Not Getting Back to Sleep
I have been using my machine for about two months now. Sometimes when I wake up early I can't get back to sleep because I have a difficult time breathing due to the pressure. I have no trouble with the pressure when I go to bed, but it seems like when I wake up around 3 or 4 am., I can't get back to sleep due to not being able to breathe smoothly. It feels as though my body is so relaxed the pressure is too high for it to tolerate the air rushing through. My options seem to be to get up (but I am just not ready
) or to rip the mask off and go back to sleep. Are there any other options? Do others have this problem?
RE: Not Getting Back to Sleep
You could use the ramp setting to reduce the pressure until you fall back asleep.
RE: Not Getting Back to Sleep
Would that mean turning the machine off and starting it again? I don't use the ramp when I go to sleep initially.
RE: Not Getting Back to Sleep
Hi olywa,
Walla Walla has a good idea, try setting ramp for a few minutes time with a slightly reduced pressure than what you normally receive. One of the first things to conqueror as a newer CPAP user is to get used to using it. If it helps to get used to CPAP and the mask, install the mask and turn on your CPAP while reading or whatever. This is to help you get used to pressures, etc. Note that lots have problems adjusting to CPAP, even after a month or so of use. That includes waking up early like yourself. It will take time to adjust to this. Just remember how long you were on the old sleep patterns vs how short of time you are along in developing the new one.
INFORMATION ON APNEA BOARD FORUMS OR ON APNEABOARD.COM SHOULD NOT BE CONSIDERED MEDICAL ADVICE. ALWAYS SEEK THE ADVICE OF A PHYSICIAN BEFORE SEEKING TREATMENT FOR MEDICAL CONDITIONS, INCLUDING SLEEP APNEA. INFORMATION POSTED ON THE APNEA BOARD WEBSITE AND FORUMS ARE PERSONAL OPINION ONLY AND NOT NECESSARILY A STATEMENT OF FACT.
RE: Not Getting Back to Sleep
Yes on the ResMed you would have to restart the machine and already have the ramp set to use. Now with the Dreamstations, it has a ramp button you can hit that starts the ramp pressure.
RE: Not Getting Back to Sleep
(03-02-2018, 08:42 AM)olywa Wrote: Would that mean turning the machine off and starting it again? I don't use the ramp when I go to sleep initially.
You could try ramp if you like, as Walla Walla and I suggested, but it is your choice. My reasoning for suggesting it was to possibly assist in you getting back to sleep.
As for the question part, I am guessing, so I ask for clarification. When you go back to sleep, the machine has not been turned off? If it's still on, you can try cycling to off then back to on and see what results you get.
INFORMATION ON APNEA BOARD FORUMS OR ON APNEABOARD.COM SHOULD NOT BE CONSIDERED MEDICAL ADVICE. ALWAYS SEEK THE ADVICE OF A PHYSICIAN BEFORE SEEKING TREATMENT FOR MEDICAL CONDITIONS, INCLUDING SLEEP APNEA. INFORMATION POSTED ON THE APNEA BOARD WEBSITE AND FORUMS ARE PERSONAL OPINION ONLY AND NOT NECESSARILY A STATEMENT OF FACT.
RE: Not Getting Back to Sleep
Thanks for the suggestions. Dave, when I wake up early like that I don't turn off the machine. I am just trying to get back to sleep without waking up too much. I could try the ramp and see if it works. I would want to use it when I go to bed also, so when I wake up at 3 or 4 I can just turn it off and back on again so the ramp starts over. This isn't a huge deal and it doesn't happen every night. But I find it odd that when I initially go to bed the pressure is not a problem at all, only early in the morning. Maybe it's just time for me to get up and start my day.
RE: Not Getting Back to Sleep
OK, sounds fine. Let us know if it helped. I'd experiment with a relatively short ramp time and a somewhat small reduction on ramp pressure. But set it to whatever gives best results.
Have a great day.
INFORMATION ON APNEA BOARD FORUMS OR ON APNEABOARD.COM SHOULD NOT BE CONSIDERED MEDICAL ADVICE. ALWAYS SEEK THE ADVICE OF A PHYSICIAN BEFORE SEEKING TREATMENT FOR MEDICAL CONDITIONS, INCLUDING SLEEP APNEA. INFORMATION POSTED ON THE APNEA BOARD WEBSITE AND FORUMS ARE PERSONAL OPINION ONLY AND NOT NECESSARILY A STATEMENT OF FACT.
RE: Not Getting Back to Sleep
Just a thought as to why you are waking up.
When you wake up, turn your machine off then back on right away. Then when you get up, check your SleepyHead stats, and note what was going on
at the time you woke up. You will be able to tell from the break in the graphs where you turned machine off.
Note the timing, and what pressure you were at, if pressure was high and responding to snores or flow limitation, or apneas. It could be the higher pressure is waking you.
If machine is responding to FL or snores, then you may be able to lower the Max pressure a bit to prevent the machine from going too high, so as not to wake you in the first place.
03-02-2018, 10:39 AM
(This post was last modified: 03-02-2018, 10:41 AM by S.L. Ping Beauty.)
RE: Not Getting Back to Sleep
I literally had the same exact symptoms that you describe!
I discussed it with my doctor; she and I discussed changing the settings from CPAP to AutoPAP and it made a world of difference for the better. I was not comfortable making the changes myself on the machine (I was SO exhausted was afraid I might make a mistake) so she sent a script to my DME tech and he made the change remotely. I noticed a difference the very first night... especially the part about returning to sleep with a "more relaxed" pressure that was less exertion to breathe against.
(My response above is only relating my experience and is in no fashion a recommendation or suggestion that you do it....DYODD
)
