Replies to This Discussion

Permalink Reply by Amy on March 18, 2011 at 10:05pm

There are quite a few people who have both disorders.  If you are finding that the CPAP is not helping consider talking to your physician about a sleep aide.  I usually also review sleep hygiene with the patient.  So th ebasic things such a s reduction of noise and light, bedtime routines, no computers, or phones or tv before bed. 

 

I personally use Melatonin to help with my insomnia. 

• ▶ Reply

Permalink Reply by Donna Medin on March 19, 2011 at 6:35am

I've been thinking about using Melatonin.  Does it work pretty good?

• ▶ Reply

Permalink Reply by Ernestine Webster on March 19, 2011 at 10:20am

i have tried it but it did nothing to help me sleep. tried otc sleep aids but they did not help, the only thing that helped me get a good nights sleep was the generic of ambien for about a month then it stopped working.   

Donna M. said:

I've been thinking about using Melatonin.  Does it work pretty good?

• ▶ Reply

Permalink Reply by Ernestine Webster on March 19, 2011 at 10:22am

i do not at this time know if it is insomina or sleep apnea , am scheduled for a sleep study march 28 th. hope to know something after that.  

• ▶ Reply

Permalink Reply by Ernestine Webster on March 21, 2011 at 9:15am

i did not get to sleep until 5:30 am this morning after trying all night and believe me it was a long night, slept until 8 am , will be so glad when this sleep study is over with, i may have both disorders  

Amy said:

There are quite a few people who have both disorders.  If you are finding that the CPAP is not helping consider talking to your physician about a sleep aide.  I usually also review sleep hygiene with the patient.  So th ebasic things such a s reduction of noise and light, bedtime routines, no computers, or phones or tv before bed. 

 

I personally use Melatonin to help with my insomnia. 

• ▶ Reply

Permalink Reply by JanSaysHello on March 22, 2011 at 9:46am

I try to exercise during the day

I avoid all caffeinated beverages after 3 pm

I make sure my bed is comfortable and I have several different pillows to chose from

I slow down an hour before bedtime and avoid the computer and other brain stimulating devices

I try to relax before bedtime

If I do not get to sleep after about 3/4 hour, I don't worry about it and I get back up and watch tv for awhile

I try not to nap during the day even if I feel tired

Following this routine helps my insomnia about 90% of the time

Good Luck

• ▶ Reply

Permalink Reply by Mary Callahan on March 22, 2011 at 9:49am

I have both apnea + life-long insomnia and even RLS/PLMS. I am still working with a sleep doctor to keep trying all sorts of RX for sleep. I am currently taking Restoril 7.5mg + Gabatril 2mg. They help with the sleep, but I do not wake refreshed. I have tried Trazadone, Doxepin/Sinequin, Clonazepam, Neurtonin, a combination of Clonazepam + Neurontin (esp considering the RLS/PLMS), and as much as it helps with the sleep, I feel like a zombie most of the day. Probably the hangover effect of the benzo which takes away any chance at deep sleep.

 

I have tried 5-HTP, L-Tryptophan, Valerian, Kava, Melatonin, Hops, GABA, Passionflower, etc. And none of them truly work. For some they work great, but not for me.

 

The only drug that worked was Xyrem, but for the dose I needed it last cost $2700 a month. They do give a discount if insurance does not cover it.  BUt I truly slept and woke refreshed and had absolutely no side effects. Used it for 6 years until insurance stopped paying for it.  If your doctor and insurance will okay this RX, it is worth giving it a good try. Although it might make your apnea worse as it depresses your breathing. But you will wake feeling better than with a cpap because it is the only drug that gives you truly state 3/4 sleep, and which increases growth hormone and prolactin. Cpap and insomnia do not mix well.

 

Good luck finding what works for you. Because what works for one does not necessarily work for another. It is just a long trial and error process.

• ▶ Reply

Permalink Reply by Rooster on March 22, 2011 at 10:07am

First let me ask if you have CPAP equipment with data and does the data show your CPAP therapy is effective? Without data you could be unaware that your CPAP therapy is not working effectively and you are still having many breathing events each night. This could be a cause of insomnia. I cannnot emphasize enough how important having data is to getting a good CPAP therapy.

 

Now assuming you have data and it shows your therapy is effective, let's talk about other reasons and treatments for insomnia.

 

Drugs may be necessary to treat insomnia. However, before drugs are tried it is imperative to make sure you are practicing good sleep hygiene.

 

It is much better to treat insomnia naturally because all of the drugs have side effects and none of the drugs are entirely effective.

 

JanSaysHello makes some good suggestions and a very good article on sleep hygiene is at http://www.mayoclinic.com/health/insomnia/DS00187/DSECTION=lifestyl...

