How many people have trouble falling asleep?

[digitaleagle]

I have been on CPAP now a little over two weeks. It's working well for me with an average AHI of about 2.5. My sleep Dr. thinks I'm doing great and actually encourages me to use the software and change settings as I think are necessary. (Very refreshing)

My only problem is I still depend on Ambien to get to sleep. Once I fall asleep I'm good and sleep through the night- I just can't seem to fall asleep - even when I'm dead tired without the medicine. I never had this problem prior to the CPAP.

I talked to my Sleep Dr. about it and he thinks I still have some anxiety around using the CPAP. I must admit - I'm still not totally comfortable with it. He prescribed some more (non-CR) Ambien for me and said we could try some Xanax later if that isn't working.

I'm just curious how many others have this issue. Is this normal for a few weeks being new with CPAP? I'd like to hear if you had similar experiences and how you dealt with it. Was there something that broke the cycle for you?

I'm pretty comfortable with my Swift FX and don't have a leak issues. I just have a hard time falling asleep which is frustrating.

Any suggestions on breaking the Ambien habit? My Dr. isn't too concerned with this - but I don't want to be forever dependent on the drugs.

I know about getting up if you can't sleep, wearing the mask while not sleeping, using the bed for only sleep, etc. Nothing seems to be working. (I.E proper sleep hygiene)

[msradar65]

I use meds for sleep too. My family doctors told it was not uncommon for people with sleep apnea to have problems falling asleep or staying asleep. He encouraged to me to use medications to help me go to sleep for as long as I need them.

[lbw]

Ambien is ok to use, I would be more hesistent to switch to Xanax. As used catch up on your sleep deficit you should find yourself falling asleep more naturally. I have been on cpap almost 8 months and I still have the occaisional problem falling asleep. Just hang in there

[digitaleagle]

Thanks for the reply - that's very interesting.

I just find it disconcerting that I now have this problem when I never did before the CPAP. I certainly don't want to take the drugs long term. I have no problem with staying asleep once I fall asleep. I just can't get to sleep. My sleep Dr. asked me if I was in pain or had racing thoughts or felt anxious. I said no. I guess the best way to describe it is I just don't have the sleepy feeling. It's sort of like my brain is fully awake and I can't shut my thoughts off. Sort of like I'm on a caffeine high - even though I never have caffiene after the morning. I'm usually dead tired, (yawing before I go to bed - feeling tired) but as soon as I hit that pillow and put on the mask - I'm wide awake and don't feel tired at all.

Anxiety seems to make the most sense to me. I know I have only been on this for two weeks - but sort of think I would get into the falling asleep "groove" by now.

[BrianR4743]

Meds absolutely help out, but ideally you should try to wean off of them. They can get a hook into you that's awfully hard to get off of (been there).

Try some meditation and progressive relaxation exercises when the lights go out, I've found that it helps out quite a bit. I found some on the internet, downloaded them into an Mp3 player and just plug in. Normally, I'm out like a light before the session ends.

Stick with it and best of luck!

[digitaleagle]

I agree with you on the long term drug use.

I have a sound conditioner machine that I got into the habit of using before CPAP. (It does the rainfall sounds, various white noises, etc.) Barking dogs, etc. outside used to keep me awake. Since I have been using this machine I never hear any outside noise anymore. - once I turned that thing on I was conditioned to fall asleep in about 2 minutes. Now I still use it but it doesn't have the same effect on me.

[DreamLady]

I have had trouble falling asleep since I can remember. I combat insomnia by reading. I have the lowest wattage light possible to read by, and adjust it so it only falls on the book. Once I find myself forgetting what I just read, I know I'm ready to go to sleep. I can't watch TV just before bed, though. I find it too stimulating.

[digitaleagle]

Dreamlady - thanks. I find reading soothing also. I know they tell you it can be too stimulating like watching TV, but I also find it helps me get sleepy.

I might try that out some more. I'll look for some really boring material. The US Tax code should do the trick!

Thanks again.

[tonycog]

I still use Ambien (non CR). My sleep doc has been consistent in telling me that it is approved for indefinite use. There are some here who will blast Ambien. Ideally, I would love to sleep without it. But I have a mortgage, an 8-year-old son, and many other obligations, some more important than others. Sleep is essential to doing these things, so I continue to use Ambien. I now use 1/2 the dose (5 mg) than I originally did. Some nights I use 2.5 mg. My doctor tells me that if I can sleep with 2.5 mg, (which I sometimes can) then I probably don't need it and that the need is almost entirely psychological. This matches much of what I have read about ambien.

