Can't manage to get a full nights sleep

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Permalink Reply by Terry Vella on January 27, 2014 at 22:15

David, what brand and model CPAP do you have? Do you check your data or have you been back to get someone to check it? There are any number of reasons we can wake up as CPAP only helps us breathe not help us sleep. Make sure you are following correct sleep hygiene, dark room, no noise etc.

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Permalink Reply by June Ostiadel on February 6, 2014 at 8:12

Hi David, I'm new to hope2sleep and have just seen your post.  I have exactly the same problem,  sometimes only having 4 or 5 hours sleep (on stages). I have recently come to the conclusion that just a few hours sleep with the CPAP, giving me better quality sleep must be better for me than 7 hrs with many apneas. One thing I don't get is waking with the dreadful headaches.

June

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Permalink Reply by Kath Hope on February 6, 2014 at 13:58

David, I almost missed this post - sorry!  Do you know what is waking you up, ie mask leaks or mask discomfort etc?

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Permalink Reply by Manda Liversage on February 23, 2014 at 19:13

I'm new to CPAP too and was finding the same.  However I felt that the increased pressure on my machine was a contributory factor to me staying awake.  I now reset the machine so it goes onto the 30 minute ramp and I find a doze off fairly easily.

Manda

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Permalink Reply by Elianna Halsey on February 24, 2014 at 3:08

Hi, David.  I also have mixed apnea and have been on a bipap with ASV for a little over 2 years and unfortunately still struggle with the same thing.  I can generally fall asleep, if I am tired enough, but getting uninterrupted sleep does not happen for me.  The pressure changes wake me up multiple times a night, unless I have taken a sleeping pill, which seems to allow me to either sleep through the changes or not realize I've been awakened.  However, with all of that said, I do feel better than I did prior to being diagnosed with sleep apnea.  I now only take a short nap maybe once a week vs. what I was doing before, which was being unable to function without taking a long nap, daily.  I'm in the process of trying to tweak things in the hope that they will help me to get into a deeper sleep so I can ignore the pressure changes that are causing the problem.  I don't know if these things would be helpful for you or not:  getting into a habit of going to bed and getting up at the same time every day; exercising;  a natural supplement called, Sweet Slumber by Schiff, has also been helpful for me.  When I take it it helps me to fall back to sleep much quicker after my machine wakes me up.  I wish you the best and hope that somewhere in one of these replies you find something that is beneficial for you.    

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Permalink Reply by Kath Hope on February 25, 2014 at 0:27

I don't know how long you've all been on your therapy, but I just received an email earlier on today with someone I've been helping stating that at last (after 9 months) she's sleeping through the night.  It's taken a while for her to get comfortable with the 'right' mask and comfort accessories, and then once this is sorted the body has to acclimatise itself to the life-saving, albeit 'rather a shock', therapy, but it will happen as long as people are comfortable.  One of the problems is that we develop habits very easily, so when we are woken by pressure changes or uncomfortable masks, this can quickly become a habit and some people (myself included way back) feel they slept better before the treatment.  Obviously we never, as it wasn't safe restorative sleep, but it certainly feels this way.  Just try not to get anxious when you wake as this can make it worse (been there, done it, worn the t-shirt).  I can promise you that most people find this resolves itself in time.

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Permalink Reply by Will Clifford on February 26, 2014 at 19:48

Sleeping in decreasing cycles of 2-3 hours is quite normal so don't worry, you aren't alone.

I thought I wasn't getting the most from my CPAP and read Paul McKenna's I Can Make You Sleep. It was quite helpful learning how to avoid things that would over stimulate me and strategies to use when I go to bed or wake up in the night.

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Permalink Reply by Kath Hope on February 26, 2014 at 23:10

It's interesting you say this Will, as I shared an article last year in the Facebook Group about how our ancestors used to sleep, with some interesting reading http://slumberwise.com/science/your-ancestors-didnt-sleep-like-you/

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Permalink Reply by David Waterton on August 10, 2014 at 19:17

Up date on sleep, or in my case the lack of it.. Have been using my machine for two years now. I didn't take to it like the"duck" in fact I hate it but use it every night.. Problem is even with the machine I still have major tiredness etc. problems.. I had an other overnight at drmckays clinic in Edinburgh.. Seems an additional problem in that I don't get into the correct sleep zone thus not sleeping deep enough for around 80%-90% of sleep time.. Doc McKay suggested I try a mild sedative.. Has made me worse as I don't seem to be able to cope with even a minimal dose of sedative.. Feel crap all day, still very tired, drive an hour ad I am wiped out.. Every day feels like I have a mix of a hangover and jet lag.. Had a constant headache for last 10 days. Tried everything from pain killers to migraine meds from doc..still cant shift it.. Feel physically and emotionally drained.used to walk a munroe every other week, cycle, swim drive 150 miles on average every day with work. Thankfully I retired a year before this dreadful condition came upon me.. And it did just Come upon me.. Suddenly started to feel tired within a few months I was usable to do anything much more than an hour sometimes less. Anyone have similar issues I am back at DrMakays on Tuesday next week.. But I have the feeling that he hasn't come across this type of combination: mixed apnoea, and unable to get into a deep enough sleep... Going but not sure he can do anything.. Ok stop ranting.. Sorry just at the end of my tether....

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Permalink Reply by Kath Hope on August 10, 2014 at 22:39

Sorry to hear you're still struggling David, and all credit to you that you're using your CPAP every night.  Although you're not 'feeling' the benefits, at least your body isn't trying to cope with untreated sleep apnoea.  I am sure Dr McKay will help get to the bottom of your issues, as he is a very good and well respected consultant. 

I don't know if you've done this already, but it would be worth getting your GP to run blood tests for other conditions as well, like anaemia, B12 deficiency, Vit D deficiency, diabetes + hypothyroidism.  Many people with sleep apnoea have one or more of these other conditions and once they get treatment for this, their tiredness improves. 

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