Getting desperate

DCTom · Post by **DCTom** » Wed Jul 06, 2005 9:18 am

I've posted here various times with various problems. You've all been very helpful. But I'm still struggling. Here is my problem. Since using CPAP now for nearly a year, I seem to fall asleep fine and sleep deeply for several hours. But then I start to dream (I guess that's REM sleep) and this goes on for most the rest of the night. I wake up often, dream a lot, and when I wake-up about 4 or 5 a.m., there's no going back to sleep. Somedays I am left very tired still. What is going on? Would C-Flex help?

Guest · Post by **Guest** » Wed Jul 06, 2005 9:51 am

Hey DC Tom,

Is it possible for you to rent a CFLEX unit from a DME supplier on your area?

The only way to tell if CFLEX will help is to actually use it. I work for a DME and it may be possible for me to rent you one if you cannot find a supplier local to your area.

Let me know if I can be of further assistance.

rested gal · Post by **rested gal** » Wed Jul 06, 2005 10:08 am

DCTom, what machine are you using now? If it's not an autopap, do you think it might be a good idea to ask your doctor to let an autopap gather data for a week or two...just to see if your current pressure is still "right" for you?

DCTom · Post by **DCTom** » Wed Jul 06, 2005 11:01 am

Yes I do use an AutoPap and according to it, everything is fine. I have normal breathing patterns at pressure of 6 and rarely even does it ramp up higher than that. That is part of what is confusing to me! Somehow I feel like exhaling is my problem though.

sir_cumference · Post by **sir_cumference** » Thu Jul 07, 2005 8:44 am

Is it possible that you simply don't need much sleep? I seem to be having a similar problem to you, although I'm up at about 6 having struggled to get back to sleep again after getting up at 4. I am beginning to think that my body simply doesn't need that much sleep as long as I get a good few hours deep sleep. It sounds like you are getting some quality sleep and some very famous people have survived on very little!
sir_cumference

rested gal · Post by **rested gal** » Thu Jul 07, 2005 9:46 am

Yes I do use an AutoPap and according to it, everything is fine. I have normal breathing patterns at pressure of 6 and rarely even does it ramp up higher than that. That is part of what is confusing to me! Somehow I feel like exhaling is my problem though.

In that case, I think first I'd try running your present autopap in straight CPAP mode, experimentally trying several straight pressures, one or two nights at a time, looking at the data next morning as well as noting how you slept and how you feel.

If you have difficulty exhaling during those experiments, then perhaps an auto with c-flex would let you continue fixed pressure experiments, but with the exhalation relief of C-flex.

Not a doctor...that's just what I'd try.

Getting desperate

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