Wearing a sleep apnea mask?

[SpringHollow]

15 events per hour is pretty low. My HMO would not give a machine unless it was at least 30 per hour. I squeaked in at 34. 89% sleep efficiency I think means you were asleep 89% of the time. I just checked an that is correct - you slept 89% of the time that you were in bed.

Ken

QUOTE=Alan L.;3841083]I went to the sleep doc for followup. He said I do have "moderate" sleep apnea. Said I had about 15 "events" per hour and my oxygen level got down to as low *** 86% during the night. .........

On a night that I didn't feel like I slept at all he said my sleep was 89% efficient, whatever that means.[/QUOTE]

 

[Bird]

I found that taking an over the counter light sleeping pill along with the CPAP works best for me.

I guess different medications have different side effects for different people. It's been many years since I took a sleeping pill and it did make me sleep, but I woke up and got up the next morning feeling more tired than when I went to bed. I'd rather stay awake all night than take a sleeping pill.:laughing:

 

[Deere Dude]

I guess different medications have different side effects for different people. It's been many years since I took a sleeping pill and it did make me sleep, but I woke up and got up the next morning feeling more tired than when I went to bed. I'd rather stay awake all night than take a sleeping pill.:laughing:

I would try a different sleeping pill if I was groggy the next day. The same with pain killers; some leave me groggy the next day but some make me feel like a new man and better the next day.

If I could sleep fair without a sleeping pill I wouldn't take them, but if I skip on them because I am to lazy or just forget, I can go to sleep right away anyway, but I would wake up refreshed at 2:00 AM and would be shot by 6 AM because I wouldn't be able to continue sleeping. Darned if you do and darned if you don't.

For me sleeping pills are great, not for going to sleep but staying asleep or being able to get into sleep once I wake up prematurely. I just found one that works good for me with no known side effects on me.

 

[RHP]

Yes Bird it has a humidifier, but no matter how low it goes, it still blows hot air in my face. Work, this year has been tough, i mean, hard and heavy, and here it's been hot and humid and thats the last thing i needed was hot air in my face at night. The people whom i got the machine from are nice people but don't have a clue about heavy work and how it drains the old body. I have it shut off so thats one problem repaired.
My setting is 9 and i have a full face mask. The idea of a mask doesnt bother me at all for some strange reason. My mask fits ok but for some reason iwhen you put it on and start the air compressor up . .. . . .i mean sleep machine up, i feel like its inflating me like an inner tube. I can't exhale with it. On the ramp setting theres not enough air coming in so i feel sufficated. I went to bed at 12:30 this morning and it actually wasn't to bad. I was tired at 4am when i got up but i was wrestling 36" diameter blocks of wood on splitter. Got a couple of them left, but tonight i cut again.Took down 2, 32" hard maple that have a run in them of about 90' each before the limbs. Thats my job tonight, to cut them up. I don't cut tops, thats another guy's job. I run a Stihl, 660 Mag which weighs in about 25 pounds. I guess as one guy said, "get tired enough and you will sleep" . . . . .John

Good luck with getting this sorted out. The feeling of not being able to breathe out must be frustrating. I'm surprised your doctor doesn't recommend a "Bi-Pap" machine that senses your exhalation and reduces the pressure. They have come a long way with these machines and even have battery packs for when you aren't sleeping where electricity is available! Again, good luck in the future......

Roger

 

[sixdogs]

Once I heard something about dreams and sleep apnea and wonder if it's true. The claim was that people with sleep apnea do not dream while those without apnea do dream. Anyone know if this is true?

 

[grnspot110]

Once I heard something about dreams and sleep apnea and wonder if it's true. The claim was that people with sleep apnea do not dream while those without apnea do dream. Anyone know if this is true?

I hadn't remembered any dreams in years before using the CPAP, always thought it was strange when people talked about their dreams! I've had my CPAP for around 15 years, started dreaming immediately. Mine started at a setting of 14, had another sleep study 3 years ago, setting dropped to 11. ~~ Lowell

 

[Bird]

Once I heard something about dreams and sleep apnea and wonder if it's true. The claim was that people with sleep apnea do not dream while those without apnea do dream. Anyone know if this is true?

I'll say it's not true, since I obviously have sleep apnea, but I did dream almost every night. However, 10 minutes after I woke up, I couldn't have told you what I dreamed about. For me to tell, or remember, what I dreamed about, it would have had to be immediately after I awoke.

 

[DennisArrow]

I definately have apnea and since the use of the CPAP began a couple of years ago, I have dreams that are vivid, in color, non-nightmarish, and sometimes starring me, though i never actually see me, I think. Like Bird, I don't remember them actually but am aware of them and sometimes associate something with them during waking hours...........NEVER had dreams that I remember before the CPAP...........God bless..........Dennis

 

[Alan L.]

I most definitely have dreams but seldom can remember them. I remember some of last night, a friend of mine said he would go get his tractor but I offered the use of mine since we apparently were near my house. for some reason my tractor was up on stilts, I had to let it down. I then discovered that the throttle lever was broke. Seems I got it running and was trying to figure out what it was I needed to do with it when I woke up. Many times I dream about a problem at work, but it is not a real problem and has no solution thus it is frustrating. I am always glad to wake up and find that I don't have to figure that one out. Then there are those dreams where I am fighting and end up kicking my wife or dog, and one night I was in a race. It started out I was driving a car to race someone, but the car disappeared and I was instead running a footrace. I ran smack dab into the bedroom window and put a knot on my head. I have also run my face into the night stand while crawling around on the floor. This acting out stuff is why I was prescribe the clonazepam. Hope it helps - just took my first one.

 

[BobRip]

Once I heard something about dreams and sleep apnea and wonder if it's true. The claim was that people with sleep apnea do not dream while those without apnea do dream. Anyone know if this is true?

I find that my dreams last longer with my sleep apnea mouth piece. I mentioned this to the doctor and he was pleased. When you dream your body goes into a deeper relaxation state and sleep apnea gets worse since your throat muscles relax even more and close your airway more. Your body senses this condition and wakes you up. Just my understanding of this. It may be different for others.