and do take a lot of naps- but my docs feel this is related to autoimmune things and that I should just go sleep when I feel I have to- with the xPAP on, of course. So- all in all, I feel that I am making good progress. Finding that I really needed a small Quattro really helped, also-I like the mask, and once I had the right size, have no need to tape, or do anything other than adjust the headgear- and use Pad-a-Cheek's wonderful cushiony straps and forehead piece!
~joan