Sleepless nights

[BusNut]

Hi everyone, can I just ask a question of you all that suffer with COPD and emphysema. How do you manage to sleep at night?

My partner is having terrible trouble with getting a good nights sleep. He takes his medication and then will go up to bed, on the days where he can actually make it up the stairs (if his legs and confidence let him).He gets about an hour and a half and then he coughs and has to sit up and it takes him a good couple of hours to recover and chances are when he lies down again it all starts again. Not doing either of us much good at the moment. I wondered if any of you lovely people had any suggestions?

[Damon1864 Volunteer]

Hi BusNut I sleep with a fan next to my bed on low, it helps me breath my respritory nurse advised me to do it. I have to admit it's the best thing I have done, I get a good night's sleep now. Hope this helps. Have a good day and stay safe 😊 Bernadette and Jack 🐕 xxxxxx

[BusNut in reply to Damon1864]

Thanks Damon1864, he has a hand held fan that he uses when he’s breathless but a constant fan would be a thought, Thanks for that suggestion.

[CDPO16]

What position does your husband sleep in? If he lies fairly flat it may help him to prop up more with pillows, including a pillow under his knees or pillows at the foot of the bed to help him to stop sliding down. Some people use a foam wedge too under their pillows to raise their position.

[BusNut in reply to CDPO16]

He had a lung op last September and since then he has only been able to sleep on his left side. He has two pillows but we are thinking of getting a wedge pillow to boost him up. Thank you for your suggestions too.

[Patk1 in reply to BusNut]

Yes,do.he will breathe better propped up.

[Bkin]

Raising his upper body chest with a wedge or extra pillows may help, I have never been able to lay flat since diagnosis.

Always with a drink of water on the bedside table and ventolin if waking with coughing. *

*Have a drink Use the ventolin inhaler if this happens.

If I wake with coughing in the night it usually mean airways have narrowed so this is where the ventolin inhaler helps in dilating the airways to aid symptoms (use with a spacer)

Also keeping the bedroom temperature even through the night, if the temperature drops too low this can trigger symptoms.

Use an air purifier in the bedroom while sleeping.

A fan can be helpful in some situations as Damon mentions.

Just a few things that help me.

Mostly I don't wake through the night though.

Here's to you both finding something that helps.

Best wishes BK

[BusNut in reply to Bkin]

Thank you Bkin for your suggestions too. He has almost a bottle of water a night, which doesn’t help with his prostrate problem. He also has a ventolin inhaler which he uses at these wakeful times.

[Bkin in reply to BusNut]

Also contact your GP for referral to OT assessment in the home and adult care at your local council for further assistance.

Good luck

[mikeadams51]

If your partner is having problems navigating the stairs this may be the start of the problem. When I’m very breathless I find it hard to sleep. It takes me a good 30 minutes to get into bed from being SOB. Has your partner had and oxygen test, especially an overnight test because if his oxygen levels drop too low whilst sleeping this will wake him up. Ask your doctor or respiratory nurse for an oxygen test.

I hope he finds a solution soon as he is probably keeping both of you awake.

Good luck and take care.

[BusNut in reply to mikeadams51]

It certainly is Mikeadams51, it’s horrible to watch him struggling as I’m sure all partners will appreciate. He seems to have gone downhill very quickly, but hopefully if we sort out the nighttime’s the day times will become a bit more productive. Thanks for your reply.

[hypercat54 in reply to BusNut]

Hi just a couple of thoughts. First get him to take his ventolin just before bedtime as this might help with the coughing. I do that.

Second a common trigger is dust mites so make sure you wash your bedding (and nightclothes) in at least 60 degrees to kill them. Pillows are great dust mite collectors so either wash them frequently or replace them regularly.

I hope this helps a bit. Oh and welcome to the site! x

[BusNut in reply to hypercat54]

Thanks hypercat54, that’s something to think about. Will bear that in mind. Thanks for your welcome but I have been on it a few years now posting occasionally when the need arises. Not sure what we’d do without the support of each other, there’s always someone who can recommend or suggest something that can help with our predicaments.

[CDPO16 in reply to BusNut]

It may be worth enquiring about an assessment for a stair lift. Your local council or social services should be able to look into this but you would, I think, need to ask your GP to refer you. Unfortunately, certainly in my area, social workers are still not doing home visits and are making contact by telephone. I believe that grants can be given towards having a stair lift fitted. I hope that you are able to find something to help your husband. Having severe emphysema, although I live in a bungalow, I can imagine how exhausting it is for your husband to climb the stairs. Just a suggestion but I hope that you find something to ease you concern and your husband's daily living.

[BusNut in reply to CDPO16]

Thank you CDPO16. We are actually having a telephone consultation next week with a Care Coordinator to see what equipment we need so shall add that to our list.

[Chalky2]

A stair lift is a great help I couldn’t manage without mine I also bought an adjustable bed which really helps with breathing too hope you get sorted out

[Will57]

Hi BusNutLuckily I have a stairlift and a mechanical bed which raises up & down. I limit the lift to only evenings going to bed as I would be out of breath which is not very nice going to bed if I try the stairs also for many years now I cannot sleep fully laying flat. I still wake up twice a night minimum