CPAP and naps

Sleepless,

I'm by no means glad you don't sleep perfectly night after night, but I appreciate your saying so. Just hearing from people who unconditionally thrive with CPAP is a little wearing. Your advocacy of the therapy and admission it isn't, even now, all wine and roses perversely helps me, I think. (I've always had a perhaps liberal-to-a-fault acceptance of what other people seem to call perversity.) I did a little better last night, not good, mind, only used the CPAP for two 2-hour sessions, but still, better. Too, when I abandoned it after the second session, I expected to use it after I next waked--and slept through. This was bad because I only used it four hours, but I feel so much better today than the past two (except, please let it not be true, I may be coming down with a, please don't let it happen, cold) that I'll be (somewhat, I hope--I've no intention of sounding too positive here) re-energized for tonight.

I treasure the ramp feature, find it a tremendous relief to ramp back. When I've tried to fall asleep without it I've had even worse luck than with it. Of course that may change.

Ozij, Thanks for the tip on the availability of a heated hose. The relatively cold air is one of my problems, I think, and I also think the heat-feature in my machine only stays on x minutes and then shuts off, so that when I wake the air (at least feels like it) is cold.

Coach,

Hold onto and remember how you felt this morning, even if it came from only the short period of time you used the mask. Maybe that will help you in your struggle that this really s--ks and you just don't want to wear it. I am the first one to admit, no secrets with me, that I don't sleep through the night. I have been on Lunesta since Friday night, after trying melatonin, because even though I benefit from the rewards of the therapy, I still can't get through a friggin night straight. I have tried to resign myself to that fact and hope it's just habit from the old leaking mask days, but time will tell. I find on the Lunesta, now that I've taken it a few nights and it's starting to work a little better, that even if I do wake up, I'm not as conscious of it as I was without it and don't pause much before I go right back to sleep. I just do not want to depend on it for long. Just looking to see if I could break that every two hour wake-up pattern I seem to have fallen into. And, yes, I don't wake every two hours anymore. I think last night might have only been once, actually, although I only slept for six and half all together.

Coach, no matter what anyone says, the therapy is not a perfect science. You can go for five nights and get great software readings and sleep so much better than normal only to have your sixth and seventh nights be a mess. But once the benefits of the therapy kick in, it's not usually enough to take those positives away when you have a bad night here and there. It's like life and everything else, constantly changing. You just go with the flow and thank God for your blessings. Those great nights and mornings are certainly a blessing.

Let us know what happens when you have your DME/RT visit. I know this will eventually get easier on you, as it eventually does for everyone else. I am sure if you asked any one of us if we'd rather sleep hooked up to our machines with the masks on our face, no one could answer honestly and say yes. It's just the benefits of doing so that make it worthwhile.

Have a great day and an even better night. I'm rooting for you!

Sleepless,

I actually thought I felt better this A.M. because of the four hours of maskless sleep I stole, but that's just me--and now it's 4 PM and I've felt as bad as I did the past few days for a couple of hours. But, gratifying as it is to still feel crumby, yr s--ks and friggin in yr post have raised my spirits. I really don't like whiners or whining (or pollyannas or. . .--but the list might get too long, and I actually do in my way like people), but your healthy near-obscenities and admissions of recent mood-altering (sleep-inducing) drug use have lightened my afternoon. I'm sensing real improvement's on its way tonight. Oh yeah.

Coach wrote:Sleepless,

I actually thought I felt better this A.M. because of the four hours of maskless sleep I stole, but that's just me--and now it's 4 PM and I've felt as bad as I did the past few days for a couple of hours. But, gratifying as it is to still feel crumby, yr s--ks and friggin in yr post have raised my spirits. I really don't like whiners or whining (or pollyannas or. . .--but the list might get too long, and I actually do in my way like people), but your healthy near-obscenities and admissions of recent mood-altering (sleep-inducing) drug use have lightened my afternoon. I'm sensing real improvement's on its way tonight. Oh yeah.

Coach, you are cracking me up!!!

