Help: Very frustrated.

It took many many years to get a diagnosis and now I finally have it and have a treatment, I am frustrated with it. I find it very hit and miss as to whether I can get more than 4 hours on my CPAP machine or not , and I can't find any patterns in my daily life that link this. Its like I'm jekyll and hyde The days I get more than 4 hours I am a very different person able to cope with what ever life throws at me. The days I get 4 or less, or even 0 hours I am a completely different person, even though I know why I am like I am with no deep sleep, there's not much I can see to do to fix the problem. I'm can not believe how much my condition has affected and changed my life, I really need this treatment to work, and it does occasionally. I have watched all the videos my resmed supplier provides, I have talked to the sleep clinic and had the machine tweaked, pressure, humidity etc. I am on medication to help me stay asleep and a nasal spray. I have researched via google and read up as much as I can. Any Suggestions ... Any One ?

Oh, my heart goes out to you! Yes, I completely empathize with your sentiment-it's like looking in the mirror! Started treatment about a month ago, and am very hit or miss. One trick I've found is that I need to go to bed in a TIMELY manner. Last night I stayed up late for book club, and it messed me up big time. I'm not sure if it would be helpful to you or not, but if you read some of my past posts you may find some ideas that I fished up. My newest favorite thing is my hose cover, which eliminates that annoying sound the hose makes overtime you move it around. I've also gotten a Dreamware mask in hopes that it will allow me to move around in bed more easily (I often wake after 2-3 hours when I go to roll over.). BUT I am afraid to rock the boat, so I haven't yet tried the new mask.

Hi DenMoo. What is it about CPAP that is bothering you? It's different for everyone.

It would be helpful to know what issues you are having with your CPAP. Also, I just went through a similar issue last month where I woke up every 2 hours. Sometimes I could go back to sleep and other times I was wide awake so would get up for several hours and then go back to bed. I met with my sleep neurologist this week and brought it up. He said it’s not unusual for this to happen to people from time to time. If it persists, then you should go back to your sleep Dr and discuss it with them.

Echo other comments /questions seeking specifics. Pondering "why" things happen or not is too often unproductive; so make sure you grabbed all the low hanging fruit...

Only times I've suffered any sort of insomnia have been based on stress -emotional, psychological, financial...and there aren't usually easy resolutions to those. What has worked has been...

1. Exercise: activities that make you sweat, strain, huff and puff are a good tonic to what preoccupies the mind. They tire the body, and while doing them with effort they're all you can think about.

2. Good sleep hygiene: so many good online articles recommending- setting regular lights out, plus a ramp down period without electronic stimulation before bed. A quick shower or bath further relaxes the body. Maybe reading in bed works for you, but nothing engrossing!

And of course continue pursuing answers from professionals to make sure there isn't something else causing the trouble staying asleep.

~good luck, and sweet dreams :)