Hello Guest, Welcome to Apnea Board !
As a guest, you are limited to certain areas of the board and there are some features you can't use.
To post a message, you must create a free account using a valid email address.

or Create an Account


New Posts   Today's Posts

CPAP nightmare
#11
RE: CPAP nightmare
When I first started CPAP I also found myself jolting back to wakefulness just as I was getting to sleep. Something had to be waking me up and I was right. As I relaxed into sleep my mouth opened and i began mouth breathing which woke me up and the air rushed out of my mouth. Could this be the case for you?
Post Reply Post Reply
#12
RE: CPAP nightmare
It's a little before midnight. Told myself I'd go 2 hours before taking a break and I almost made it. I must have fallen asleep because the machine bumped up the pressure to 9.7 - this caused me to mouth breathe and woke me up. This has happened twice now. Trying to view this as progress and be encouraged. I'm maintaining the anxiety well enough through self-talk and mindfulness, but I'm too hungry to sleep plus my wife is snoring. Getting a snack, I'm going to de-stress a bit and then go back in there. Maybe put the chinstrap on. See what happens.
Post Reply Post Reply
#13
RE: CPAP nightmare
Upon reflection... I've been using sleep aids since I got this CPAP. It seems they have outlived their usefulness. So my plan to ease into the CPAP and taper off sleep aids has backfired.

It's a quarter after 2. This is about when I gave up last night and went to sleep without the darn thing on. My ability to control my anxiety is waning and my wife is getting cranky at my tossing and turning. I'm literally counting the seconds between breaks now. How does one lie awake in bed for hours without going crazy?

I tried the chin strap but I think it just made it harder to fall asleep. But when I do finally fall asleep, the air goes out my mouth, which wakes me up. Chicken and egg.

Same deal, gonna do something nonstressful and nonstimulating for 20 minutes or so and then try again with the cpap. If I'm not asleep by 4, I'm just going to get up and start my day.
Post Reply Post Reply
#14
RE: CPAP nightmare
Can't get past the anxiety and I can't even sleep without the CPAP now. Two nights in a row no sleep is pretty rare for me, but man is it brutal. Gonna call my doc today and try to get squeezed in to see my psychiatrist to discuss going back on Lorazepam.

I'm up for the day so I might as well get some work done.
Post Reply Post Reply
#15
RE: CPAP nightmare
Chinstraps are uncomfortable and tend to push the jaw backwards further exacerbating the original problem, a limited airway.

I solved this by using a soft cervical collar. It did a number of positive things including keeping my jaw closed and more importantly preventing my chin sagging towards my chest which will start to close my airway. The final plus is that it is a damn sight more comfortable than a chinstrap and a lot cheaper too.

Your continual posts give me us the message that you want to get on top of this which is great. We are very happy to help.
Post Reply Post Reply
#16
RE: CPAP nightmare
I want to get on top of this, but my willpower is fading. I know this is going to be a rough day.

If I can't get in to see any of my doctors today, I am considering taking a night off just to get some sleep and start over the next night. Sucks because I was waking at least a little more refreshed than usual when I *was* sleeping on the CPAP.

Just any old cervical collar? Like the kind doctors give you for neck injuries?
Post Reply Post Reply
#17
RE: CPAP nightmare
I'm going to skip work today. I've slept 2 hours, untreated, in the last 48, and when my wife or son try to talk to me I break out into uncontrollable crying fits. I probably shouldn't even drive.

If I nap today, it's going to completely upset my sleep cycle, so I have to survive the next 14 hours only to face the machine again.

I'm not doing the machine tonight.
Post Reply Post Reply
#18
RE: CPAP nightmare
Hi bernerbits. Welcome to the Apnea Board. My first thought is that you need to get the anxiety under control. You may need to do this before returning to CPAP therapy. In my view excess anxiety is a brain chemical problem that may be worsened by your reaction to your immediate circumstances. Those reactions can produce releases of chemicals like adrenalin which will trigger additional anxiety. There are several medication routes that your Doctor could try to reduce the severity of anxiety attacks as well as your normal level of anxiety. It appears that your level of anxiety is severe enough to impair your quality of life without even thinking about CPAP. So, work on the anxiety first. Once your anxiety is under control you can look at CPAP again. You may need short term use of a prescribed sleep aid along with use of the machine while you are awake to get you used to it again. My sympathy for your troubles and good luck with your various therapies.

Rich
Apnea Board Member RobySue has posted a Beginners Guide to Sleepyhead Software here:  http://www.apneaboard.com/wiki/index.php...SleepyHead

Download Sleepyhead
Organize your Sleepyhead Charts
Post images


Post Reply Post Reply
#19
RE: CPAP nightmare
I've been in CBT and on meds for anxiety for YEARS. If I have to cure my anxiety before I start on CPAP, I'm pretty much screwed.
Post Reply Post Reply
#20
RE: CPAP nightmare
Hi berberbits,

Could going on and off anti anxiety medication be causing rebound anxiety? Might not be applicable in your case but I thought I would mention it.

Other ideas are to welcome your anxiety and not fight so hard against it. It might create lesser resistance when you try to go to bed and sleep on the machine. For more information on this type of strategy, google ACT therapy.

Best of luck.

49er
Post Reply Post Reply


Possibly Related Threads...
Thread Author Replies Views Last Post
  [Equipment] User interface nightmare - Resmed Airsense 10 edsela 4 620 09-15-2023, 07:23 PM
Last Post: edsela
Gross First night Nightmare's Willowbender 3 601 11-27-2022, 05:14 PM
Last Post: Willowbender
  My C PAP nightmare Gregz60 6 833 09-23-2021, 07:40 PM
Last Post: SarcasticDave94
  Started therapy 5 days ago and it is a nightmare solycap 17 2,749 09-04-2019, 03:18 PM
Last Post: Palmtrees
  Nightmare night............! Sleep2Snore 5 1,389 02-13-2018, 03:07 PM
Last Post: kiwii
  Changing PCP is a nightmare in the US TimtheEnchanter 8 1,919 12-10-2017, 03:52 PM
Last Post: KSMatthew
  The Nightmare has Ended DBTaylor 2 1,272 11-11-2017, 10:50 PM
Last Post: trish6hundred


New Posts   Today's Posts


About Apnea Board

Apnea Board is an educational web site designed to empower Sleep Apnea patients.