cpap

[Stubborn150]

I am required to use a cpap for 30 nights before surgery. I had to repeat my sleep study due to having a panic attack during the 1st sleep study.  In my opinion, I sleep very well, soundly, and besides having very bad knee pain, I feel energetIic in the morning.  I am DREADING THE NEXT 30 NIGHTS...I WORK 2 JOBS (5-6 DAYS) MOST WEEKS..I AM ABSOLUTELY TERRIFIED THAT I WILL NOT BE ABLE TO FUNCTION AND LIVE MY COMPLETE LIFE AS I DO NOW!!  I swim 2-3x per week and am active in my church and community (so in other words-I am NOT a couch potato!!)
I am very worried that my life will stop and I will have to give up everything!!! I slept poorly at the sleep study and was hungover for hours after the sleep study from taking meds and a glass of wine.  I dread being sleeply in the daytime..I dread of how this will impact my work and personal life.  I dread taking meds, etc with fear that they will leave me hungover in the daytime.  I also work about working my part time job..that $ I depend on.
Any suggestions?
Fearful, anxious and depressed

[CrohnieToo]

Do NOT exercise w/in 4 hours of sleep, do NOT eat w/in 4 hours of sleep, do NOT drink caffeine after 12 noon - these all INTERFERE w/sleep.

Keep a regular bedtime and a regular RELAXING bed time routine. If you shower at night, take a warm, soaking tub bath instead, showers tend to waken, tub baths tend to soothe and relax.

Don your mask and turn your PAP on in the living room, family room, den, someplace other than your bedroom and read a book or magazine, work a jigsaw or crossword puzzle, watch TV, whatever occupies your mind other than "I've got to get to sleep" during the day on weekends, in the early evening, whenever. This will help you get acclimated to having that mask on your face and the air pressure blowing.

Cut down on your church and community activities for the next 30 days plus surgical recovery time. You NEED time for YOU right now!

Are these meds you are taking supposed to help you sleep? What are they? Some CAN be the cause of your "hungover" feeling in the AM. Some of us find the "sleep" meds actually cause the OPPOSITE effect.

Limit your wine intake. Alcohol can relax us and then cause sleep problems later in the night interfering w/our sleep cycles. One sleep cycle runs about 90 minutes, the cycles shorten and deepen later in the night and early morning.

Good luck and God bless!!!

[KatEyes]

Yayyy - count 'em down! Watch that caffiene though - could sabotage your sleep even further. I'm guessing by a week you'll be getting at least a few hours sleep each night. Good luck.

[Stubborn150]

Thanks for the comments and words of encouragement. My first night on cpap I slept for 1 hr. I was 45minutes late for work and had to park in the pricey parking lot because all the free street parking was taken:( For the 2 night, I had a nightcap but still could not sleep with the cpap on. I turn the machine off after my 6 hrs. and slept for about 2hrs.  I barely made it to work on time the 2 day and I found my usual free parking:) I slept @ my  lunch hour today.  I feel sleepy but I can function.  I plan to skip choir tonight and go swimming-perpaps the pool will help me sleep better tonight.  If not, I am learning that I can function for 30 days without sleep, but I will have to increase my caffeine (Peets is across the street from my office!!) and give up some activities.
only28 more nights!!

[KatEyes]

Shhhhhhh - your brain and body are listening. Give yourself some positive self talk, such as...
I can do ANYTHING for just 30 days.
Sleeping in my own home and bed will be nothing like in that lab.
I'm going to take advantage of this change to get 30 days of real quality sleep.
I'm glad that CPAP increases my likelihood of a good surgical outcome and recovery.
I'm glad the next 30 days I will be at reduced risk of heart attack and stroke.
I may have some rough periods in the next 30 days, but some of it may be good.
Every night is another chance to be a great one.
I will embrace and not fear what is good for me.
I will save my worries for those days that prove to merit it.
I will apply those energies saved from worrying to meeting my responsibilities.
One day at a time X 30 - I can do this.

Please do not prejudge this experience based on that one night. It may meet all your worst expectations, but it's not in your best interest to sabotage any chance of success. I wish you had longer than 30 days to make this work, as it can take some getting used to, but some do it quickly. You didn't say what kind of surgery, but if it is for the sleep apnea in an attempt to avoid CPAP, you might end up deciding it's not so bad and continue with CPAP. I got off to a rocky start with CPAP, now I call it my bed buddy. :) Would never consider going to bed without it. Now that I know what good sleep feels like, I don't want to sleep any other way. Best wishes. You can do this.