Scary Symptom..

BrandyMB wrote:I'll stick with Ambien for now.

BrandyMB wrote:Ohhh yeh. 5 months on that stuff (Xanax). I believe it can be responsible. I was on a very low dose though (.5mg at bedtime). We shall see!
-Mark

Mark,

I hope you haven't been taking Xanax and Ambien at the same time. That could be a pretty powerful whammy!

You probably noticed on that linked web page that anxiety can be a side effect when taking Xanax, and also is listed as a side effect during withdrawal from it.

With time, patience, and a little help if needed, I do hope that you'll be feeling better soon! You may want to talk to your doctor about Ambien, as it isn't intended for long-term use and has its own problems. Since you just recently started using xPAP regularly, you may be able to wean off all sleep aids at some point when your xPAP treatment is giving you optimal results. I am biased because I am a pharma-phobe, but I do think the drugs often complicate matters and can make things worse. Just my opinion, of course.

~ DreamOn

First of all, I would like to suggest you take up fishing or gardening (ornamental or vegetable) on a regular basis.Or spend quality time with animals if you like animals. These kinds of activities do wonders in reducing stress levels.

As far as your problem goes: It is interesting you have a BiPAP machine and a pressure range of only 8-10. I am wondering if your doctor noticed a penchant for centrals, and prescribed a BiPAP machine as opposed to a straight CPAP machine. Although the sleep-onset centrals are (hopefully) the right explanation, you may want to discuss this with your sleep doctor. It could be, as John pointed out, that your OSA/central situation is changing as your other conditions change, and you may need different pressures or even ASV.

And I agree with the other posters here: if you can get off the meds, by all means do.

DreamOn wrote:

BrandyMB wrote:I'll stick with Ambien for now.

BrandyMB wrote:Ohhh yeh. 5 months on that stuff (Xanax). I believe it can be responsible. I was on a very low dose though (.5mg at bedtime). We shall see!
-Mark

Mark,

I hope you haven't been taking Xanax and Ambien at the same time. That could be a pretty powerful whammy!

You probably noticed on that linked web page that anxiety can be a side effect when taking Xanax, and also is listed as a side effect during withdrawal from it.

With time, patience, and a little help if needed, I do hope that you'll be feeling better soon! You may want to talk to your doctor about Ambien, as it isn't intended for long-term use and has its own problems. Since you just recently started using xPAP regularly, you may be able to wean off all sleep aids at some point when your xPAP treatment is giving you optimal results. I am biased because I am a pharma-phobe, but I do think the drugs often complicate matters and can make things worse. Just my opinion, of course.

~ DreamOn

Oh, no no. I just started taking the Ambien 2 nites ago. I have been off Xanax since the 12th, and for a few days before that, I split a .5 pill and took only half. I am hoping to be off all the dope someday too.. only thing a baby aspirin daily and very low dose of a beta-blocker. I have an appt with my sleep doc tomorrow.

timbalionguy wrote:First of all, I would like to suggest you take up fishing or gardening (ornamental or vegetable) on a regular basis.Or spend quality time with animals if you like animals. These kinds of activities do wonders in reducing stress levels.

As far as your problem goes: It is interesting you have a BiPAP machine and a pressure range of only 8-10. I am wondering if your doctor noticed a penchant for centrals, and prescribed a BiPAP machine as opposed to a straight CPAP machine. Although the sleep-onset centrals are (hopefully) the right explanation, you may want to discuss this with your sleep doctor. It could be, as John pointed out, that your OSA/central situation is changing as your other conditions change, and you may need different pressures or even ASV.

And I agree with the other posters here: if you can get off the meds, by all means do.

Lol, Tim. I have three cats and a great dog. My stress reliever (prior to my half demise) was building cars and riding. Just havent felt well enuff to do any of that lately. My pressures was based on my last study in Oct which showed my apneas stopped at 10, and were extremely low at 8. I have read in threads here to set your lowest setting at your lowest point where your apneas stopped. My ENT who is also a sleep dr, mentioned to me to use 8 on cpap (I have 2 machines, a cpap and a bipap.. in different rooms. Bad idea probably) as it would gimme more comfort as I use a FF mask. As I said, Im seeing another dr is the AM, one who did my study, and see what he says. (I don't really like drs that much..) As always, i will take any and all advice from you great people.. Oh and BTW, my thumb is any other color than green.
-Mark

Good for you seeing the doctor. I hope he/she will have some good advice for you.

Building cars can be relaxing, too!

I used to garden the last place I lived, and had a beautiful garden (all ornamental, neighbors thought I was crazy for digging out the tomatoes previously there). Have enjoyed growing things since I was a kid.

Its much harder (but not impossible) to garden here in the desert, so I have my animals. Two domestic cats, and three lions and a tiger next door.

Well guess what, my good friends? Last night I laid down at 10 to go to sleep and took my 1/2 ambien. At 1118 I took the other half cuz i could not sleep. I fell asleep and slept till 3:30 or 4 and laid till i got up at 6. My OA was 2.6, H was 1.4 and AHI of 4.0 at bipap 10/7.5.

Thats not awful bad, but I am discovering that I believe the reason I am feeling worse over the past 5 days is because I am in full BENZO withdrawal! I may have mentioned that I took a .5 mg Xanax every night for sleep then 5 days ago cut to .25 then 3 days ago stopped and then the poo hit the ventilation device. Can anyone identify with that? I know Xanax affects sleep quality, but some is better than none. I believe I have to go back on it then taper off over weeks to get back to where i can fall sleep on my own..

I'm going to the sleep dr in an hour and will discuss it with him. I may also up my pressure a bit tonight and see if i can get my number down. Also in these numbers were a couple hours on-mask where I was awake, but i see events during those periods also..

-Mark

BrandyMB wrote:I have 2 machines, a cpap and a bipap.. in different rooms. Bad idea probably

Far from being a bad idea, I think two machines (even two different types of machines) in different rooms is a GREAT idea. Handy for naps in another room.

On another note, if it were me... I'd change the range in bilevel mode to EPAP 9 and IPAP 11. Or even EPAP 9, IPAP 12. I'll bet that raising your EPAP a cm or two might lower your AHI even more. Given that you are already using EPAP 8, IPAP 10, those modest raises shouldn't be a problem. But that's just what I'd do, and I'm not a doctor.

Well, I just came back from the Dr, told him the entire story with all the nice details. He listened well, spent all the time with me I needed. He wants me to go Auto on my bipap and set it for 14/8 with 4 sup.. which I just did. As far as the benzo prob, I need to go back on the xanax and wean off of it. He seems to think I can do it faster, but I will wean slowly. He said I could take Ambien, but to take the xanax about 4 pm and the ambien before bed. I was a little uncomfy with that and told him. He gave me some samples of Rozerem and said they wouldnt interfere wih me, to take the Rozerem 30 min before bedtime. So thats where I go from here. Also bought a wedge pillow to elevate my head and back a bit (bed seems to be off kilter) and will see what transpires. He said not to expect miracles and get my hopes may up. I told him I have no hopes so anything is bettr than nothing. Sure respct him for telling me that.

Be happy to be back in the bed. Wife told me the cats keep looking for me there.

-Mark