My Problem -- Advice Wanted

I am having a really terrible time getting more than 5-6 hours a night on the machine. I am giving myself as much as (11) hours to sleep.

It can take two hours two get to sleep on CPAP and then I get 2-4 hours before waking up. Then it can take as much as an hour or more to get back to sleep.

I see my problem as not getting enough hours on the machine. Awake hours do nothing in getting caught up. The sleep doctor gave me Ambien CR 12.5mg. They have helped but do not last and it can still take two hours to fall asleep.

I guess I have insomnia and OSA. I see nothing changing in the next few weeks or months. I want to see the family doctor next week and will see the sleep doctor in five weeks.

I feel terrible and recover a little some days but amy not getting ahead on my sleep deficit. The mask and machine do not make it easier to fall asleep but I am really tired and should be able to sleep better.

I am ABC and wanted you to see my profile. I did not see that I was not logged in.

Welcome.

So you find yourself fiddling with your mask to stop leaks as you're trying to fall asleep, or do you just slap it on and then lay there for two hours? Did you have this problem before you started CPAP therapy?

for non-Intel Macs use Virtual PC.

I do not feel that I have any leaks. I put it on and then try to fall asleep with the machine.

I went to bed later before being diagnosed. I slept OK but got way behind when I was sick for three weeks and coughed a lot, which interrupted sleep.

I am going to try going to sleep about two hours later as laying there for two hours has done nothing at all.

I have never caught up with the cold loss of sleep issue, I can't get enough machine sleep to catch up. Some nights I have fallen asleep without the mask as I was waiting until felt ready for sleep.

The whole mask, air flow thing is not conducive to sleep. This is part of the problem. when I do wake up I can get back to sleep in a short period of time or it can take hours.

I have been at this for a while now and have mostly conquered this issue.

Did you have insomnia before being diagnosed with apnea? What do you think is keeping you up - is it just getting used to to the mask airflow?

That was my issue. It just took time for me to get used to. At first I would keep my mask on about two hours and not fall asleep. I took a night off, Then tried again the following evening and fell asleep after an hour. Then, I would use my mask until I woke up and if I couldn't fall back alseep, I'd take it off. Each night I lasted longer until I could fall back asleep again. I have just made it through the entire night with the mask on.

One trick may be finding something to take your mind off the mask; music, audio book, aromatherapy, praying, meditating, creative envisioning....

Other things to consider are your pressure, perhaps an apap with a lower starting pressure might help, C-flex that makes it easier to exhale and mask comfort.

You may want to be careful of letting yourself stay awake too long, as you already sound over-tired and that can make it even harder to fall asleep. I find a hot bath with a bit of lavender helps me get relaxed when I am too tired to fall asleep.

I hope you find something that works soon!
W