[Capt Dave Man]

A quick update and poll for help…
Still have severe COSA and hypoxia; my SpO2 is dropping <90% about 40x /nt even while on ASV+O2.

I’ve been trying the sleep restriction for 8 weeks now with no improvement.
My window= 1200 – 0530; only sleeping to 0300 – 0400 then wide awake + out of bed @0530. Work 0700 – 1600. No naps. Same sched on weekends; SSDD…

I’m logging my sleep, blood press, and SpO2 daily and routinely giving them to my providers.

I don’t feel that I have any conscious anxiety as the cause of insomnia, but I’ve “embraced the suck” for so many years that I don’t care anymore.

So when is this supposed to work? I may sound sarcastic, but I’m open to suggestions.

[Capt Dave Man]

Martin- well understood; you have to stay in your sandbox. And thanks for the reply.
To answer your question:
– read reputable medical journals on the affected conditions; disregard the BS ones
– read a LOT of these insomnia and apnea forums (daytime, not before bedtime) and gain insight that I’m not the only one. There are many at home experts who’ve been thru this and found acceptable solutions and courses of action
– eliminate variables (safely). With dr consent, I’ve stopped taking thyroid meds, OTC supplements, and now use topical testosterone (stop liquid injections). I’m down to just a blood pressure and cholesterol med daily. My dr is watching the labs.
– find a reputable dr who listens to you as a whole person, not just someone with a lab result that says this level is good, this is bad, and here is a med to fix it
– have faith in the program. It will suck at first, but eventually get better
– have a support system. My wife and best bud have a lot of patience and I couldn’t do this alone

I think I just gave away all your secrets.

• This reply was modified 2 years, 2 months ago by Capt Dave Man.

[Capt Dave Man]

Agree with everyone above. I hope to reach the f*** it button soon and start improving.

I also use this analogy:
When I’m deer hunting- I can’t make the deer appear any faster, especially before lunch or dark, if ever at all. I just have to accept that this may not happen, hit the f*** it button, start walking back to the truck, and then a suicidal deer usually walks out. Sometimes it may take 2 or 3 days.

But I can still dream that I’m chasing a herd of 200 pt bucks whether or not I’m sleeping.

[Capt Dave Man]

When you research articles/journals on CBTI, there is no mention that it takes about 2 weeks of hell before you start seeing any difference. I was so apprehensive about starting because:
– I knew it would be hell (anxiety… check!)
– I didn’t think it would work (anxiety… check!)
– My history showed piss poor sleep for years (anxiety… check!)
– I was afraid to move to the couch and not use the ASV+O2 (anxiety… checkmate!)

I found a video where the sleep coach stated it would take 2 weeks before it starts to work. Of course, this is not scientific, peer reviewed, or outlined in any medical journals.

I’m on week 3, not using any sleep meds, and am actually functional during the day. My sleep restriction is 12:30-5:30, sleeping 1-3 hrs (but still catnaps). I still have the other chronic symptoms above; however, I don’t have the med hangover.

Goal: I want my life back! So no pain, no gain…

(I’m not a dr, so don’t take as medical advice) but unless your prescribed meds are keeping you alive, talk to your PCM or specialist to create a get sober and wean off plan. The meds you stated are going to take time to flush out of your system, and it’s going to suck.

Remember- it’s a marathon, and the first 10 miles are going to hurt, but don’t quit. There is an adrenalin rush waiting at the finish line.

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