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New to board; please help me prepare for my appointment with sleep specialist
#71
RE: New to board; please help me prepare for my appointment with sleep specialist
Hello Aa438sj.

I am interested in your experience with Ambien.  My sleep is a couple of hours at a time.  I have tried so many things, some helping a little, some not so much.  I took Ambien a few times many years ago and it didn't really seem to help me.  I am going through some health related issues and am already on quite a bit of medication.  But I tried to talk to my doctors and they are very hesitant to prescribe anything else at this time.  I am awaiting my next appointment with my psychiatrist and have a referral to a neurologist.  I plan on bringing sleep medication up with them again.

Why did you stop the Ambien?  Did you feel your sleep was that much better and didn't need it anymore?  Did you just not want to take the medication at all anymore?  Did you have some negative side effects?  Anything you can share would be much appreciated.

Plmnb
Huhsign  WARNING: It may take a while to sink in...I tend to get befuddled at times.
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#72
RE: New to board; please help me prepare for my appointment with sleep specialist
The Ambien was highly effective for the first few nights but I don't think it had much effect thereafter. I am someone who prefers not to use drugs if possible, particularly chronic use. Also, I was experiencing slight grogginess in the mornings after taking Ambien. Those are my reasons for stopping.
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#73
RE: New to board; please help me prepare for my appointment with sleep specialist
Thanks

Appreciate the info.  It has been so long since I have taken it I can't remember exactly why I stopped.  But your info helps me.

Regards,
Plmnb
Huhsign  WARNING: It may take a while to sink in...I tend to get befuddled at times.
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#74
RE: New to board; please help me prepare for my appointment with sleep specialist
I have become completely comfortable with the CPAP machine. Hard to believe it was such a problem for me six weeks ago. My AHI averages less than 1. Thanks again to everyone who helped me get used to CPAP.

My only sleep-related concern is that I don't sleep very long. On an average night I sleep 5 hours and 15 minutes. I rarely sleep more than 5 1/2 hours. I get very sleepy in afternoons after breakfast.  (I am trying to lose weight and usually wait until about noon to eat breakfast.) I had hoped that using CPAP would allow me to sleep longer, but that has not been the case.
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#75
RE: New to board; please help me prepare for my appointment with sleep specialist
Aa438sj, I've been following your thread from the beginning. Your perseverance and success are really inspiring! Congratulations on your outstanding CPAP therapy!

You're still having the insomnia problem you've apparently had for a long time. Did you discuss cognitive behavioral therapy for sleep with the sleep doctor?
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#76
RE: New to board; please help me prepare for my appointment with sleep specialist
Thanks Dormeo. I did not mention CBT to my sleep doctor. But he gave me some literature and it said they can refer people for therapy. I will be seeing him again in a couple weeks and I will bring it up. I am probably just making lame excuses again, but at this point I feel like this is more a physiological thing than psychological. When I wake up after 5 1/4 hours, I feel rested and ready to start my day. I get really tired around 2 pm, and then it passes. I have read that some people are naturally suited to a biphasic sleeping schedule (e.g. 5 hours at night plus a 1 hour nap during the afternoon). I believe there are people in other parts of the world who take siestas during the day. I wonder if such a schedule might work for me, but my sleep doctor told me to avoid naps.

I have one other question. I live at about 6500 feet altitude. My doctor told me sleep apnea is exacerbated by high altitude due to the thin air (low oxygen). He recommended I move to lower altitude if I can do so. However, since my CPAP machine is controlling my apnea almost completely, would moving to a lower altitude accomplish anything? I like living in Colorado and don't want to move.
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#77
RE: New to board; please help me prepare for my appointment with sleep specialist
High altitudes can induce central apneas, but your CAs are negligible. I would press the doctor on the advice to move, asking how this would benefit you, given your low AHI and low central index. In your place, I wouldn't consider moving without a very compelling explanation from the doctor.

Yes, you may have a strong natural tendency toward biphasic sleep. If that's the story with you, then actually having that daily nap might be a good idea. But if it's not, then you should avoid napping. So I do think it's worth your while to work more at understanding whether to roll with biphasic sleep or work on sleeping longer at night. A referral to a CBT specialist might help you with that.
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