falling asleep without CPAP

[ppowers]

When I fall asleep without my pap, I feel really bad for several hours. I feel short of breath, nervous, nauseated, and tremulous for 3-4 hours. Is there anyone who can explain why I feel so bad for so long, and does anyone else have this kind of experience?
thanks

[multime]

I've felt the same way at times but not every time I fall asleep without cpap. I never could figure out a reason for this. It could be that you got a few hours of very bad sleep plus got hot under your covers. This for me has been the biggest reason for feeling that way but again not all the time just most.

Sorry for the long run on sentence and that I couldn't help you more. Sometimes things just are what they are sadly.

[OpalRose]

When I fall asleep without my pap, I feel really bad for several hours. I feel short of breath, nervous, nauseated, and tremulous for 3-4 hours. Is there anyone who can explain why I feel so bad for so long, and does anyone else have this kind of experience?
thanks

Hi ppowers,
I guess my question is: Why do you fall alsleep without your CPAP?
If you felt bad before CPAP Therapy, which I'm sure you did, or you wouldn't be on CPAP; then your certainly going to feel bad if you decide not to use it for any reason.
Don't take a nap without it, and don't travel without it. Those Apneas are going untreated if your not hooked up to CPAP.
You need to start thinking of your machine as a part of you.
OpalRose

[truetopath]

I would guess it's a shock to your system going without your pap, and the apenas you're having are raising cain on your body.

[Evpraxia]

Well, think of it this way: no XPAP treatment while sleeping equals micro-sleeping and constant micro-waking. Not a good sleeping situation.

Do keep in mind that using an XPAP at night or for "most" of you sleeping is not like taking medication that stays in the body x number of hours.

I try to think of it this way: Sleep Apnea is like having a foot that cannot be walked on (or a missing foot). While it is possible to limp or hop around as I go through my day it is going to be exhausting and will slow me down. But if I use a device, such as a walking cast, a cane or crutches, I can do much better and function well.

So, it follows that if I sleep without my XPAP (crutch, cane or walking cast) for part of the night or during a nap, the sleep will not be productive or restful and will (not "might" but WILL) damage my heart, brain and the rest of my body through lack of oxygen.

Result? I will use my XPAP ANYTIME I sleep.

[TyroneShoes]

I wish I was able to do that.

About once a week I reach a state where I just fall asleep without it, which is probably due to lifelong habit (been on xPAP for 6 months). It's not that I say to myself "just let me rest my eyes for a moment", as much as it just happens and I don't think about it or make a conscious decision. I certainly intend to always sleep with the xPAP, and I am fine with that and comfortable with the mask. But it is almost as if my body is craving some non-xPAP sleep on occasion.

But this also usually also results in me needing to pee, so I am off the mask for a couple hours, wake to take care of business, then I'm back on for the rest of the night.

I'd like to solve this and never fall asleep without the mask, but it still keeps happening.

[Evpraxia]

I wish I was able to do that.

About once a week I reach a state where I just fall asleep without it, which is probably due to lifelong habit (been on xPAP for 6 months). It's not that I say to myself "just let me rest my eyes for a moment", as much as it just happens and I don't think about it or make a conscious decision.

I do understand - my hubby has been known to nap during the day without his APAP, thankfully he is usually in his recliner when he does this. I try to wake him up to move around & stay awake OR to put on his APAP but he doesn't always do either.

[eviltim]

Because apnea-riddled sleep is effectively like having a disease. It isn't very restorative at all. Chances are you felt like this before getting on treatment, it's just the drop is so much sharper going from well rested back to that.

[OpineCone]

Well, think of it this way: no XPAP treatment while sleeping equals micro-sleeping and constant micro-waking. Not a good sleeping situation.

Do keep in mind that using an XPAP at night or for "most" of you sleeping is not like taking medication that stays in the body x number of hours.

I try to think of it this way: Sleep Apnea is like having a foot that cannot be walked on (or a missing foot). While it is possible to limp or hop around as I go through my day it is going to be exhausting and will slow me down. But if I use a device, such as a walking cast, a cane or crutches, I can do much better and function well.

So, it follows that if I sleep without my XPAP (crutch, cane or walking cast) for part of the night or during a nap, the sleep will not be productive or restful and will (not "might" but WILL) damage my heart, brain and the rest of my body through lack of oxygen.

Result? I will use my XPAP ANYTIME I sleep.

I wish I was able to do that.

About once a week I reach a state where I just fall asleep without it, which is probably due to lifelong habit (been on xPAP for 6 months). It's not that I say to myself "just let me rest my eyes for a moment", as much as it just happens and I don't think about it or make a conscious decision.

I do understand - my hubby has been known to nap during the day without his APAP, thankfully he is usually in his recliner when he does this. I try to wake him up to move around & stay awake OR to put on his APAP but he doesn't always do either.

You did a great job of explaining why you always use your XPAP every time you sleep, and got me all motivated to do the same. But then you confused me by saying that "thankfully" your husband is usually in his recliner when he takes a daytime nap without his APAP. Is it less serious to sleep without an APAP in a recliner than lying on a bed? Or sitting on an upright chair? Or relaxing in a jacuzzi?
Or maybe you mean something more serious like while driving a car?

[TyroneShoes]

...maybe you mean something more serious like while driving a car?

Which brings up the old joke:

"If I'm going to die, I think it might be best to die in my sleep, like my uncle Lou did. Better than dying while screaming in terror like his passengers."

Ba-dump bump.