runs vs. centrals

jnk - I wish I could use earplugs!!! I barely respond to my alarm clock now as it is, I doubt I'd ever make it out of bed if I wore earplugs BTW, when I'm not on CPAP or if it's "not working" , then an earthquake couldn't wake me up. If I've slept well and the therapy was OK, then I notice that I can wake up much easier, and sometimes even before the alarm clock (or if a rooster is crowing nearby, which happened in the apratment I lived in for three weeks... then I had to get the hell outta there!).

The earthquake may not wake you up, but it may still mess up your REM.

Just do me a favor and think about it.

Breathing is only one thing out of many that can turn deep sleep into not-so-deep sleep. And it sounds like desats aren't your problem.

I think we often forget the effects of noise. And I think the brains of those of us with breathing troubles at night get stuck in the alert mode as a survival technique, which can make us particularly sensitive to noises. (Just one of my many odd baseless theories!) I wonder how many arousals in sleep labs are caused by the brain trying to figure out where it is and why the noises/smells/lighting are all different.

Anyway, I'm sure someone would be glad to kick you outa bed every morning for a week while you tried it!

I hope suggesting earplugs doesn't get me in trouble for giving medical advice! And I hope it's OK to mention ears in a CPAP forum.

jnk wrote:The earthquake may not wake you up, but it may still mess up your REM.

Yeah that's true... never thought about that!

OK OK I will think about it

The only noise in the area however is the CPAP.. at night it's as quiet as .. a .. mouse?? Well we're not in the middle of the country but it's a very quiet residential neighborhood.

I would have thought I'd have been acclimated to the sounds of the CPAP by now (almost 1 year!! Anniversary coming up in *2* days, yay!).

Come to think of it, my partner's taken to snoring loudly at night. Of course he has "no problems". He also has a deviated septum and is constantly congested "but that's normal" ..

So what KIND of earplugs should I try?

On ear plugs -how about one of those vibrating alarm clocks that you put under your pillow?

I'm quite lucky, my brain seems to filter the mask noise to the point that if I wake up in the night I have to feel my face to figure out if Im wearing the mask or not, sometimes when I'm falling asleep I realise I cant hear the noise anymore. Quite strange when you notice!

I figure its similar effect to not hearing your own snoring.

echo,

I use whatever earplugs my wife can smuggle away from her job. But that's off the record.

You might want to see what works best for you by trying out a "trial pack" from a place like this one, though:

http://earplugstore.stores.yahoo.net/unfoamtrialp.html

Quiet, dark, calm--those are the goals for me. And of course, going to bed at the same time every day, sleeping for the same amount, and waking up at the same time is nice, if I can manage that within reason. Some have found, I understand, that sleeping for 15 minutes more or 15 minutes less each night can make a big difference for them. Some have charted that just like charting PAP pressures. Some feel great after 7 hours of sleep but lousy after 8, for example. Especially if they are waking up in the "wrong spot" in their sleep architecture. That's one theory, anyway. It's like naps. Twenty minutes may energize one person. But 40 minutes may make that same person sleepier afterward, because his/her body starts the whole sleep cycle.

I apologize for hijacking. And I don't mean to be "on your case." I was just struck, from your posts, with how well you seem to be doing with your PAP therapy. And you deserve to feel good every morning, if you can. That's the only reason I'm throwing around all the old "sleep-hygeine" cliches. PAP therapy is great, but it's still only part of the equation. And it is a shame if something practical and relatively simple gets overlooked in the mix, if you are going by how you feel. Even keeping up with what you ate or drank the day before you wake up feeling bad may be a thing to do. (Please remind me of all the same things one day when I'm having trouble!)

I used to be a nightworker and worked in a very noisy environment, so I was already used to earplugs. It takes some people a while to get used to the feeling of them in the ears, but its nothing like getting used to a machine. It can take a week or two for some to get used to the difference. And at first they can make the air movement from the machine sound louder, since they heighten your awareness of sounds/vibrations of anything attached to your face and head. But it may be something to try, since it doesn't represent much of an investment.

And remember, my problem with my posts is that I not only tend to think outside the box--I'm not sure I'd know a box if I saw one.

jnk

thanks for the info jnk I'm off on a trip right now and probably won't have internet access for the week, but I'll check out the info.

That's the whole reason I posted, everything looks good but I don't feel good (well last two nights have been better) - and all advice is appreciated

Food has a defininte affect on me!! But I've been aware of that since a teenager and can tell the difference between the sources of the various headaches, pains, and groginess I feel (usually) - whether type of food, sleep, even sometimes weather. I may not know how my mind works, but I am definintely in touch with my body! Maybe that's part of my stubbornness - I think I know myself too well

Danmc - never knew one of those alarm clocks existed! I could use one!
At night I hear the noise of the machine/mask, but I don't feel the mask or the pressure on my face anymore. My setup has taken to squealing lately but I fixed that with a big hammer . In the beginning I could hardly hear but now it seems to be louder. The machine is less than a year old... and the mask and hose seem healthy. It doesn't sound like leaking, it just sounds noisy. oh well.

Come to think of it, my partner's taken to snoring loudly at night. Of course he has "no problems". He also has a deviated septum and is constantly congested "but that's normal" .. Rolling Eyes

Hi Echo,

I just caught up on this post, and I'm glad to see you've gotten great feedback from the others. It seems to me as though narrowing your pressure range might be the key - maybe 8-10, so that you minimize your centrals. Just a thought.

Also, your snoring partner is very likely waking you up over and over throughout the night. Any chance of sleeping apart for a week to see if you feel different? I think jnk is right, we are very tuned into breathing interruptions, but even a "normal" spouse gets sleep deprived because of a partner's snoring and/or apneas.

Good luck,
Cathy

tangents wrote:[Any chance of sleeping apart for a week to see if you feel different?

Yeah, that would be this week... but I'm also already feeling better from going on straight CPAP at a higher pressure for the last two nights (and no central's yippie). So I don't think I'll be able to tell the difference. If gets worse again next week when I'm back, then we'll know .

Seems kinda funny now to be on the other side. I snored like a freight train and probably kept him up.. now that I'm all nice and quiet he's started snoring .. at least it's just a lite rumbling sound for now.

The other day he actually volunteered to use the CPAP on 4cm for a night, so that I "could compare my AHI with that of a normal sleeper" .

Echo you mentioned squealing - I discovered my mask squeals when it gets condensation moisture in it - the tiny drops around the exhaust holes seem to cause it. If I hear the sound of a party balloon being deflated then I know I have water in my mask...or I've fallen asleep at another party.

nope no condensation. no parties either .