New Member - Struggling With CPAP

Try listening audio books. I plug headphones into my phone at night and turn on an audio book. When I started I used books I had already read but liked. I am able to set a timer that turns off the book . It relaxed me and I didn't think about sleeping. I am doing it now to take my mind off the world outside. Almost done with all the Harry potter books. I have read and listened to these many times over the years You will soon have an idea how long to set the timer. My library has audio books online to check out on my phone. There are thousands. You can also use Audible but the are sold to you and you keep forever. I own lots and listen over and over. Nice on long trips if you play through your radio.

Try listening audio books. I plug headphones into my phone at night and turn on an audio book. When I started I used books I had already read but liked. I am able to set a timer that turns off the book . It relaxed me and I didn't think about sleeping. I am doing it now to take my mind off the world outside. Almost done with all the Harry potter books. I have read and listened to these many times over the years You will soon have an idea how long to set the timer. My library has audio books online to check out on my phone. There are thousands. You can also use Audible but the are sold to you and you keep forever. I own lots and listen over and over. Nice on long trips if you play through your radio.

Spiff wrote: ↑

Fri Apr 17, 2020 2:51 pm

Doublearon,

This is first post, too.

I've had my CPAP for about 18 months. While I had no trouble sleeping with the mask on, I didn't feel that it made me any less tired. I got a lot of (indirect) help from this forum, by reading responses to others' questions. Over time, I've made some adjustments to my treatment, switched masks and tubes, etc. After months, I realized that I hadn't yawned at work, I hadn't tried to nap while driving, and I hadn't fallen asleep during my lunch break in a couple of weeks. I had a gradual improvement, one that snuck up on me.

My point is, stick with it. I don't feel knowledgeable enough to offer advice, but with the help of your medical professionals and people like those on this forum, you'll get there. You might not find a solution that makes you alert the very next morning. It might take time just to sleep through the night. Be persistent and patient; you'll find a solution.

Thanks for the encouragement Spiff!

Aquarian wrote: ↑

Fri Apr 17, 2020 4:54 pm

Try listening audio books. I plug headphones into my phone at night and turn on an audio book. When I started I used books I had already read but liked. I am able to set a timer that turns off the book . It relaxed me and I didn't think about sleeping. I am doing it now to take my mind off the world outside. Almost done with all the Harry potter books. I have read and listened to these many times over the years You will soon have an idea how long to set the timer. My library has audio books online to check out on my phone. There are thousands. You can also use Audible but the are sold to you and you keep forever. I own lots and listen over and over. Nice on long trips if you play through your radio.

Hi Aquarian,

I could try this. I'm not sure if it would work for me though. I get hung up on the smallest noises. Thank you for the suggestion though!

Try listening audio books. I plug headphones into my phone at night and turn on an audio book. When I started I used books I had already read but liked. I am able to set a timer that turns off the book . It relaxed me and I didn't think about sleeping. I am doing it now to take my mind off the world outside. Almost done with all the Harry potter books. I have read and listened to these many times over the years You will soon have an idea how long to set the timer. My library has audio books online to check out on my phone. There are thousands. You can also use Audible but the are sold to you and you keep forever. I own lots and listen over and over. Nice on long trips if you play through your radio.

I got OSCAR up and running on my laptop. Unfortunately, the screen isn't big enough to fit all of the graphs recommended so I might have to wait on an SD reader. Either that or I make them really small which probably isn't the best option.

Alright, I found another monitor that allowed me to get some (hopefully) decent screenshots of my OSCAR data. Here are two days worth for those that are interested.
I haven't been able to use the machine since I ran out of Ambien so unfortunately, it will make it hard to make changes to settings and evaluate the results.

Thanks again to all of you who have responded.

Were you actually ever asleep much during these 2 nights?

Can you safely take some sort of OTC sleep aid? Like Benadryl?

When you try again and if you can sleep.....try turning EPR off.

Pugsy wrote: ↑

Sat Apr 18, 2020 9:55 am

Were you actually ever asleep much during these 2 nights?

