Are Naps a Bad Idea?

[Breathe Jimbo]

I've used the CPAP machine for four nights now. Since starting, I have avoided naps until today, when I decided to take one around dinner time because I was tired of waiting all day for bedtime to deal with the sleepiness. I don't want to spend all day waiting until the end of the day so that I can use the CPAP machine. However, I am now wide awake at 10:30 PM. (Maybe I just answered my own question.) Is there a general consensus as to whether people with severe OSA should not take naps?

I did use CPAP during the nap; that much I figured out.

[jweeks]

Jimbo,

Do what feels right for you. When you first get started, you probably are way behind in sleep. Folks call this a sleep debt. You have to pay that back, and it takes a while. I found that I eventually stabilized where I can get up around 7 AM, and I don't get tired until about midnight. Given yourself some time to adjust, take naps as you need them, and concentrate on getting sleep when your body needs it. Once you get caught up, then you will probably fall into a regular routine. The more regular you can make things, the better your body will do over the long term.

-john-

[Kevin G.]

Taking naps can make it hard to get to sleep at night but a short cat nap can do wonders if you are so tired that you cannot function adequately.

[kteague]

Maybe your nap was too long or too late in the day. However you decide to handle the naps, kudos to you for using your machine during naptime. I'd be interested in hearing if and when the time comes where you don't feel the need for naps any longer. Just curious.

[Duckie]

Sleep hygiene. That is what my Dr. has me doing now ( on Auto Pap for 4 weeks) I am allowed 7 hours a night to sleep and no naps. Her theory is that I don't sleep solid at night time. So I am to learn to sleep for seven hour straight. So if you get tired enough you will sleep. This is only day two of it so I will have to let you know how it goes. By the way the seven hours are at the exact same time each night. Her statement is that with sleep apnea my body learned to sleep in short segments. I person needs long segment for refreshing sleep. So retraining needs to be done. Once I start sleeping 7 hours she will increase the amount until I feel refreshed in the morning.

[SleepingUgly]

Duckie, I'll be interested to hear how it goes. Keep us posted.

[Breathe Jimbo]

Although I was wide awake at 10:30 PM, I did get sleepy and was able to fall asleep at 12:30 AM, which is quite a bit earlier than I would "normally" go to bed before the sleep test. Then I woke up again around 5:00 AM with a bad leak, afraid that my CPAP machine was not working. Reset nasal pillows and sound goes away; check. Open mouth and air rushes out; check. Break seal and air rushes out; check. Check display on S8 for "CPAP"; check. Turn S8 off and on and notice the big difference; check. Still afraid machine is not working; completely irrational. I guess I have a sleep disorder! I'm not laughing at anyone else, just myself.

[Mammal]

Its a individual thing, but I made a deliberate decision to schedule catch up sleep. (Hoping it would work)
For the first 6 weeks, I napped every day for 2-3 hours in the afternoon.
Then for the next 4 weeks, I only needed to nap every second day.
In the last 2 weeks, I've only needed to nap every third day.

I am progressively finding it harder to get to sleep during the day now, which I believe is a good thing. Its a sign that the need for daytime naps is diminishing. Pre CPAP, I was falling asleep during the day at the drop of a hat.

The daytime naps have not affected my ability to get to sleep at nite. In fact, I have found the process of positioning myself correctly on my side, with strategically placed pillows, and wearing the mask, has given me a "routine", which concentrates my mind to go to sleep.

I'm writing this post at 11.10pm, and I feel as fresh as a daisy, (and I didn't have a nap today).

[chunkyfrog]

Naps, aaah.
I used to doze off at my computer--AT WORK--sitting up.
This was not good because I SNORE----LOUDLY
I'm so lucky I still have the job--Now I work extra hard to pay back for all the times I didn't get fired. . .

[roster]

Although I was wide awake at 10:30 PM, I did get sleepy and was able to fall asleep at 12:30 AM, which is quite a bit earlier than I would "normally" go to bed before the sleep test. Then I woke up again around 5:00 AM with a bad leak, afraid that my CPAP machine was not working. Reset nasal pillows and sound goes away; check. Open mouth and air rushes out; check. Break seal and air rushes out; check. Check display on S8 for "CPAP"; check. Turn S8 off and on and notice the big difference; check. Still afraid machine is not working; completely irrational. I guess I have a sleep disorder! I'm not laughing at anyone else, just myself.

You may be mouthbreathing at night and losing the therapeutic pressure. If so, get a full face mask which covers nose and mouth and maintains the appropriate pressure even when the mouth opens.

[chunkyfrog]

Absolutely correct, Rooster.
I didn't even know I had my mouth open until the dryness was intolerable.
Even taping gets me a dry mouth.

[Hawthorne]

I don't nap every day but the days that I do (maybe 3-4 days a week), it is just after lunch and about 1/2 to 3/4 of an hour - with cpap of course. I'm retired so have time to nap!

I go to bed at around 11 pm and wake around 6:30 am every night. My nap does not seem to affect my night time sleeping at all.

I do have Rheumatoid Arthritis which has a fatigue factor of it's own so I don't fight the nap the days that I am feeling weary! If I nap later than about 2 pm I have trouble sleeping at night.

[stanta]

Naps, aaah.
I used to doze off at my computer--AT WORK--sitting up.
This was not good because I SNORE----LOUDLY
I'm so lucky I still have the job--Now I work extra hard to pay back for all the times I didn't get fired. . .

My first time through this I couldn't get used to the CPAP and had to wait for my UPPP surgery date to come up. Thank goodness for understanding coworkers and bosses for me. Every Monday we would have a staff meeting and I missed most of it snoring away and no one even razzed me about it. Normally we were like sharks in bloody water if we thought we could one up each other. After one cancellation of the surgery pushed it back another 6 weeks the sleep deprivation was affecting me so much I was sure I was going to get fired but I guess during my awake moments I was still able to come up with enough innovative design work to keep me on.

The day of my surgery half the office came up afetr work to see how I was doing. I almost cried, No ONE had ever shown that much concern for me before. I loved those guys. One asked how I was doing, I just pointed at the machine next to me and lifted my hand holding a button and crocked "Morphine!". That got a good laugh.

[roster]

The day of my surgery half the office came up afetr work to see how I was doing. I almost cried, No ONE had ever shown that much concern for me before.

My gang did that to me once. They wanted to see if I had died so they could draw straws for my corner office and laptop.

Ain't gone yet and still have the corner office. Foiled the vultures.

[Janknitz]

Naps with CPAP are fine IF they don't interfere with nighttime sleep. I cherish my weekend naps.

In the evenings after dinner I sometimes fall asleep--and I've learned the hard way to put the machine on in case that happens if I'm feeling the least bit sleepy. But then I wake about 10:30 or 11 and do have a hard time going to bed. I'm trying to improve my "sleep architechture" by putting on my p.j.s and brushing my teeth so that I can just go to sleep for the night if that happens. But I'm not very consistent about doing so.