I NEED SOME SLEEP!

I picked up my CPAP last Wednesday. I had a very positive attitude going into this. I am actually quite comfortable wearing my nasal pillow mask. I just cannot fall asleep. The first 2 nights, I went to bed between 10 and 11 pm. I could not fall asleep, and took the mask off around 4 am. The 3rd night, I took 3 Tylenol PM, same result. Saturday night I took an Ambien that my sister gave me. Nothing. Sunday night, I did something out of desperation and had a few drinks, then took an Ambien. I fell asleep right away, but woke up at 5am with no mask on. Monday night I did not fall asleep and took the mask off at 2 am. Yesterday, my doctor gave a perscription for Rozerem. I think the Ambien was better and took the mask off after 90 minutes. I feel like jumping off a bridge. I do not want to give up. I have read how some people take a long time to get used to it, but I need some sleep NOW! I feel ill, and cannot concentrate at work. I have a 60 minute commute each way every day and I am afraid I will crash my car. Should I take a few days off just to get some rest, or stick it out?

Thanks

Did you have trouble falling to sleep prior to commencing your CPAP therapy?

[quote]Did you have trouble falling to sleep prior to commencing your CPAP therapy? [/quote]

Not like that. Usually 10-30 minutes.

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It's a new experience when you begin CPAP! It takes time to adjust to everything. In addition, you are beginning therapy with a huge SLEEP DEBT that will take time to make up. I clearly REMEMBER the anxiety on those nights I needed sleep so badly and I just COULDN'T SLEEP . . . that anxiety in itself feeds off itself and only makes matters worse. But it's not easy to talk yourself out of anxiety. Try to relax and focus your mind on calming subjects, like visualizing your favorite scene in nature, a walk in the woods, lying on a beach . . .

Hang in there, you will do fine. Just takes some TIME to get accustomed to everything, especially when you are so sleep deprived to begin with from the previous untreated OSA. No need to jump off any bridges . . .

Read, read, read . . . NEW USERS, OUR WISDOM, and keywords using the SEARCH engine above. You are bound to get all these many annoyances and your anxiety under control eventually because you have the right attitude and you've found this forum You are ahead of the game right there!!

Keep asking, keep expressing your frustrations . . .we're listening and we understand

Joy