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Enchanter - hopefully, this will be a start in the right direction to help with your insomnia:

Eat a good diet

Have a regular, moderate exercise program

Try to avoid daytime naps

Practice abstinence of caffeine including sources like chocolate

Talk to your doctor to be sure any current medicines, vitamins and supplements aren't interfering with sleep

Optimize emotional stress in your life

Use CPAP software to make sure your therapy is optimized (like Sleepyhead)


Also, you might consider asking your doctor to prescribe a light sleep medicine until you get used to the mask. Even sleeping with your mask for a few hours at a time will help during the adjustment period.

Julie wrote:Actually, 5-8/24 isn't a bad ratio, especially if you're on Cpap... are you concerned because you 'think' you should be sleeping more hours (according to someone else's schedule), or because you feel like crap and think it's because you're not getting enough sleep?

I can get tired around 11 pm, but I don't fall asleep until 5 am. Sleep until 10 to 12 usually. I only fall asleep when I'm extremely exhausted. No matter how much I turn off electronics, it doesn't help. But my main concern is not getting the oxygen, and feeling very tired and having the headaches when waking up.

With Cpap, I usually don't sleep at all. It's 9 am. I can't sleep, so now I'm up. I just am not tolerating it well. It makes it that much harder to fall asleep.

Enchanter wrote:

Julie wrote:Actually, 5-8/24 isn't a bad ratio, especially if you're on Cpap... are you concerned because you 'think' you should be sleeping more hours (according to someone else's schedule), or because you feel like crap and think it's because you're not getting enough sleep?

I can get tired around 11 pm, but I don't fall asleep until 5 am. Sleep until 10 to 12 usually. I only fall asleep when I'm extremely exhausted. No matter how much I turn off electronics, it doesn't help. But my main concern is not getting the oxygen, and feeling very tired and having the headaches when waking up.

With Cpap, I usually don't sleep at all. It's 9 am. I can't sleep, so now I'm up. I just am not tolerating it well. It makes it that much harder to fall asleep.

I will probably be blasted for this but have you tried OTC sleeping pills; I sometimes need them (last night I wish I had taken one) and they work. I am sure there are downsides, but lots of downsides to not sleeping too.

Hi - just sent you a PM to think about...

I'm the same way. I Rarely have any day time solemence ( maybe once every 3 months). I sometimes wake up with mild headaches. But usually nothing at all. And my diagnosis is mild sleep apnea with an ahi of 10-11( probably higher in supine and increase rem) But im very wired and tired and can't get to sleep. The solution imo is getting something like promazinE. It knocks me out whatever I do. I get less rem but also less apnea.

OMG something crazy happened. I just got some sleep, but not with the mask. What happened was I stopped breathing through my mouth and my nostrils were clogged up. So I stopped breathing for about half a minute, and I had a hard time even moving my body, so I had to force myself to move and take the mask off. I literally stopped breathing and it felt like I was choking! So I could NOT sleep with it last night, (this morning) it scared the crap out of me.

What are the chances you need a full face mask - do you know for sure (e.g. from the study) that you don't mouth breathe when asleep?

But don't try to compare what happens when you're awake and breathing (or not breathing) to what happens when you're asleep... different thing altogether and the machine will interpret it all differently. Make sure also that you've set up the machine properly - it may be a bit complicated at first with all the features, but you want to get it right. Do you think you might need. e.g. EPR (to help if you find it hard to exhale on cpap - not everyone does at all, but some do).

Julie wrote:What are the chances you need a full face mask - do you know for sure (e.g. from the study) that you don't mouth breathe when asleep?

But don't try to compare what happens when you're awake and breathing (or not breathing) to what happens when you're asleep... different thing altogether and the machine will interpret it all differently. Make sure also that you've set up the machine properly - it may be a bit complicated at first with all the features, but you want to get it right. Do you think you might need. e.g. EPR (to help if you find it hard to exhale on cpap - not everyone does at all, but some do).

I don't know for sure. But because of my allergies, even with the nose sprays and shots, I wasn't able to breathe out of my nose for a period of time while I was trying to sleep with the nasal mask. And I couldn't breathe with my mouth, my muscled just stopped. I don't remember that happening before. I felt like I was almost asleep, but had to force myself to get the mask off fast because I wasn't breathing at all. It was scary.

I PM'd you on this...

6 am again. Haven't slept. So the mask has been making it even harder/impossible for me to get to sleep at all. Not sure what to do. Sure, it's early, but I don't really see how I can adjust to this, sleep was already hard. I don't know which direction to take. Do I tell Apria? See the doctor? Tell him I can't sleep? At this point, I don't think it's the mask. I just don't think I tolerate any amount of pressure well. Inhaling and exhaling is a challenge. Also, I know that when I'm tired, I can only sleep if I move around a lot and then I eventually sleep on the side. With the mask, I can't sleep on my side. So really don't know what to do.

You could sleep on your side with a Pap pillow(.com) - look it up. And don't try to match your breathing to the machine's (trouble with inhaling/exhaling) because it will adapt to your just breathing normally, then it will react if an event occurs (though you won't be aware of that because you'll be asleep - theoretically, anyhow). Does your machine have an EPR (exhalation pressure relief) button? READ the manual to take advantage of such things... you must help yourself a bit.

Enchanter,

According to the manual, do you have a BiPap or Apap machine? I am not clear on that so clarification would be greatly appreciated.

Thanks!

49er

Enchanter wrote:

Julie wrote:No... what MACHINE?

ResMED AirCurve 10 VAUTO

49er, if this is the correct machine it is a bilevel.

OkyDoky wrote:

Enchanter wrote:

Julie wrote:No... what MACHINE?

ResMED AirCurve 10 VAUTO

49er, if this is the correct machine it is a bilevel.

Thanks, that is what I thought. More later.

49er

Enchanter wrote:6 am again. Haven't slept. So the mask has been making it even harder/impossible for me to get to sleep at all. Not sure what to do. Sure, it's early, but I don't really see how I can adjust to this, sleep was already hard. I don't know which direction to take. Do I tell Apria? See the doctor? Tell him I can't sleep? At this point, I don't think it's the mask. I just don't think I tolerate any amount of pressure well. Inhaling and exhaling is a challenge. Also, I know that when I'm tired, I can only sleep if I move around a lot and then I eventually sleep on the side. With the mask, I can't sleep on my side. So really don't know what to do.

Many have experienced the problems you are having right now. It might help if you read posts on here from people who had similar issues. You asked if you should tell your doctor how you feel. My answer is an absolute Yes! I would get any help I could get if I found myself in your position. I'd bug anyone who might help -- your doctor, your DME, a psychologist -- anyone who understands what sleep apnea is. A gentle sleeping pill might also help you to get to sleep during this adjustment period. I'm also wondering why your doctor went straight to bipap and not cpap. It's a good idea for you to know the answer to that question; it will give you more understanding about ýour' apnea. I hope you make taking care of yourself the biggest priority in your life.