Once I get to sleep I generally can continue to sleep until the alarm goes off, usually with a couple of minor awakenings. I keep a small fan running near my bed for white noise. It helps cover the sound of my Bi-PAP and any other minor sounds.

Best wishes,
Tony

[tonycog]

Another thing:

I'm in the process of reading "Sound Sleep, Sound Mind" by Dr. Barry Krakow. It's available pretty much anywhere you can buy books. It has been recommended by several people here. I'm just getting started but what I have read makes sense.

Tony

[digitaleagle]

Tony - I actually just bought that book and received it yesterday. I haven't had time to read any of it yet - but plan to. It looks very interesting.

I find that if I don't take the full dose of Ambien it does nothing for me. My sleep Dr. thinks the straight Ambien, (no cr version) will be better as you get a higher dose when you need it most. (Right when you are trying to fall asleep) I just got the new script today so - I will see what happens tonight. He might be right. With the CR version I might not be getting enough dose right off the bat.

Wow - 2.5mg's is a really low dose. I'm amazed that works for you.

[tonycog]

2.5 doesn't always work. But the fact that sometimes I can sleep with only 2.5 mg seems to support the contention that some of ambien's help is psychological - that is "Since I know I'm getting ambien, I know I will get to sleep." It bugs me to consider that I am at this point, but there it is. I do know that I need to sleep to function, so for now this is what I do, with my sleep doc's approval.

Tony

[kteague]

Since falling asleep wasn't a problem for you before cpap, my guess is you will soon return to your normal pattern.

Of those needing sleep aids on an ongoing basis, I'm wondering how many had their first problems with starting cpap, and how many had sleep problems before cpap. Those who've had long standing sleep issues have some ingrained patterns to break. For some of us, simply providing the environment for sleep just wasn't enough. Also, it takes some time for the brain to not be on high alert with all the new sensations that it hasn't yet figured out are ok to trust and sleep through. Once I made peace with the machine and mask, I began to fall asleep a bit easier. When I have a bit of a stall going to sleep these days, I take a small amount of melatonin and it does the trick. I can't take over 1mg though or I'll likely have nightmares. A few years ago, melatonin wouldn't even take the edge off my alertness, so my need has really improved.

As you get used to the treatment you can experiment with if you still need the help, or as much help. Let us know how this pans out for you.

[jazzer4]

I really do understand what your saying, as I'm that way also.
I've been on C-pap for a bit over one year.
I have been working on fall asleep using tips from Sound Sleep Sound Mind.
What I've been trying lately is to set the alarm for 8 A.M. and get up no matter what time I feel to sleep
No napping although it's tempting some days.
I like you sit and yawn and feel ready to go to sleep, but hit the pillow and I'm wide awake. Your right, it's as if you had caffine.
I hate to just lay there, as before long the mask starts to botter me, them my legs itch, then my nose itches on and on and on.
I get up and walk around yawning, then go back and try again. Sometimes it's after 2, and I went to bed at 11.
But, lately i have found I'll go to sleep good two nights in a row then the third night be awake till 2...so this is better for me than it was.
I think getting up at the same time everyday is finally working somewhat.
I have Ambian, but I find it makes me have more events, so I don't take it. I have found I feel better with less sleep and no drugs then more sleep with drugs.
Just keep at it, that's what I'm doing......
P.S. Just got home from a Christmas party ( a few drinks) so I hope this makes sense.

[Janknitz]

I've had a hard time falling asleep all my life, and it got MUCH worse at first on CPAP.

But over time, it gradually got better and better. Now, I have no sleep latency at all. I strap the mask on and the next thing I know I'm waking up. It's almost as if the mask is now my body's cue to go to sleep. This may happen for you but you've got to give it time and eliminate any discomforts from your mask or machine.

I kind of miss that time I had in bed before sleeping. I used to make up elaborate stories and I never have time for them any more . But sometimes either my stories or my stress got the better of me and it would be hours before I could sleep.

On CPAP, that's no longer an issue. Mask on, I'm out. See you in the morning!