Pain upon waking

This isn't really a CPAP question but a sleep cycle question. I can't seem to separate reliable from self-serving info on the web when it comes to sleep advice. However, my experience with this group has demonstrated that the information offered here is easier to evaluate.

This is a phenomenon that predates my CPAP therapy. Then and now, I'll sometimes come home from work very sleepy and needing a nap. I lie down and about an hour later (or 1.5 or 2) I'll wake up. I fall asleep almost immediately. I have intense dreams and a 10-15 minute transition back from sleep to waking.

I always think that a nap will make me feel better, but almost universally, I wake up with every muscle in my body in pain. It feels like the descriptions that fibromyalgia sufferers recount: pain throughout the muscle, impossible to relieve the pain through sitting/lying/contracting/relaxing/whatever, no comfortable position. If these people have this pain all of their waking lives, I really, really sympathize.

The pain goes away in about 2.5 hours but I'm wiped out during and after. What is causing this? Is this a phenomenon associated with waking up in the middle of deep sleep or in the middle of REM sleep? It never happens when I wake up in the morning and rarely when I wake up in the middle of the night. Of course, the answer appears to be to avoid going to sleep, but I'm so sleepy that simply working through the tiredness thoroughly takes the same amount of time and has the same effect. Often, I really have no choice. I simply must take that nap.

I thought this would go away when I started CPAP. However, other than being able to sleep through the night, I almost don't see much difference in my daytime wake patterns or any of the other Absolutley Marvelous Benefits I was promised before CPAP.

Don't get me wrong: sleeping through the night is reason enough to go through with all this annoyance. However, I was wondering if anyone could explain to me what's going on with the muscles when this happens.

Thanks!!

Are you using your CPAP when you take the nap?

If so, are you using ramp with a low start pressure and a long ramp time, perhaps?

Are you lying down in bed for the nap, or are you taking the nap on a couch or in a recliner?

i've had extreme fibromyalgia all my 55 years. yes, often a nap makes things seem worse. do you experience muscle, nerve (deep) pain any other times??? is it worse when you're tired? at times of stress. i'm new here, but willing to help. let me know what i can do for you-dave

Some people, and I am one, never get over the excessive daytime sleepiness. Perhaps a trial of Nuvigil or Provigil will help you stay awake and alert throughout the day. I know we don't generally like to turn to drugs, but sometimes they are a great help. Sorry for your pain- don't have any answers about that. Perhaps and NSAID like advil, motrin, naprosyn or even aspirin before your nap will head off the terrible pain upon awakening. Even aspirin might help. Good luck.

Some people, and I am one, never get over the excessive daytime sleepiness. Perhaps a trial of Nuvigil or Provigil will help you stay awake and alert throughout the day. I know we don't generally like to turn to drugs, but sometimes they are a great help. Sorry for your pain- don't have any answers about that. Perhaps and NSAID like advil, motrin, naprosyn or even aspirin before your nap will head off the terrible pain upon awakening. Even aspirin might help. Good luck.

sorry- i disappeared for a few weeks. --try reading dr. linus Pauldings paper on mega dosing vitamin C - that was the turning point in my fibro tale