[split] Naps

[IowaMC60]

Hello RC,

Interesting post here.  I'm much newer to the journey than you and appreciate your insights.

That said, I was struck by your decision to give up naps.  Are you certain this is necessary?

I've read that our "goal"  of 8 hours of sleep per night, in one chunk, is largely a product of the industrial revolution (gotta get ready for work) and prior to that it was more common to sleep 4 hours at a time separated by some gap or perhaps 6 hours at night and a couple during the day.

So, it seems to me, if you get 4 hours of sleep at a crack, your AHI numbers are good, and you are feeling well, then maybe the other score isn't so important.

For me, I was really struck by how wide awake I am at 2 or 3 in the morning (I go to bed early, generally by 9 pm).  Waking up at that time is not new with CPAP, but being wide awake and ready to get up is.

So, as you could imagine, I'm looking for a nap in the afternoon and even sometimes after work.  Like you, I really like my naps.

OK well I hope this doesn't come off as too preachy or whatever, it's just I was sad to see you give up your naps.

Good luck to a fellow CPAPer

Tim

[Rcgop]

Hello RC,

That said, I was struck by your decision to give up naps.  Are you certain this is necessary?

I've read that our "goal"  of 8 hours of sleep per night, in one chunk, is largely a product of the industrial revolution (gotta get ready for work) and prior to that it was more common to sleep 4 hours at a time separated by some gap or perhaps 6 hours at night and a couple during the day.

I don't intend to "give up" naps. My intention was to prove I did not "need" to take a nap in order to function. However, If I take a nap then I don't sleep as long at night. I guess that is a good thing but at least I know the CPAP is doing it's "thing",

[Sleepster]

Moderator Note: This discussion has been split from the Success Stories Thread so the topic can be explored more fully.

[Sleepster]

I've read that our "goal"  of 8 hours of sleep per night, in one chunk, is largely a product of the industrial revolution (gotta get ready for work) and prior to that it was more common to sleep 4 hours at a time separated by some gap or perhaps 6 hours at night and a couple during the day.

I have also read about this idea that before we had electric lighting it was normal to have a first sleep, followed by some time awake during the night, followed by a second sleep. I don't doubt this, but I wonder if there's a lot more to it. People living in moderate to high latitudes have to deal with the fact that the winter nights are much longer than the summer nights. I think this double-sleep thing was probably more prevalent during those winters. If you have sixteen hours of darkness you likely can't sleep that entire time. You might get sleepy just after sunset and due to boredom just go to bed. But you can't spend all of those sixteen hours sleeping, so you're up in the middle of the night.

Anyway, yes we are advised to get 7-9 hours of sleep, but it doesn't have to be contiguous. Many people take an afternoon nap as a matter of course, and then sleep for a few hours during the night.

When we're diagnosed with sleep apnea it's a life-changing event. immediately afterward we may tend to focus too much on our sleep. The thing to remember is that the only reason we sleep is so that we can enjoy life when we're awake. It's the time we spend awake that's important, and sleep is necessary if we want to get the most out of the time we spend awake.

[chill]

That is a good point about the summer/winter daylight hours and the potential effect on our sleep patterns.  My usual sleep pattern is to fall asleep quickly, sleep for 3-4 hours, be awake from 30-60 minutes, then sleep another 2-3 hours before waking again.  If I am not lazy, I get up.  If I am lazy, I sleep another 2 hours or so and feel terrible the next day.  Did I mention that I am lazy?

[Sheepish]

Hello RC,

Interesting post here.  I'm much newer to the journey than you and appreciate your insights.

That said, I was struck by your decision to give up naps.  Are you certain this is necessary?

I've read that our "goal"  of 8 hours of sleep per night, in one chunk, is largely a product of the industrial revolution (gotta get ready for work) and prior to that it was more common to sleep 4 hours at a time separated by some gap or perhaps 6 hours at night and a couple during the day.

So, it seems to me, if you get 4 hours of sleep at a crack, your AHI numbers are good, and you are feeling well, then maybe the other score isn't so important.

For me, I was really struck by how wide awake I am at 2 or 3 in the morning (I go to bed early, generally by 9 pm).  Waking up at that time is not new with CPAP, but being wide awake and ready to get up is.

So, as you could imagine, I'm looking for a nap in the afternoon and even sometimes after work.  Like you, I really like my naps.

OK well I hope this doesn't come off as too preachy or whatever, it's just I was sad to see you give up your naps.

Good luck to a fellow CPAPer

Tim

Interesting historical note about sleep patterns. What ever the reason may be, I also deeply cherish naps. I thought CPAPing would change that, but no.
After my kids were born, napping quickly moved to the top of my list of enjoyable things to do in a bed.  I thought this passing fancy would subside as the toddler years went by, but my deep abiding love of naps continued to grow unabated, and now I feel I could no more make through a day without napping than make it through life without that other thing we so enjoy to do in a bed.