 

Let me add a couple of things about caffeine. If you are consuming quantities of caffeine daily you need to quit by tapering off slowly. Many people who quit abruptly experience bad headaches. Tapering off will avoid this.

Also, you need to read labels. Typical sources of caffeine are the coffee bean, tea leaves, the cola bean, and cacao (chocolate) bean. So you need to avoid all of these and don't forget about chocolate.

You may be surprised to find that many soft drink producers add caffeine to sodas that do not contain cola. Read the labels on many lemon, lime, and orange-flavored sodas and you will find caffeine as an ingredient. Citrus fruits do not contain caffeine but caffeine is added to the sodas.

 

If you practice good sleep hygiene for a few weeks and the insomnia doesn't improve you should see your doctor. You should also think about what health problems you have that may contribute to insomnia.

 

Good luck.

• ▶ Reply

Permalink Reply by Mary Callahan on March 22, 2011 at 10:54am

I know for me I practice extreme sleep hygiene. Haven't had caffeine since 2000, except for an occasional decaf green tea and some chocolate early in the day, and it's a rare occasion. I try not to eat at least 2-3 hours before bedtime.  I do not use the computer or watch TV for at least 1.5 hrs before bedtime. I sleep in a room with room darkening shades and room darkening drapes. I have covered up all those green lcd screens, including my cpap machine, so there is no light visible except for the red lcd screen on my alarm clock (and red is okay from what I've read). I use a sound machine to offset any noise that might be in the area. My cpap machine is definitely helping with the apneas, but also contributes to the insomnia.

And the insomnia continues. Luckily I have a very patient sleep doctor who is willing to help my try whatever it will eventually take to try and beat the insomnia.

 

I have also been trying acupuncture for over a year now,  as well as homeopathy for the last 3 years just for sleep. Unfortunately I have only made minimal progress. Even seeing a craniosacral doctor since I have read that head injuries may have something to do with insomnia, and I've had multiple head injuries as well as multiple traumas. As you can see I have tried almost everything.

I have never been able to sleep anywhere, my bedroom, family member's houses, hotels, etc.

Great book to read is "Insomnia" by Gayle Greene. 

 

Sometimes I just think I have an insomnia gene, and there is just no beating it.

• ▶ Reply

Permalink Reply by Gordon H on March 22, 2011 at 11:47am

I also have insomnia along with sleep apnea. Unfortunately, when I do not get enough sleep, I get migaines and tension headaches. I am going to both the sleep and headache clinics. As a result I take preventative medication at night for the headaches and Ambien to sleep. I also use a sound machine everywhere I go to help me sleep at home and in strange beds. This does work.

I can also reccommend a book called "No More Sleepless Nights" which my sleep therapist has suggested I read. The book has some good ideas.

The combination of the medication, the BiPAP machine and the sound machine almost always works for me, but last night I forgot to put the sound machine on. I only slept for 5 hours and have a migraine. So nothing is perfect.

 

• ▶ Reply

Permalink Reply by Ernestine Webster on March 22, 2011 at 12:29pm

i have tried all the sleep hygeine tips recommended i have seen on the internet , my ambien no longer works  to my dismay but i have not tried the sound machine nor reading that book, will give both of these a try. do excercise most every day , not take naps ,  excercise most every day 

JanSaysHello said:

 and that d all caffeinated beverages after 3 pm

I make sure my bed is comfortable and I have several different pillows to chose from

I slow down an hour before bedtime and avoid the computer and other brain stimulating devices

I try to relax before bedtime

If I do not get to sleep after about 3/4 hour, I don't worry about it and I get back up and watch tv for awhile

I try not to nap during the day even if I feel tired

Following this routine helps my insomnia about 90% of the time

Good Luck

• ▶ Reply

Permalink Reply by Donna Medin on March 22, 2011 at 3:01pm

Can you tell me about your sound machine?  What sound does it make?  Where do you buy one?

Gordon H said:

I also have insomnia along with sleep apnea. Unfortunately, when I do not get enough sleep, I get migaines and tension headaches. I am going to both the sleep and headache clinics. As a result I take preventative medication at night for the headaches and Ambien to sleep. I also use a sound machine everywhere I go to help me sleep at home and in strange beds. This does work.

I can also reccommend a book called "No More Sleepless Nights" which my sleep therapist has suggested I read. The book has some good ideas.

The combination of the medication, the BiPAP machine and the sound machine almost always works for me, but last night I forgot to put the sound machine on. I only slept for 5 hours and have a migraine. So nothing is perfect.

 

• ▶ Reply

▶ Reply to Discussion

• ‹ Previous
• 1
• 2
• 3
• Next ›
• Page