Staying Asleep

[jgcrain]

I am still fairly new to CPAP. After 2-1/2 months, my AHI numbers look great - typically well under 1.0. I have noticed some definite improvements. I feel much stronger. My body recovers much faster from hard physical work than it used to. I used to have some occasional acid reflux and that has completely disappeared. I no longer snore and have noticed I have a lot more dreams. So I am overall happy with how things are going.

So my problem is that I briefly wake up every time I shift sleep positions, perhaps 6-10 times nightly. Seems like the hose is always the culprit. Either that or me needing to make some minor adjustment of the headgear straps. I go right back to sleep but when I wake up, I feel like I did not sleep well. I feel really sleepy in the afternoon and right after dinner in the evening. Is this just a case of getting used to the equipment? Does it get better the longer you use CPAP? Can I look forward one day to sleeping the whole night? Would any of you have any suggestions to help? If I can ever get to the point of sleeping through the entire night, I think this process will have been all worthwhile for me. I am just a little discouraged to be feeling so sleepy every day.

Thanks
Greg

[mummmz]

Maybe a hose hanger would help you. You can make your own or buy one ready made. Do a google search for CPAP hose hanger.

[chunkyfrog]

Over time, those little adjustments will become so automatic that you will be less disturbed
until you may not even remember them.
It is all part of getting in the cpap groove.

[ChicagoGranny]

Is this just a case of getting used to the equipment?

Unlikely. You need to change some things to get improvement.

I briefly wake up every time I shift sleep positions, perhaps 6-10 times nightly.

I'm not sure if you meant to express that chronologically. In order to shift positions, you need to first wake up. You might fall back to sleep so quickly that you have no memory of waking up, but you did.

So, if you accept that, and you should, do you have any idea why you wake up that often? Pain from arthritis or other health issues? Stess/worry? Poor sleep hygiene?

Second question, why do you shift positions when you wake up?

Without knowing the answers, I can tell you for sure two things you should do.

First

Observe how your hose runs from your machine to your mask. Position the machine and hose so that there is some slack - the hose should not pull on the mask. Envision how the hose will move as you shift positions. Arrange things so that after the position change the hose still has some slack.

You should try to avoid using a hose hanger - it's another complication and one more thing to carry when you travel. You should be able to learn to position things so the hanger is not necessary. I can shift in four positions - back, either side, stomach - without the use of a hose hanger.

If you just can't manage it, you might want to experiment with a hose hanger.

Second

This really applies to all humans, but especially CPAP users ------->

- Practice good sleep hygiene (Google it and read several sources)
- Eat a good diet
- Have a regular, moderate exercise program
- Try to avoid daytime naps
- Practice total abstinence of caffeine including sources like chocolate (sigh)
- Review all medicines, vitamins and supplements you are taking to make sure none are interfering with sleep
- Use the bedroom for sleeping (and sex) only, and make sure the bedroom and bed are comfortable.
- Learn to appropriately handle emotional stress in your life
- Use CPAP software, such as the free SleepyHead, to make sure your therapy is optimized
- If you still don't feel or sleep well, make sure you have regular medical checkups to confirm there are no other medical problems

CG

And then about,

needing to make some minor adjustment of the headgear straps.

I think that is just some practice and thinking about how adjustments affect the process. Some people say standing in front of a mirror to make the adjustments helps. Others say lie in bed with the mask on.

Of course, you have to find a happy medium in strap adjustment - not too tight and not too loose.

Ciao.

[kteague]

So my problem is that I briefly wake up every time I shift sleep positions, perhaps 6-10 times nightly. Seems like the hose is always the culprit.

I am interested in your response to questions about the relationship between your wakeups and changing positions. Narrowing things down will help you troubleshoot. If your position changes are due to discomfort, then ignore the rest of this. If there's any chance you could have an issue with limb movements, we can discuss it further. I used to think I was waking and changing positions. Turned out my legs were moving and waking me. Not likely, but worth keeping in the back of your mind.

[mummmz]

Did your sleep study say you had restless leg syndrome (RLS)?

[ChicagoGranny]

Did your sleep study say you had restless leg syndrome (RLS)?

Sleep studies aren't used to diagnose RLS. You might be thinking about PLMD.

