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+--- Thread: How I survived the first 60 days (/Thread-How-I-survived-the-first-60-days)
How I survived the first 60 days - f150 - 07-23-2019
A few years ago, my in-law tried cpap for a few days, then gave up. A few similar stories circulated at the office over time.
When my turn came, I resolved to stick it out. The vendor bent over backwards with mask and settting suggestions. But around midnight #12, I ripped the mask off my face. The next day I called the doc.
She prescribed 30 days Diazapam 5mg per night plus Melatonin as needed. Problem solved.
The Diazapam is no longer required, but I'll probably use the Melatonin (and cpap) forever.
RE: How I survived the first 60 days - mesenteria - 07-23-2019
Thank-you for going to the trouble of relating your experience to us. I am pleased that you have a positive story to tell.
Your story reminds me of the Yorkshire vet, James Herriot (in real life he was Alf Wight), who tells us that he had a very ill dog that he couldn't fix. He finally decided to do a semi-euthanization where he knocked the dog out with drugs and kept it in a coma for several days. When he allowed the dog to awaken, it was as right as rain and raring to go. Your team decided to use a bigger hammer, and it worked!
RE: How I survived the first 60 days - f150 - 07-23-2019
Love it!
(Don't tell anyone, but my numbers went down and I was still exhausted. Just not falling asleep at my desk.
The doc added 200mg of armodafinal for daytime, and I instantly became 20 years younger... mentally.)
RE: How I survived the first 60 days - RayBee - 07-23-2019
Yes, good to read, indeed. I seem to be able to fall asleep easily, but rarely sleep for more than 1-1/2 hours per session. Maybe I'm just a light sleeper. My wife uses Melatonin every night with mixed results, but without it she only logs 3 to 4 hours cumulative according to her Fitbit. Maybe I'll try a few and see if I can edge closer to a full uninterrupted nights sleep. Worth a try.
for the post f150.RayBee
RE: How I survived the first 60 days - mesenteria - 07-24-2019
Since I retired 15 years ago I have been a good sleeper, but not a long sleeper. I typically log between 5.5 and 6.5 hours. When I feel myself dragging my butt, I will take a melatonin tablet, but this only happens every 10-14 days. I have read that habitual use will lead to...well...habituation, so I keep them 'fresh' like a do a beer or a piece of chocolate...seldom, but oh-so-fine when I get it. And that seems to work. Melatonin doesn't really alter the quality of my sleep so much as it tends to extend it by about a full hour. That one blissful night sets me up for the next cycle of slow discharging.
RE: How I survived the first 60 days - ardenum - 07-24-2019
If anyone takes antidepressants in the serotonin range they should supplement with low dose melatonin. Melatonin is made from serotonin so if you bind more serotonin you have less for conversion to melatonin.
RE: How I survived the first 60 days - mesenteria - 07-24-2019
(07-24-2019, 07:56 AM)crowtor Wrote: If anyone takes antidepressants in the serotonin range they should supplement with low dose melatonin. Melatonin is made from serotonin so if you bind more serotonin you have less for conversion to melatonin.
This doesn't seem to follow for me. Anti-depressants are SSRI types in the case that deal with serotonin, and that means the drug is meant to leave more serotonin in the synapses. What SSRI means is that it inhibits the reabsorption of serotonin too early by the reuptake enzymes. Depression is linked to low levels of serotonin, and this is often done by too much enzymatic reuptake in the synapses. So, if a person is on SSRI anti-depressants, there should be MORE serotonin available, not less. When there is more serotonin, the byproduct of its metabolism by the body is to produce more tryptophans which is available for melatonin production. Ergo, SSRIs allow the body to do a better job of producing its own melatonin.
https://www.livestrong.com/article/444220-is-it-safe-to-take-melatonin-with-ssris/
https://atlasofscience.org/melatonin-and-serotonin-in-psychiatric-and-brain-disorders/
RE: How I survived the first 60 days - f150 - 07-24-2019
For me Melatonin is like many drugs in that your dose goes up as time goes on. My understanding from my own studies as well as my doctor's leads me to believe that it's about as toxic as fish oil, ie, toxicity for a 200lb person = 21 grams!
Diazapam's a different story. It was fine for a soup starter, but I'm not interested in a long term relationship.
In any event, getting comfortable with the cpap equipment was well worth a little drug abuse.