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Re: Beer and sleep apnea
Posted: Thu Oct 24, 2019 6:01 am
by ragtopcircus
I find it best to fill the time between having a few drinks and sleep with physical activity ... with a partner ....
Moderation is best for that too.
Re: Beer and sleep apnea
Posted: Thu Oct 24, 2019 6:55 am
by JayDee
Bubba1 wrote: ↑Wed Oct 23, 2019 6:45 pm
I like to drink beer in the evening. I know it leads to increased urination at night and alcohol impacts sleep. My experience is alcohol makes it easy to fall asleep but hard to stay asleep.
Going to get my first CPAP machine soon and don't plan on stopping beer... Thoughts???
My thoughts, off the top of my head...
You acknowledge your habit.
You recognize it may be detrimental to PAP therapy.
You state you have no intention of stopping or moderating your habit.
Good luck.
-JD
Re: Beer and sleep apnea
Posted: Thu Oct 24, 2019 7:31 am
by ragtopcircus
chunkyfrog wrote: ↑Wed Oct 23, 2019 10:25 pm
Abstinence is for all those who cannot make moderation work.
Moderation is my thing--for example: one piece of chocolate
---at a time.
Exactly!
“They” say never go to bed angry. I say never go to bed intoxicated or congested.
Re: Beer and sleep apnea
Posted: Thu Oct 24, 2019 7:39 am
by D.H.
If you must drink beer, you should do the same on your titration night. When being titrated, it's best to stick as closely as possible to your "normal" routine.
Re: Beer and sleep apnea
Posted: Thu Oct 24, 2019 10:36 am
by djont57
I have been on CPAP for 18 months; I usually have a couple beers after dinner, no problem for me. Sleep all night, my average is less than 2 AHI.
Re: Beer and sleep apnea
Posted: Thu Oct 24, 2019 10:47 am
by nkupianist
Is drinking + CPAP optimal? No. Is it better than beer and no CPAP? Almost certainly yes.
You didn't specify amounts being drunk. If it's enough to induce hangovers, you may notice them to be milder with CPAP.
I drank to levels that would be considered alcohol abuse on the weekend for a few years. I knew it was bad for sleep quality, but I felt so physically and psychologically exhausted by Friday that the instant "lights out" effect of alcohol became something I looked forward to. Of course it led to a cycle of more tiredness, more alcohol, etc. Within a few months of starting CPAP, my mental/psychological composure was so much better that I was ready to address a lot of long-term health habits, including drinking. Maybe you'll have a similar change of heart when you start to feel otherwise better on CPAP. I now happily don't drink.
+1 to what others said about melatonin. For all I know, it may be placebo, but I take it fairly regularly to get to sleep.
Best of luck.
Re: Beer and sleep apnea
Posted: Thu Oct 24, 2019 11:12 am
by zonker
Re: Beer and sleep apnea
Posted: Thu Oct 24, 2019 11:27 am
by ChicagoGranny
Bubba1 wrote: ↑Wed Oct 23, 2019 6:45 pm
Going to get my first CPAP machine soon and don't plan on stopping beer... Thoughts???
Why do you ask for comments if you will continue drinking regardless?
How much beer do you drink in the evenings? How close to bedtime? If you limit it to one or two pints and finish about three hours before bedtime, it shouldn't be much of a problem.
Subjectively rate your sleep and your energy level the next day. You may want to keep a journal.
Re: Beer and sleep apnea
Posted: Thu Oct 24, 2019 2:44 pm
by Bubba1
D.H. wrote: ↑Thu Oct 24, 2019 7:39 am
If you must drink beer, you should do the same on your titration night. When being titrated, it's best to stick as closely as possible to your "normal" routine.
That's my thought process as well.
However the instructions clearly say avoid alcohol, caffeine and naps the day of the titration so that's what I did
Re: Beer and sleep apnea
Posted: Thu Oct 24, 2019 2:45 pm
by Bubba1
nkupianist wrote: ↑Thu Oct 24, 2019 10:47 am
Is drinking + CPAP optimal? No. Is it better than beer and no CPAP? Almost certainly yes.