[jgcrain]

At one time, my doc had some concerns about restless leg. Some testing ruled that out. My last sleep study was in 2012 and they specifically commented that there was no limb movement noted. I have no idea why but I have always flopped around like a fish out of water as I sleep. Since starting CPAP, I can't tell you how many times I have woke up with my hose wrapped completely around my throat. I will be seeing my PCP in 6 weeks and will bring it up. I don't expect to get much of a response though.

Overall, I am really encouraged about the CPAP therapy. I just wish I could find a way to sleep all through the night

Thanks to all for your comments
Greg

[Pugsy]

You can google "sleep maintenance insomnia" and see if you think that is what is going on with you.

Bear in mind that it is entirely normal to wake up a few times during the night...like it's normal to wake after REM stage sleep. Most of the time we don't remember those awakenings but sometimes we do.

If the hose is still bugging you....try a homemade or store bought hose management system
viewtopic.php?t=10640

As the brain becomes more used to having all this stuff attached to us it should eventually stop the nudges to wake up just to tell us "hey, dude, did you know you have an alien stuck to your face".
I think it took my brain about 4 months to get okay with the mask and quit with the wake ups just to feel the mask on the face.

Also bear in mind that meds can have side effects that cause us to wake up too easily or maybe we have other health issues that cause us to wake up...like pain or discomfort. Hopefully we just turn over and go back to sleep.

[mummmz]

Did your sleep study say you had restless leg syndrome (RLS)?

Sleep studies aren't used to diagnose RLS. You might be thinking about PLMD.

I had electrodes attached to my legs during my sleep study and titration. I thought they said they were to check for RLS. What is PLMD again?

[avi123]

Greg, get a hose holder:

https://www.amazon.com/Eliminate-Tangle ... se+support

[Pugsy]

I had electrodes attached to my legs during my sleep study and titration. I thought they said they were to check for RLS. What is PLMD again?

PLMD is Periodic Limb Movement Disorder
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Periodic_ ... t_disorder

It's not the same thing as RLS Restless Leg Syndrome but people often use the terms assuming they are the same thing.

My husband has RLS...it manifests itself while he is awake and often when he is extremely tired...so he goes to bed and his legs never move when asleep. So he has RLS but he doesn't have PLMD.

[sleepy42]

Is the Airfit Mask the only mask you've tried extensively? Have you ever tried the Swift FX?

I've never worn the Airfit, but it looks like the headgear is at least somewhat rigid right near the nose area. I have been using the Swift FX for a few years now, before that I had other nasal pillows and did pretty well with the others, however for me, the Swift FX works much much better, I attribute it to how flexible the headgear is, and how thin it is. I sleep on my side most of the time, and my face lays flat on the pillow, I barely even notice the FX's head gear, the nasal pillows rarely if ever get pushed out of position... I'm convinced I have much less problems with my treatment because of how well the FX is suited to my own personal needs. If they should ever do away with the FX and don't somehow make something even better, I don't know what I'd do.


Meanwhile, I run the hose up behind me, next to my pillow. If I do wake up, and want to roll over, I just grab the hose, flip over and let the hose drop to the other side of my pillow. I may not roll around as much as you do though... On a typical night, I might wake up 4 times, for unknown reasons. On a really good night, maybe once.. but usually at least twice.

In the end, your still pretty new to all this. I suspect part of it is that your still just getting used to it all. For me, now after something like 12 years using CPAP, I barely notice the gear, or the hose. But again... for me, getting a really comfortable mask that allows me to sleep with my face plastered all over my pillow without the nasal masks being dislodged , has made a huge difference .

[jgcrain]

Sleepy, the P10 is my first and only. Because of insurance deductible, everything has been out of pocket so far. I will probably wait another month before looking at another option. I am in Houston and will likely go over and vi it this sites sponsor. Thanks for the suggestion
Greg

[mummmz]

I had electrodes attached to my legs during my sleep study and titration. I thought they said they were to check for RLS. What is PLMD again?

PLMD is Periodic Limb Movement Disorder
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Periodic_ ... t_disorder

It's not the same thing as RLS Restless Leg Syndrome but people often use the terms assuming they are the same thing.

My husband has RLS...it manifests itself while he is awake and often when he is extremely tired...so he goes to bed and his legs never move when asleep. So he has RLS but he doesn't have PLMD.

Thanks for the explanation. I didn't know there was a difference.