You just brought back a memory of my second post on this site which I probably haven't thought of since it happened many months ago. Someone said something I took great offense to, when it obvioulsy was misonstrued on my part, in response to my plea for help and answers. I wrote back, let's just say, a bit of an angry reply...offended...put off...whatever you want to fill in the blank with. So Martinilover on this site wrote back, in response, something to the effect of, "Let me guess, one of the reasons they sent you for a sleep study was mood swings?" I laughed so hard, I had to let him know how he made my day. I since calmed down and learned that once in a blue moon only will you find someone on this site who is deliberately looking to yank your chain if not to make you laugh. But I was a bit cranky, I guess, in hindsight. Seems you may have a touch of it yourself there, my friend (LOL), and understandably so. That's okay, we'll love you anyway.

Please stay in touch and I will be hoping you get some real rest tonight.

Please keep writing and feel better. You will EVENTUALLY!!!

Sleepless,

Hallef***inglujah. I had the mask on from 10 last night to 5:15 this morning and feel amost as rested as I did before I began CPAPing. This is huge progress. Of course I slammed some pills and was briefly awake a half a dozen times anyway and was tempted to take off my mask, and of course I know I won't just keep feeling better and I'm pretty sure I do have a cold and I'm unhappy about the direction in which the country seems to be headed and haven't had sex in fifteen years and still can't walk (or fly) but hey, I ain't asking for perfect. I even realize I may be (don't want to sound too definitely confident, my attitude that things can always get worse) adjusting more quickly than most and am lucky. I hope so. Thanks for yr concern and help.

Coach wrote:Sleepless,

Hallef***inglujah. I had the mask on from 10 last night to 5:15 this morning and feel amost as rested as I did before I began CPAPing. This is huge progress. Of course I slammed some pills and was briefly awake a half a dozen times anyway and was tempted to take off my mask, and of course I know I won't just keep feeling better and I'm pretty sure I do have a cold and I'm unhappy about the direction in which the country seems to be headed and haven't had sex in fifteen years and still can't walk (or fly) but hey, I ain't asking for perfect. I even realize I may be (don't want to sound too definitely confident, my attitude that things can always get worse) adjusting more quickly than most and am lucky. I hope so. Thanks for yr concern and help.

One huge Y A H O O (and I'm not from that neck of the woods, either) being sent your way. Isn't it like a weight was just taken off your shoulders? At least now when you are feeling so upset with CPAP (and the world in general) and the fact that still can't fly, you can think back to this one night and realize it really does work once you get the hang of it. Doesn't it feel so good to feel good???

Coach, I am thrilled for you, honest to God. You needed a lucky break here, for you-know-who's sake. Like they say, good things come to those who wait. Hopefully your waiting time is about up and from now on it will get better and better. If you're like me, you may not sleep like a baby, but you will still be a healthier person and feel more alive...or in your case, back to pre-CPAP days. I keep forgetting . Keep me posted, please!!! And thanks for making this dreary, rotten, rainy day a little brighter with the great news.

I use my CPAP for naps but don't use the humidity for naps. I use heated humidity overnight.

Sleepless on LI wrote:And thanks for making this dreary, rotten, rainy day a little brighter with the great news.

So, I guess you don't want me to tell you what sort of weather I'm seeing? (Hint: the top is down on the Miata, and it is comfortable despite not having a working A/C. )

Coach wrote:Sleepless,

Hallef***inglujah. I had the mask on from 10 last night to 5:15 this morning and feel amost as rested as I did before I began CPAPing. This is huge progress. Of course I slammed some pills and was briefly awake a half a dozen times anyway and was tempted to take off my mask, and of course I know I won't just keep feeling better and I'm pretty sure I do have a cold and I'm unhappy about the direction in which the country seems to be headed and haven't had sex in fifteen years and still can't walk (or fly) but hey, I ain't asking for perfect. I even realize I may be (don't want to sound too definitely confident, my attitude that things can always get worse) adjusting more quickly than most and am lucky. I hope so. Thanks for yr concern and help.

Way to go, Coach! Realize that there'll be ups and downs, just like anything else...this therapy isn't a magic bullet. But it sure does help to hear that you're doing so good. Errr, would it be ok if I said "I'm proud of you!"?? If so, then consider it said. If not, then ignore it.

I've been following all of your posts since you started posting. You seem to me like one heck of a guy! My hat's off to you. And please, no false modesty. k?? Heck, not even any true modesty! LOL

Keep posting and let us know how things are going for ya. k???