You didn't specify amounts being drunk. If it's enough to induce hangovers, you may notice them to be milder with CPAP.
I drank to levels that would be considered alcohol abuse on the weekend for a few years. I knew it was bad for sleep quality, but I felt so physically and psychologically exhausted by Friday that the instant "lights out" effect of alcohol became something I looked forward to. Of course it led to a cycle of more tiredness, more alcohol, etc. Within a few months of starting CPAP, my mental/psychological composure was so much better that I was ready to address a lot of long-term health habits, including drinking. Maybe you'll have a similar change of heart when you start to feel otherwise better on CPAP. I now happily don't drink.
+1 to what others said about melatonin. For all I know, it may be placebo, but I take it fairly regularly to get to sleep.
Best of luck.
Appreciate that. Very helpful comments.
Re: Beer and sleep apnea
Posted: Thu Oct 24, 2019 2:46 pm
by Bubba1
ChicagoGranny wrote: ↑Thu Oct 24, 2019 11:27 am
Bubba1 wrote: ↑Wed Oct 23, 2019 6:45 pm
Going to get my first CPAP machine soon and don't plan on stopping beer... Thoughts???
Why do you ask for comments if you will continue drinking regardless?
How much beer do you drink in the evenings? How close to bedtime? If you limit it to one or two pints and finish about three hours before bedtime, it shouldn't be much of a problem.
Subjectively rate your sleep and your energy level the next day. You may want to keep a journal.
I drink between 4 and 12 beers per night. 12 oz per beer.
Re: Beer and sleep apnea
Posted: Thu Oct 24, 2019 3:13 pm
by ChicagoGranny
Bubba1 wrote: ↑Thu Oct 24, 2019 2:46 pm
I drink between 4 and 12 beers per night. 12 oz per beer.
That's a problem whether or not you have sleep apnea.
Re: Beer and sleep apnea
Posted: Thu Oct 24, 2019 3:47 pm
by CPAP Torturee
Bubba1 wrote: ↑Wed Oct 23, 2019 6:45 pm
I like to drink beer in the evening. I know it leads to increased urination at night and alcohol impacts sleep. My experience is alcohol makes it easy to fall asleep but hard to stay asleep.
Going to get my first CPAP machine soon and don't plan on stopping beer... Thoughts???
Bubba, I have 5 years experience with CPAP and 50 with beer. I agree with your assessment and with the first reply to your thread that CPAP will not change the equation. Best of luck. BTW, distilled spirits have zero carbs and lower nighttime urination count, depending on mixers.
Re: Beer and sleep apnea
Posted: Thu Oct 24, 2019 4:44 pm
by palerider
Bubba1 wrote: ↑Thu Oct 24, 2019 2:46 pm
ChicagoGranny wrote: ↑Thu Oct 24, 2019 11:27 am
Bubba1 wrote: ↑Wed Oct 23, 2019 6:45 pm
Going to get my first CPAP machine soon and don't plan on stopping beer... Thoughts???
Why do you ask for comments if you will continue drinking regardless?
How much beer do you drink in the evenings? How close to bedtime? If you limit it to one or two pints and finish about three hours before bedtime, it shouldn't be much of a problem.
Subjectively rate your sleep and your energy level the next day. You may want to keep a journal.
I drink between 4 and 12 beers per night. 12 oz per beer.
The only way you'll be able to sleep through the night is with a catheter.
Re: Beer and sleep apnea
Posted: Thu Oct 24, 2019 5:11 pm
by babydinosnoreless
katebrownell86 wrote: ↑Thu Oct 24, 2019 1:43 am
As per my knowledge drinking alcohol and smoking is not good for sleep apnea patients. I always avoid drinking alcohol, bear also.
I also avoid drinking bears. Although I have been called a mama bear a time or six