06-08-2015, 01:09 AM
(This post was last modified: 06-08-2015, 01:11 AM by Scredfox.)
I wake up every hour when using CPAP
Help! How can I sleep through the night with the CPAP? I keep waking up every hour. I've tried going right back to sleep and I've tried staying awake for a while and then going back to sleep, but no matter what I do I wake up an hour after failing asleep. There doesn't seem to be any particular reason (like needing to go to the bathroom or something) and I don't find the mask particularly uncomfortable. If I go out and sleep on my recliner I sleep through the night, but then I'm not getting the benefits from the CPAP that I really notice on the rare occasions that I can sleep through the night. I want to use the CPAP because my husband and daughter both notice how bad my sleep apnea and snoring are without the machine and I love it when I actually feel rested. What can I do to sleep through the night every night?
RE: I wake up every hour when using CPAP
Welcome Scredfox, have you spoken to your sleep specialist or GP about taking some sleeping pills for a short time till you get used to it fully. You sound like you have the right attitude towards CPAP and maybe just need something for a couple of weeks to get you used to it. Aalso, if you could fill your profile in a bit more to give us an idea of your pressures etc.
RE: I wake up every hour when using CPAP
You could try getting enough exercise to completely exhaust yourself so you sleep all night, or at least 4 hours at a time. Won't hurt you...
RE: I wake up every hour when using CPAP
Scredfox - if you are new to CPAP, your body just doesn't know it yet, and is still used to being woken up strangulating every hour or less all night anyway - so for a while the brain will still follow that pattern- because you are not having these mini-strangulations, though, you come to full wakefulness instead of being quickly roused and falling back asleep without hitting a fully awake state - mostly because your body no longer has to react to the lack of oxygen, so , because it is not a state the brain is used to, it sort of panics and wakes you fully up. This is a known phenomenon and will reduce itself in time as the brain starts to learn a new way of sleeping - remember, the habit is to wake up all the time, and now it has to learn a new habit - to sleep the night through - give it a while, don't sweat it too much. You do not sleep the night through on the recliner, you just think you do - your body without the CPAP returns to a known sleep condition and of course you return to the near wakeful phases of O2 deprivation then back to a deeper sleep again, so it is familiar. It really is nothing more than a relearning process, many of us had to go through it - stick with it, try being a bit brutal about staying in your bed and on CPAP, even when awake, and after a few nights a new sleep pattern will slowly emerge - it can take several months for a "normal" sleep pattern to be re-established, but it will happen eventually. It just requires your patience and stick-to-it-ivness.
RE: I wake up every hour when using CPAP
Scredfox,
It would help if you could fill out your profile: machine make and model, pressure settings.Are you using straight CPAP or an Auto setting? Are you using the ramp feature or EPR?
When I first started, I found myself in the recliner too. I felt better better being elevated.
You can try to set up your CPAP by your recliner and use it that way just for a few days so you can get some sleep.
RE: I wake up every hour when using CPAP
Hi Scredfox,
WELCOME! to the forum.!
I know CPAP therapy can take some getting used to but just stick with it, it does get better.
Hang in there for more suggestions and much success to you with your CPAP therapy and getting used to it, don't give up.
trish6hundred
RE: I wake up every hour when using CPAP
(06-08-2015, 01:09 AM)Scredfox Wrote: Help! How can I sleep through the night with the CPAP? I keep waking up every hour. I've tried going right back to sleep and I've tried staying awake for a while and then going back to sleep, but no matter what I do I wake up an hour after failing asleep. There doesn't seem to be any particular reason (like needing to go to the bathroom or something) and I don't find the mask
Nobody can do anything but guess, until you post the make and model of your machine and the pressure settings.
Any information the machine tells you would also be helpful.
Terry
RE: I wake up every hour when using CPAP
It took me about a month to finally sleep through the night with cpap. Stick with it, it'll work out. Best of luck on your therapy!
RE: I wake up every hour when using CPAP
Hi Scredfox,
Have you tried sleeping in your recliner WITH the cpap to see if it makes a difference and easier to transition to a full nights sleep with therapy?
Just a thought.
3
RE: I wake up every hour when using CPAP
Hang in there! Your brain needs time to relax that this mask and hose thing is ok and not trying to kill you. You will adapt, but yes, it takes time!