Can you safely take some sort of OTC sleep aid? Like Benadryl?

When you try again and if you can sleep.....try turning EPR off.

I don't remember waking up at all those nights. I think I slept all the way through.

I tried taking two Benadryl last night to knock myself out. It didn't help though. I'll try 3 tonight I guess. I've had 4 before and it made me feel really terrible so I won't go above 3 anymore.

I can try turning EPR off. The trick is getting to sleep with it so I can make changes and see the results.

If you need EPR..to fall asleep...set EPR to ramp only and set a time for the ramp and use the ramp.
The reason I want EPR off is to see if it makes any difference in those central/clear airway apneas. Hoping for a significant reduction.

There are 3 settings available for EPR....off, on full time and on for ramp only.

Pugsy wrote: ↑

Sat Apr 18, 2020 10:25 am

If you need EPR..to fall asleep...set EPR to ramp only and set a time for the ramp and use the ramp.
The reason I want EPR off is to see if it makes any difference in those central/clear airway apneas. Hoping for a significant reduction.

There are 3 settings available for EPR....off, on full time and on for ramp only.

I never knew it had those options, thanks for letting me know. I just switched it to ramp only. I also increased the ramp time from 30mins to 45 since I don't see myself ever falling asleep in less time than that.

Did you ever get the clinical/provider manual? It explains all the available features on the machine.
https://www.respshop.com/manuals/ResMed ... %20her.pdf

I had seen the manual before but that was at least 6 months ago. Thanks for copy.

I have been doing a bit better with sleep. I’m a notoriously terrible sleeper. Toss and turn a lot. My issue isn’t falling asleep. It’s staying asleep. These are my recent things I’ve done which help:

Increased melatonin to 10 mg. I have heard various things like less is more, etc. I’m taking 10 and it is helping. I’m not groggy in the morning. Well maybe a little but I’m always a “don’t talk to me until I’ve had a cuppa coffee” person anyways. Thus is the one I’ve been taking: https://www.walmart.com/ip/2-Pack-Sprin ... thena=true

I take 0-2 nighttime Aleve. Some nights none. Some nights 1, some nights 2 (rare),

I either sleep with Bluetooth headband type headphones or a special pillow with built-in headphones (I actually have a self-modified version of Dreampad pillow). More recently, it’s been the pillow with built-in headphones. I don’t think an expensive pillow is necessary. If my husband wasn’t in the picture, I would just listen via speaker. The Dreampad supposedly provides a different type of hearing experience so that you can only hear it if your ear is against pillow. I have not mastered wearing headphones and mask at same time.

Then with headphones or Dreampad, it’s been trial and error. I do best with Podcast (semi interesting but not super compelling) and then go to either white noise or spa type music. I use Spotify to make an 8 hour playlist (optimistic). I put the podcast at beginning of playlist. I always fall asleep during podcast. It gets my mind off of CPAP. It’s often a history thing or something like that. When I wake up in the night, I can usually go back to sleep with the white noise or spa music. If I don’t go back to sleep easily, I restart the podcast. I also like Sleep with Me podcast and something like Wholetones (music with frequency tones specifically designed for relaxation).

You can tell I’ve put a lot of thought and energy into this. Insomnia sucks.

Twelve12 wrote: ↑

Sun Apr 19, 2020 8:09 am

I have been doing a bit better with sleep. I’m a notoriously terrible sleeper. Toss and turn a lot. My issue isn’t falling asleep. It’s staying asleep. These are my recent things I’ve done which help:

Increased melatonin to 10 mg. I have heard various things like less is more, etc. I’m taking 10 and it is helping. I’m not groggy in the morning.

from reading this forum over the years, i strikes me that not all people take the same dose or even require the same dose. i never get that melatonin hangover. started out with 10 mg. then 10 mg time release. over the years, i'v lowered my dosage of melatonin. i'm now using a time release liquid and use just a fraction of 1 mg.

so i'm now regarding melatonin almost the same way i regard humidification. what works for thee won't necessarily work for me. and vice versa.