Have an awesome day and an even better night tonight.

This therapy WORKS!!!

WAFlowers wrote:

Sleepless on LI wrote:And thanks for making this dreary, rotten, rainy day a little brighter with the great news.

So, I guess you don't want me to tell you what sort of weather I'm seeing? (Hint: the top is down on the Miata, and it is comfortable despite not having a working A/C. )

WAFlowers wrote:

Sleepless on LI wrote:And thanks for making this dreary, rotten, rainy day a little brighter with the great news.

So, I guess you don't want me to tell you what sort of weather I'm seeing? (Hint: the top is down on the Miata, and it is comfortable despite not having a working A/C. )

Grabraham wrote:Its a good thing the top comes down on that Miata, your proctologist will find that feature useful when he attempts the "removal"

OUCH!!!

OK, last night my wife and I were out for a drive along the beach with the top down and it started to rain. Does that make you feel any better?

I will say I was nicely relaxed following that drive and I'm sure that contributed to me sleeping really soundly (to get this back on-topic).

Bill,

I have to give you the award for the best sleeper on this site. You seem to have been blessed with the ability to sleep through all of this, and I wish I had whatever it is that you have that is giving you that ability. Any tips, please? I have been blessed, I know, with relief from the symptoms, but am still stuck with the problem of not being able to sleep for extended periods of time and this is really not fun anymore...the Lunesta does help, but it's certainly not a cure and I am still not sleeping through with it.

Sorry to bring the feel of the thread down, but I need to know just what you're doing right. Any clues?

I'll admit that on rare occasion I have trouble going to sleep due to stress and anxiety. However I have a 30 pill prescription of Xanax that I get refilled ever 15 months or so. All I do is take half a tablet and I'm over it, ready for a peaceful nights sleep. If I can make 30 pills last over a year, I'm sure not abusing the stuff!

As to my sleep, I've practiced self-taught relaxation techniques for 30 years or so. I don't think I can describe them well. I start with relaxing all my muscles, conciously focussing on them starting at my toes and working up. Next I regulate my breating to be deep, slow and regular. When I've achieved that I stop focussing on my breathing and just let it continue.

Then comes the hard part: I stop thinking. It is strange to describe, but I push my thoughts into the distance. Their presence in my concious mind recedes, like a radio having the volume turned down. I have learned to do this without really thinking about it. Sometimes a persistant thought pops up, so I again push it away until it is so far that it disappears. My mind drifts, and random images form. I just let this happen, without giving them any real attention and definitely without trying to direct them.

From there, I suspect I slip into Stage 1 sleep. It would be interesting to see the details of a PSG when I do this. When I went for my sleep study I was so exhausted that I didn't need to; my head hit the pillow and I was asleep in 7 minutes!

I find that whatever it is that I do is refreshing and restful even if I've only got 10 minutes and never quite fall asleep. Or do I?

Bill

Thanks for the detailed description. I am happy to say at least I don't have a problem falling asleep. I don't really even have a problem going back to sleep once I wake up during the night. It's the multiple times I do become awake, though, that is disturbing to me. On the Lunesta, I find it's really not even enough of a wakeup other than to make sure I'm not having any leaks, which I truly am doing now in my sleep, virtually, and I don't even bother looking at the clock. I think that's the main difference of Lunesta vs. nothing at all. I just am beginning to believe, though, that I probably am not going to ever go back to sleeping through the night, or even more than a couple of hours at a time before at least my first wakeup, as long as I wear a CPAP mask.

Every time it really starts to get to me, I guess I'll just have to remember all the times I would wake up before therapy and finally awaken for the day exhausted as opposed to how I feel now when I wake up. If I had to choose, of course I will take how I feel now. I used to describe myself as a goldfish someone took out if its bowl, flipping and flopping around the bed all night, not sleeping. It's just that it would be nice to be able to sleep through a night every now and then. When I had the almost six hours the other night, the second night on the melatonin, it was like Christmas came twice in one year. But I now know how much worse my sleep can be and will just have to hold onto that.

I guess no one can give you the secret to staying asleep. If you can't do it, you won't do it. Thanks anyway for describing your relaxation tecniques.

By the way, 30 Xanax a year??? Talk about will power.