CPAP and Insomnia

[RockABye]

eviltm,

You might find some of the suggestions in Sound Sleep, Sound Mind by Dr. Barry Krakow very useful for helping you to quit focusing so much on looking at the clock when you first wake up and trying to figure out why you woke up when you find yourself awake in the middle of the night.

Robysue, that's a very interesting point. I didn't realize how often I look at the clock during those arousals until my sleep study a couple of weeks ago. There was no clock in the room, and it was driving me nuts. lol I would wake up and have trouble going back to sleep because I couldn't see what time it was, so my brain kicked into high gear trying to figure out how long I'd slept and whether the tech had been able to get enough data, whether it was early or late, etc. I slept horribly that night during the study. That was the first time I realized how often I check the clock during the night when I wake up. You know...those moments of "oh, it's only 1:30, I have plenty of time to get back to sleep" or "it's 5:30, I can sleep for another hour..." Now I'm working on breaking that habit. I'm hoping that I won't wake up as often when I have my CPAP, but if I do, I want to be out of the habit of looking at the clock.

[eviltim]

Some really great stuff here, thanks guys. I will try and work on this advice and see if it doesn't help. This is why I always outsource things to the brain trust

[fb4mark]

I have this same problem. Had a sleep study. Started CPAP. Still waking up every 45 min. to 1 hour at the end of a dream. Started taking Melatonin 6mg before bed time. Did no good. I also covered the windows in the bedroom, got rid of the clock and all light in the bedroom. Seem to be more rested with CPAP. Have been told to give it time and normal sleep will return. I feel better when I wake the final time and get up than I did before CPAP so I will continue to use it.

[robysue]

Started taking Melatonin 6mg before bed time.

That's WAY too much melatonin.

There have been a bunch of studies that have shown too much melatonin is counterproductive. If you want to experiment with melatonin again, try to find some 1mg tabs or even smaller.

[zonk]

Beside comfortable bed to sleep on, I cannot keep the mask on for long if the air feel too cold or too warm, having the right humidity level is important. Stress is part of our daily life, some manage it better than others
Stress quiz http://www.betterhealth.vic.gov.au/bhcv2...age_stress

[Sleepster]

I was hoping that the sleep apnea was the cause of it and CPAP would cure the insomnia as well but no dice. I wake up a lot less frequently, but I'd still say that I wake up about 5 times a night.

I have the same problem and many others have reported a similar or identical problem. I believe it's due to years of untreated sleep apnea.

I've noticed that the problem is fading as my body adapts to the new situation caused by the presence of the CPAP machine. If you think about it, a similar pattern is apparent in many other activities. For example, if you switch cars from one with a manual to one with an automatic transmission, you still find your left foot searching for the clutch pedal.

In a similar way your brain thinks it still has to wake you up to breathe. But if you always use the CPAP machine whenever you sleep, you give your brain the environment it needs to stop doing that. The real problem occurs when you sleep without your machine because then the adaptation process is interrupted.

I agree with the other posters who say it's best not to obsess over the problem. Take note of the fact that the problem is fading away, that the problem is a normal problem experienced by everyone, and it will go away on its own.

I try to think about how comfortable my bed feels and make an active effort to fall back asleep. If all else fails I get out of bed for a while, but that's a last resort.

[mdh235]

One thing I've noticed after reviewing my Sleephead graphs is that most of my awakenings occur right after my APAP raises my pressure. It isn't a 100% correlation, but it's close to 80%.

Unfortunately, I have no idea what to do about it, other than just use straight CPAP.

[eviltim]

One thing I've noticed after reviewing my Sleephead graphs is that most of my awakenings occur right after my APAP raises my pressure. It isn't a 100% correlation, but it's close to 80%.

Unfortunately, I have no idea what to do about it, other than just use straight CPAP.

I noticed the same thing, but it may not necessarily be a pressure problem. You may have more apneas during different stages of sleep (such as REM) so the machine is bumping it up during those times only.

[eschy]

Im on cpap for 15 days and Im having multiple wake up events per night. Was expecting a instant cure with the machine and Im seeing this is going to be work in progress for awhile. There was some great info posted in the thread, thanks. This site is really helping me through this change in my life, Just made a donation

[Tez62]

Welcome, eschy, it takes time and you will get used to it, we have to remember that it doesn't help you sleep, it helps you breathe, the sleeping is a by product of that but you still have to get used to having a mask on your face all night, good luck.