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Permalink Reply by Mary Z on July 19, 2010 at 8:38pm

I would take your pill. Otherwise you'll be in pain and won't sleep.

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Permalink Reply by Linda Weigel on July 19, 2010 at 8:40pm

Thank you for your response. I am just so eager to get some sleep at least four hours straight would be helpful
linda

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Permalink Reply by Tim on July 20, 2010 at 6:17pm

If your pain meds are something you use every night and will be taking them long term, then your sleep study may more accurately reflect your normal sleep than if you don't use it. I would be much more concerned about taking sleeping pills or benzodiazepines because they are CNS depressants -- and sleeping pills are not something that should be taken for a long period of time.

Pain medications can affect sleep architecture, let your sleep doctor know that you take medication for chronic pain; tell him what medication you are taking and your prescribed dosage (letting him know means telling him, not asking for permission).

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Permalink Reply by Linda Weigel on July 21, 2010 at 1:27pm

This is certainly an informed group of people. Thank you very much for all of your input. Please let me update you on my situation. I went for the sleep study last night and spoke to the tech administering the test, he said yes, do take the pill. He was make determinations under the worse possible conditions.I slept with th cpap and had the best night sleep. It was a little hard to get used to until the tech adjusted it. I am going for an epidural shot next week so that may help my pain. I will just have to wait and see that about that one, Thank you everyone for your great responses.
Linda

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Permalink Reply by Mark Douglas on July 21, 2010 at 2:22pm

Welcome to the world of Cpap, and best of luck. We all hope you get much improved sleep and health from it. So sorry to hear of your back and pain issues!

I assume people take their meds as directed, CPAP or no. Whatever it takes to get safe, restful, restorative sleep, you gotta do. Unrestorative sleep leads to every kind of health problem. Notice how many of us have other health issues -- I wonder how many of those were caused or contributed to, by years of lousy sleep.

I hope you get a data capable machine, that is also an AUTO. If you know nothing else at the outset, know that. That maybe the standard machine nowadays anyway -- but just in case.

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Permalink Reply by Mary Z on July 21, 2010 at 2:52pm

Certainly. You're right here, jeff. I deleted my comments as I thought they were a knee jerk reaction and not constructive in any way. Your comments, on the other hand give a plan for dealing with such situations. Thank you.
Mary Z.

j n k said:

All good points, MaryZ.

It is rarely a matter of one med vs. no meds--it is a matter of optimizing WHICH meds, especially in combination. In some situations, there is only one med that will do the job. But too many times, the med prescribed is the one the doctor knows about from advertising, rather than the one the doctor has researched to be the best med for a particular patient in a particular situation. That's why we have to put pressure on the doctors to do their job. In my opinion, that is. If you never research or ask about whether there is another drug available that may have less (or, fewer) side-effects for YOU, you will never know. It is a lot of work, and it isn't fair that we as patients have to do it, but that's the situation many find themselves in.

Certainly, no person in pain has any reason to be in pain in this day and age. And psych meds are a true blessing to those who benefit. No doubt. But doctors should still be doing their jobs, and not the lazy way.

-jeff

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