Newbie here

warrior391 wrote:Does it get better without waking up several times a nite?

In my experience, yes it does get better as you get used to this new way of sleeping and work through all the little challenges.

I need to turn at least once during the night. At first, that meant that I had to consciously think, "Where is the hose? How do I need to move it?", which made me awaken more fully. Then I got the Hozer hose management system, which suspends the hose overhead and swivels. So now, although I am still aware of waking up briefly to turn, I don't even have to think about where the hose is. I just roll over and I'm back asleep in seconds. And I suspect that there are times that I'm not even aware that I'm turning anymore.

I was using a nasal mask at first. A few weeks into CPAP, I started leaking therapy air from my mouth, probably because I was finally sleeping deeper than I had in years. Sometimes I could hear the air leaks, and other times I slept right through them. That awakened me at times. Then I got the PAPCap chin strap and don't have that problem any more.

I've been using CPAP for just over 4 months now. It seems like there have been various "phases" I've gone through as far as length of sleep goes. I remember one phase when I would just wake up after 5 or 6 hours and felt like I didn't need any more sleep that night so I'd have to get up. But eventually, I started sleeping between 7 to 9 hours, which is where I am now. I tried to go with the flow and not fight what my body seemed to want to do.

So, give it some time. Try to work through any challenges as they come up. If you're still having lots of apneas, that may be why you're waking up too often, but most likely your body and brain just need time to adjust to it all. Remember that most of us were, subconsciously at least, afraid of sleep when our sleep apnea was untreated. We knew on some level that we were in danger from the nightly oxygen deprivation. So I think it takes some time for our brain to trust that sleep is safe. And time for our body to adjust to no longer having the "fight or flight" hormones released every night as we struggled to breathe. And time to trust that the machine is there to help us.

~ DreamOn

Ok, thanks all, thanks dream on, good info. I am not gonna give up, just wondering how long and if everyone seems to go thru this "learning" phase, seems as though they do.

I have been wkaing after only bout 5-6 hours, feeling awake....manage to go back to sleep tho. Last nite seems to have been the best nite thus far...7hours 50 mins...only a couple wake ups(to check mask...lol)...

Every bit of info here helps..its a great forum with great peeps...

I will be getting my equipment in a few days. I have been reading your experiences. A lot of knowledge shared here. It has helped me to get a feel for what I should expect. Looking forward to getting started.

pdean44 wrote:I will be getting my equipment in a few days. I have been reading your experiences. A lot of knowledge shared here. It has helped me to get a feel for what I should expect. Looking forward to getting started.

Welcome and good luck(not in a smart ass way)..Its getting better. Almost 9 hours last nite and only a few semi-conscience wake ups and a couple late morning(about time for me to get up but slept in a bit more today)

warrior391 wrote:Almost 9 hours last nite and only a few semi-conscience wake ups and a couple late morning(about time for me to get up but slept in a bit more today)

It sounds like you're making progress! Don't get discouraged if both your therapy results and length of sleep are inconsistent for a while. I've been using CPAP for a little over four months now. Within the first month or so, I did have some nights when I slept only 4-6 hours. Starting around 1-1/2 months in, I began sleeping between 7-10 hours. My bedtimes can be very erratic, so that can affect things for me, but now I'm usually sleeping between 7 and 8 hours a night -- sometimes a bit less or a little more. What matters most is that my quality of sleep is very good now and I wake up feeling rested, unlike before starting CPAP. I had very little REM sleep before because my sleep was so disrupted by the apneas. Now I remember dreams occasionally when I wake up in the morning, which hadn't happened for years before CPAP. So I know that I am sleeping more deeply. I also feel very good during the day (both mentally and physically), unlike before.

Many of us have other sleep-related problems in addition to sleep apnea. And we've probably developed some bad habits over the years in regards to sleep hygiene. I am fortunate because I don't have to get up at a set time, so I'm able to get as much sleep as my body needs. I know that others have to get up for work or whatever, and that can make things more challenging. But I just try to go with the flow when it comes to sleep. I now trust that my body knows what it needs, and I feel safe when asleep so it can do its thing. For so many years, that was not the case. On some level, I knew I was starving from lack of oxygen.

~ DreamOn

Beth,
I am new too! I got my CPAP on the 19 th. I take Trazadone for sleep as I have had insomnia for
years, and know I am guessing it just might have to do with this.

Why are you taking it off? Does it hurt? How does it bother you?

There are so many great people here that will be able to help you.

Welcome to the group!

Debbie

[quote="DreamOn)
It sounds like you're making progress! Don't get discouraged if both your therapy results and length of sleep are inconsistent for a while.

Many of us have other sleep-related problems in addition to sleep apnea. And we've probably developed some bad habits over the years in regards to sleep hygiene. I am fortunate because I don't have to get up at a set time, so I'm able to get as much sleep as my body needs. I know that others have to get up for work or whatever, and that can make things more challenging. But I just try to go with the flow when it comes to sleep. I now trust that my body knows what it needs, and I feel safe when asleep so it can do its thing. For so many years, that was not the case. On some level, I knew I was starving from lack of oxygen.

~ DreamOn[/quote]


Thx Dreamon, I'm hanginf tuff, I know now that things will be inconsistant and will keep an open mind to it all.

I too, don't have to get up to an alarm clock so I can let my body dictate wake times. Hopefully I wil start feeling the results of better, deeper sleep and getting my mind/body back to normal.

nursedeborah wrote:Beth,
I am new too! I got my CPAP on the 19 th. I take Trazadone for sleep as I have had insomnia for
years, and know I am guessing it just might have to do with this.

Why are you taking it off? Does it hurt? How does it bother you?

There are so many great people here that will be able to help you.

Welcome to the group!

Debbie

Welcome Beth. From reading here and listening to other people's stories/advice...it seems as though I am removing the mask for a couple of reasons. Not at all that it hurts or that it necessarily bothers me. Its getting adjusted to wearing someing on your face over nite while sleeping. And also, our brain is telling us that if we just take it off, we can be more comfortable and not russle around adjusting and worrying about it leaking or imedeing our movement. Once we get our brain trained that we need this, it will want us to keep it on. I didnt take it off at all last nite, even though I was semi-awake a few times checking the fit and getting comfy. HTH...

nursedeborah wrote: Beth,
I am new too! I got my CPAP on the 19 th. I take Trazadone for sleep as I have had insomnia for
years, and know I am guessing it just might have to do with this.

Why are you taking it off? Does it hurt? How does it bother you?

There are so many great people here that will be able to help you.

Welcome to the group!

Debbie

A doctor that I very much trust says more than 90% of insomnia problems are caused by sleep-disordered breathing. My reading and observation backs up what he says.

Hopefully you will be able to wean yourself off Trazadone.