[susanr]

Hi: I am new to this website and to this forum of communicating, but I am so tired of being tired all the time, I was happy to find insomnia land. I have never been a good sleeper, but two years ago, I was diagnosed with sleep apnea because I was yawning all day. I thought I had been sleeping, but after multiple sleep tests, it turned out that I was waking from 15-60 times an HOUR and never going into a deep sleep. The CPAP machine helped at first, but even with the machine, I couldn't stay asleep. On good nights I will sleep 3-4 hours without waking, but many nights I wake constantly. I am trying to pinpoint what wakes me up (assuming the Cpap machine is working correctly, I should be breathing correctly). I have tried most of the meds. Most of them put me to sleep, but don't keep me asleep. I am also awaken with lower back and leg pain at night. I was tested for restless leg syndrome, but that has been ruled out. I have a great mattress, so that isn't it.

I am looking forward to trying the sleep training and hearing what has helped others.

thanks

[Martin Reed]

Welcome to the forums, Susan.

When you wake during the night, what typically happens? How long do you stay awake before getting back to sleep? What do you do when you wake during the night?

If you provide me with a bit more information, maybe I can offer some specific tips.

—

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The content of this post is provided for informational and educational purposes only. It is not medical advice and is not intended to diagnose, treat, cure, or prevent any disease, disorder, or medical condition. It should never replace any advice given to you by your physician or any other licensed healthcare provider. Insomnia Coach LLC offers coaching services only and does not provide therapy, counseling, medical advice, or medical treatment. All content is provided “as is” and without warranties, either express or implied.

[susanr]

Actually, your advice yesterday not to look at the clock may help. I tried it last night and actually, for the 1st time, I have no idea how many times I woke up. I usually fall back to sleep fairly within 15 minutes, but after my first wake up, I take off the CPAP machine, because I become aware of how uncomfortable it is. Without it on, I wake up frequently (after every dream) and never go into a deep, restful dream. I do keep a consistent sleep schedule 9:30-5:30, even on weekends. I don't nap. I have to sleep on my side due to the apnea, and I often experience siatic pain. Advil PM helps with the pain and falling back to sleep. I don't usually get up and do things in the middle of the night. On really bad nights, I'll read for a while until I get sleepy again. I work full time, and yawning all day is embarrassing.

thanks, I am actually feeling more hopeful today.

[Martin Reed]

It's amazing how something as simple as getting rid of the clock can improve sleep. I like your positive attitude – keep it up. The more you worry about sleep, the more difficult sleep becomes.

—

If you are ready to stop struggling with insomnia you can enroll in the online insomnia coaching course right now! If you would prefer ongoing phone or video coaching calls as part of a powerful three month program that will help you reclaim your life from insomnia, consider applying for the Insomnia Mastery program.

The content of this post is provided for informational and educational purposes only. It is not medical advice and is not intended to diagnose, treat, cure, or prevent any disease, disorder, or medical condition. It should never replace any advice given to you by your physician or any other licensed healthcare provider. Insomnia Coach LLC offers coaching services only and does not provide therapy, counseling, medical advice, or medical treatment. All content is provided “as is” and without warranties, either express or implied.

[owl2020]

I also have been diagnosed with sleep apnea but I can't tolerate the CPAP machine. I take one capsule a night of a herbal concoction called Sleep Apnea Relief put out by Nature's Rite; I really don't know if it helps with apnea. I see you use the CPAP but find it uncomfortable and even with the use of the CPAP you wake constantly. When I wake up it seems to have more to do with having to urinate than anything else. On a typical night I sleep about 3 to 3 1/2 hours then wake up to go to the bathroom. On good nights I can fall back asleep for an hour to an hour and a half once and sometimes twice. So on the average I get 4 to 5 hours sleep a night. Unlike you I am not aware of waking frequently, but you can have sleep apnea and not realize you are waking frequently for short intervals. I don't have the pain issue you seem to have. I try to keep regular sleep hours, practice good sleep hygiene and I only look at the clock after I feel I have been asleep awhile to gage how much sleep I am getting. I walk a lot which I thinks helps me. I use a low dose Ambien to get back to sleep if it looks after awhile like I'm going to say awake after sleeping initially but I don't use it more than once a week. You have to keep in mind that eventually these different type of sleeping pills will stop working, which is why I use the Ambien sparingly. It only gives me 1 1/2 to 2 hours additional sleep. I've tried getting up and doing something when I can't get back to sleep but it doesn't seem to make any difference. Last night I slept initially about three hours but couldn't get back to sleep for what I guess is about an hour but I finally got back to sleep for what I guess is around 45 minutes. I don't know if my experiences help you but at least you know there are others who have similar sleep problems and you are not alone.

[susanr]

With Ambien and the CPAP machine I can usually get 3 1/2 to 4 hours of sleep without waking. I have been trying to keep the CPAP on longer each night. Recently, I have put it back on after using the bathroom for about 2 more hours. Not looking at the clock is actually helping, but because I am taking medication, I need to keep track of when I last took it. I am currently focusing on the siatic pain issue as it is probably contributing to me waking frequently. I also walk a lot during the day and have started a yoga/stretching class. I have pretty good sleep hygiene; keeping regular bedtime and waking.

thanks for sharing, it is helpful to hear other's experienes.

[owl2020]

Are you taking both AdvilPM and Ambien on a regular basis to sleep? You seem to practice good sleep hygiene but still need sleeping pills. Also you indicate you take some kind of medication, which may or may not have some effect on your sleeping ability. Last night I slept 3 1/2 hours without waking but was not able to fall back asleep again. I thought of taking my low dose Ambien to get another couple of hours of sleep but decided against it because it has not been quite a week since I last took an Ambien. I will have to see how things go tonight; in the long run I know I'm better off not using it even on a very limited basis but on the other hand it is nice to get two hours extra of sleep when you need it. I hope my sleep deficit will have built up enough that I can get about 5 hours on my own tonight without a pill. By the way I attend a yoga class as well, although it is “chair yoga.”

[IngridS]

'susanr' wrote:

With Ambien and the CPAP machine I can usually get 3 1/2 to 4 hours of sleep without waking. I have been trying to keep the CPAP on longer each night. Recently, I have put it back on after using the bathroom for about 2 more hours. Not looking at the clock is actually helping, but because I am taking medication, I need to keep track of when I last took it. I am currently focusing on the siatic pain issue as it is probably contributing to me waking frequently. I also walk a lot during the day and have started a yoga/stretching class. I have pretty good sleep hygiene; keeping regular bedtime and waking.

thanks for sharing, it is helpful to hear other's experienes.

Have you tried seeing a Chiropractor? They may be able to help with the back pain issue. Positioning with pillows between your knees and under your upper arm, may help too.

[Author]

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