Have lots of questions about insomnia

swcompassionate wrote:Thanks rooster for all your support. I am actually seeing a counselor/therapist once a week for counseling and it is helping some. I will get my sleep schedule back on track and get a little calmer and then try again to adjust to the CPAP. I think I am going to be one of those people that is a very gradual adjuster. I know this is going to sound really weird but I am having trouble with keeping the back straps on the Swift LT from fitting and I am trying to think of different ideas. Someone suggested the papcap from pursleep.com but the problem is when I actually slept with my chin strap from when I had a nasal mask, I would get dry mouth. I did not get dry mouth without the chin strap. Strange huh? I am thinking about a couple of things to try and help because the back straps slip because of my hair. I thought about velcro strips from the fabric store to add into my hair but that would still not stop it from slipping on my hair. I thought of panty house cut up and pinned to the sleepwear I use. Any other thoughts about keeping it in place? I love the mask itself and do not want to give it up. Or is there another mask that does not have the straps that go around the head? Just wondering.

SWC,

I saw a therapist about a dozen times the last year before I diagnosed myself with sleep apnea and had a PSG to confirm. This therapist is a great guy and is very educated. Unfortunately, like most therapists, he did not know s@#^ about sleep apnea. After I had the sleep study in my hand I called him and told him he better damn quickly learn how to screen for sleep apnea and send his patients to sleep docs.

The therapist was shocked that I had sleep apnea but then offered, "Well if I sent all my patients to sleep labs, more than half of them would be found to have sleep disorders." Well hell, send them to get a cpap machine and quit sitting around inventing sob stories that they are nuts because of some traumatic event in their childhood! I was nuts because of severe sleep deprivation, deep oxygen desaturations and excess adrenalin.

I can't help with that particular mask but others are responding. Two things I am concerned about. First is mouth leaking or mouth breathing. Even without dry mouth this can be happening and you might not be aware of it. You may eventually find you need a full face mask. Many of us went this route.

Second, IMO, everyone should have a fully data capable machine to monitor leaks, apneas and hypopneas. It can also give you an indication if you need a full face mask.

I started out with the basic-issue machine and only when I finally got a machine to monitor did I find out the lab had the pressure wrong. With the daily data I was able to retitrate myself to achieve an AHI < 1.0 and regain my sanity. (Well I kept the good parts of being insane but got rid of the anxiety and depression.)

Is there any chance you could get a data-capable machine?

Regards,

swcompassionate wrote:Thanks rooster for all your support. I am actually seeing a counselor/therapist once a week for counseling and it is helping some. I will get my sleep schedule back on track and get a little calmer and then try again to adjust to the CPAP. I think I am going to be one of those people that is a very gradual adjuster. I know this is going to sound really weird but I am having trouble with keeping the back straps on the Swift LT from fitting and I am trying to think of different ideas. Someone suggested the papcap from pursleep.com but the problem is when I actually slept with my chin strap from when I had a nasal mask, I would get dry mouth. I did not get dry mouth without the chin strap. Strange huh? I am thinking about a couple of things to try and help because the back straps slip because of my hair. I thought about velcro strips from the fabric store to add into my hair but that would still not stop it from slipping on my hair. I thought of panty house cut up and pinned to the sleepwear I use. Any other thoughts about keeping it in place? I love the mask itself and do not want to give it up. Or is there another mask that does not have the straps that go around the head? Just wondering.

SWCompassionate,
To prevent strap slippage in my hair I do the following.
After my shower, I comb my hair all back and pin it. The hair clips are in the shape of a narrow triangle metal clip with the holes in them They bend open and close and you can get them in the grocery store. I use those because their very flat and wide. I put two in above my ear & two behind my ears and a couple on the top back of my head. Basically, my hair does not move. This keeps hair out of my face and the back straps do not slip. If your hairs really short, still put the pins in and that should give the straps something to grip.

Thank you all for the thread attachments to help with the back straps. All really great ideas. Now I know how the velcro straps work. Makes more sense now. I can't wait to try some of these solutions. Will keep trying. By the way, I slept through the night last night, albiet without the CPAP but will try CPAP tonight with one of the modifications. Thanks again for the threads and support. Also, going to the primary care physician today and talk to her about all my anxiety and see if she has any suggestions. Took a Seroquel last night to help reset my system for the Trazodone. I only take 12/1/2 mg maybe once very six months and it seems to make the Trazodone more effective again. Going to exercise today as well. Any suggestions about how late is too late for exercise. I was thinking not closer than three hours before bed. Thanks for the help.

swcompassionate wrote:...... Any suggestions about how late is too late for exercise. I was thinking not closer than three hours before bed. .......

It may be different for each of us and it may be different depending on the exercise. If I am going to bed at 11:00 p.m., I do best (sleeping) if I finish aerobic exercise by 5:00 or 6:00 p.m. Heavy weight lifting I need to finish by 3:00 or 4:00 p.m.

Of course you have to work it into your schedule and five to eight hours elapsed time may not be possible. Three hours may be enough time for you. It is going to be much better than not exercising.

Good luck,

I found during my Ativan withdrawal that taking Calcium/Magnesium about 1 hour before bed helped. Good luck.

Gary

Thanks for the additional advice. Believe it or not, I do take 2 tablets of Magnesium Citrate at night which helps create a relaxed feeling for me at night. Thanks for that suggestion. It does help a lot. Still experimenting with the back straps. Will keep you updated on how its going as it develops. Blessings wished to everyone.