Fighti'n Sleep.

It seems like I go to bed and everything in me wants to be awake. I've taken Melatonin, sleep tea, used the Lavender oil. I take Mirapex for my legs, and the last 2 nights started taking the Ambiean CR. I dont like taking it, but cant seem to sleep without it. If I take it till I get my sleep patterns back, is that ok? My wifes getting heart surgery next week, and I'm sure thats on my mind. Thanks, Sleepy Boy..

I'd be interested in also hearing about this problem. My wife sleeps about three to fours hour per night. It's not that she doesn't want to sleep, she can't. She'll be drousy in her chair and nodding off, but the minute she reclines in bed, she is wide awake. She is miserably tired throughout the day, aches all over and I can tell from when she is sleeping, snoring and not breathing, that she has OSA. She won't go get a sleep study done because she knows she will not be able to sleep. She has been prescribed Ambien CR as you indicate you were, but it only gets her about two hours of sleep before she wakes.

I sympathize with you; not being able to sleep is a horrible "row to hoe".

Sleepy Boy - My Sleep Dr. told me it was fine to take the prescribed Ambian as needed in order for me to adjust to cpap therapy. Best wishes to your wife, my thoughts will be with you both.

mdbarthe - Is it possible to put a recliner in the bedroom so your wife can fall asleep reclining? And if she had a sleep study and started on cpap therapy, the therapy hopefully would help her extend her sleep time each night. Would'nt that be great for your wife and such a relief for you.

mdbarthe wrote:... She won't go get a sleep study done because she knows she will not be able to sleep. She has been prescribed Ambien CR as you indicate you were, but it only gets her about two hours of sleep before she wakes...

As you said she thinks she won't be able to sleep, but she might. Isn't it worth a shot so she can get started on CPAP therapy ASAP if indeed she does have it? I'm inclined to think that her lack of sleep may possibly stem from the OSA is she has it. It won't get better without CPAP therapy (as you know) and for that she needs a sleep study... etc.

I just want the best for everyone and their loved ones.

Violet - That's a great suggestion and I might just get her to try that.

Kenny - You are very right. She needs to take the initiative and do something about the situation. You know the old saying, "You can lead a horse to water but you can't make them drink."

Thanks to both of you for replying!

Sleepy Boy - Is the Mirapex working for your legs and your CPAP therapeutic? Seems longstanding sleep patterns can be hard to repattern, at least have been for me, and effectively resolving all disrupters provides the best environment for sleep to happen. I personally understand resorting to sleep meds, just think it's best if they are in addition to effective treatments and not a substitute. Wishing your wife a successful surgery and speedy recovery. Having a lot on our mind certainly can affect our sleep. Hope things settle down after a while and all things will come together for you and your sleep.

mdbarthe - I agree that your wife's situation is not likely to improve until she addresses the issues. Whatever our issues are, to move past the current situation requires an acceptance when our best efforts aren't working, and that doctors are for the sick, so there is no need to try to get well before seeking medical help. Would she also be one to clean the house before a housekeeper arrives? Hopefully she will become convinced of the need to move forward.

Kathy

mdbarthe wrote:I'd be interested in also hearing about this problem. My wife sleeps about three to fours hour per night. It's not that she doesn't want to sleep, she can't. She'll be drousy in her chair and nodding off, but the minute she reclines in bed, she is wide awake. She is miserably tired throughout the day, aches all over and I can tell from when she is sleeping, snoring and not breathing, that she has OSA. She won't go get a sleep study done because she knows she will not be able to sleep. She has been prescribed Ambien CR as you indicate you were, but it only gets her about two hours of sleep before she wakes.

I sympathize with you; not being able to sleep is a horrible "row to hoe".

Sleep centers have lots of experience combating issues with patients that can't sleep. In fact her having a problem at the sleep center would actually help the doc diagnose her and work on that problem as well; her issues don't have to be solely confined to OSA.

I don't know you or how long you've been on this board, I am new here, but I have left mine OSA untreated for far too long. It has affected my health, my family, my work, and my relationships with others. In addition, it may have damaged my heart and other organs. This can happen to anyone that has apneas, letting it go untreated is not an option if she has people she cares about in her life. It might help to have a conversation with her and tell her you want her around, to grow old with you, it's possible that untreated sleep disorders could prevent that in various, unhappy ways. I didn't know how destructive it could be and so I toughed it out, like most guys would do. I would have made a far different decision about it had I known previously what I do now. Being scared of or lacking confidence in medical professionals or medical testing is a common problem, I have it in a bad way, I was very pleasantly proven wrong about how the whole diagnosing process would go (I was terrified they'd tell me I had nothing wrong and I would again suffer in silence not knowing what could be wrong).

Please don't let anyone you love live with this kind of thing a moment longer. Do anything, commit to anything to get them to decide to seek help, this is one area of medical science where we are developing effective treatments, if you think that sleep center is "jerking you around" find a different one, even if you have to drive one city over. I have used 2 different sleep centers with a world of difference between the two.

I'd also like to know how to sleep more than two hours a night. I've been on cpap two years and still no good sleep. I've tried so many masks, had my pressures changed, etc. What other tests are there?

newname wrote:I'd also like to know how to sleep more than two hours a night. I've been on cpap two years and still no good sleep. I've tried so many masks, had my pressures changed, etc. What other tests are there?

I'd say if you're only sleeping 2 hours a night your sleep doc's job is far from done. Unless it's the machine itself that is causing it, it likely isn't a direct result of OSA, so don't stop bugging that guy until he's found a diagnosis and a solution. Docs that try solutions without a diagnosis are much more likely to be incompetent, fyi, so if that's how he's handling it, maybe find a new doc. If your doc blows you off, also find a new one.

Kathy: Yes the Mirapex does work for my legs. I will just continue the Ambien and hope my sleep straightens out. I just got the Quattro a couple weeks ago, and doing good with it (once I get to sleep). Thanks for the well wishes for my wife. Mdbarth, I hope your wife will get a sleep study, it sounds as though she might have OSA. Thanks, Larry..

kteague wrote:Would she also be one to clean the house before a housekeeper arrives?...

Oh God, my mom does that! Then again, she doesn't really address major problems either, unlike me.

mdbarthe — Just to add, I barely slept at my titration, but they were able to get enough data to give me a prescription.

Thanks to all for your support and advice. I will continue working on her and, hopefully, get her to a sleep study soon!