As if my Fibro is'nt enough...

[sue930]

Don't very often get a good night sleep, for the past 18 months since l got married l have had to get used to my hubbys cpap machine, it's been changed and this one is even louder and beeps when anything is wrong, l have spent hours and hours over the past few months trying to devise yet another contraption that l can wear in bed that allows me to sleep by blocking out at least some of the noise, sick of it none of them work ..those that do end up giving me a headache, so this morn at 2am l go and sleep in the spare bedroom which l have done on some occasions..only to be kept awake by one of our dogs , he did'nt want to go out he just makes a lot of funny noises when he dreams, the only escape would be go and sleep in the living room in which l might be lucky and get another couple of hours before neighbours woke me up.......l got so angry l decided l would just have to give up this idea of sleeping altogether, the odds are stacked against me every which way l turn, if it were middle of summer l think l'd put up a tent in the garden and try my luck there.

[Ginsing]

Morning Sue,

What bad luck so you find yourself unable to block the machine out. Could you play gentle calming music over it or would that just make matters worse?

It is sad but it does sound like the machine needs baffling but it is needed so you have to learn to accept the noise. You could try another and see if it is quieter. xxgins

[Betty67]

Morning Sue

How about putting the dog in the living room, or perhaps hubby?

[ShellyWelly]

Lack of sleep is frustrating and horrible to deal with. I'm very sensitive to noise so when I had severy sleep problems in the past, I moved into the spare room and invested in high quality noise cancelling earplugs that musicians use. I hated not sharing a bed with my husband but I hated lack of sleep more!

I hope you get a decent rest tonight x

[phlebo123]

Hi have you tried Quies earplugs, they are made from natural wax so you can make them to fit your ears without them making your ears ache. They cancel out up to 27 decibels ( even my husband's teeth grinding and snoring!!!) They are available at most chemists, quite expensive, it says you can only use them once, but I use them 3 or 4 times. Xxx

(Hope it is ok to use the product name)

[Hidden]

So sorry to hear you haven't slept. As well as fibro I have sleep apnea too and need to use a cpap machine, but my husband says it fairly quiet. Is his mask fitting well? If air is leaking it will sound louder. Maybe you need to contact your respiratory centre especially if the cpap is bleeping.

I hope you get some sleep soon. You need your rest.

[fenbadger]

Likewise. You need and deserve your sleep too. You're no good to anyone if you start the day exhausted. Conserve your spoons.

A separate room on occasion doesn't mean you love them less. And being in better fettle you'll all be better during the day.

Good luck whatever you do

[Shadows-walker]

Hi so sorry to hear you issues with lack of sleep it's not good I agree with badger ,you need somewhere for you to rest explain to your hubby get your spare room set up so you can escape in advance and if things get to the point your climbing the walls with lack of sleep it's ready and waiting a nice relaxing cd to help you drift off some lavender , hot water bottle in the bed so it's cozy and if you need to swap beds it's there ready and waiting good luck x

[a42h]

I've been known to sleep on the sun lounger with a sleeping bag and blankets, had a cover over it so it kept me dry when I woke up to rain lol. I feel your tiredness, x

[dorreen123]

i do sympathise with you, i too have been with my new partner a year and he too wears a cpap machine, im lucky in that his machine doesnt make too much noise, well not as much as he did without it, he has sleep apnea and would snore loudly, twitch and stop breathing and i would lay awake waiting for him to start breathing again. i was almost brought to tears with lack of sleep. even with the meds i take for fibromyalgia, arthritis and carpel tunnel. his snorring would overide the meds. we have now got a new bed and with him wearing his mask i at least get better sleep, so much that i now snore loudly, revenge is sweet ha ha .seriously tho, if i were you , when he next goes to have his machine re avallued tell them how loud it is and how its making you feel, its not fun to go without sleep. good luck. xx

[e27s10p8]

my husband uses a cpap but it only makes a noise when he has put it on wrong.i would make him go back and get it checked out.i put my alarm clock radio on 1hour timer when i go to bed,i found it really helps.

[clare_hart in reply to e27s10p8]

I agree. Beeps are alarms that something is wrong if they go off that often. Maybe the mask isn't fitting right, but they should check it ASAP. There are several kinds of "masks" available too.

I think you should get the master br and he and the dog should take the guest room! Heh heh.

[TheAuthor]

Hi sue930

I am so sorry to read that you are struggling to sleep in this way, and I genuinely wish you all the best of luck with finding some resolution and relief to this problem. I have been an insomniac for most of my adult life and I genuinely understand how this must be making you feel.

The last time I was admitted to hospital (I have chronic asthma and COPD), they used an oxygen cylinder with the two little tube heads that balance at the entrance of your noise, and they actually helped me sleep for at least 4 hours, which is incredible for me!

I do not know if it would be worth discussing something of this nature with your GP or Medical Specialist? As I found it very useful? The only drawback to this method is not having any open flames or sparks (such as lights) near the cylinders.

I sincerely hope that you can find the answers that you so desperately desire and deserve.

All my hopes and dreams for you

Ken x

[mikipaulo]

My oh my Sue,

You do have a problem. I totally empathize with you. My husband has been on a CPAP for 13 years & I used to grumble quite a bit about it's noise.

Not now...I have been on the sofa for three months now because during our move to Texas his CPAP was broken. OMG...the noise he makes snoring is incredible! I had forgotten how loud it is. He wakes me up even on the sofa!

His health insurance just now kicked in & he will see doctor tomorrow, the sleep study, then wait for machine. Hopefully will have it by the end of October. I promise not to complain about it again!!

My suggestion for you Sue is as soon as your husband falls asleep slip out of bed, move the dog & it's bed in with husband, and take over the spare room for yourself. Good luck & God Bless

[Amma08]

hello Sue. Sleep theft and MISERY from that! I have a Cpap machine, and a noisy life too. Its frustrating. I've pasted a good article that helped me, from the 2014 Awake magazine.

Stress—Keys to Managing It

“I felt like a mouse running on a treadwheel and getting nowhere. I often worked 16-hour days with rarely a weekend off. I felt angry because I only ever saw my little girl asleep. Stress was making me sick.”—Kari, Finland. Kari’s experience is not unusual. According to a mental-health charity in the United Kingdom, 1 in 5 British workers said that stress had made them physically ill during their career, and unmanageable pressure had caused 1 in 4 to cry while at work. Prescriptions for antidepressants saw an unprecedented rise during one recent year of economic recession.

What has caused you stress?

▪ Insecurity—financial or otherwise

▪ A demanding routine

▪ Interpersonal conflicts

▪ A traumatic experience

How has stress affected you?

▪ Health disorders

▪ Emotional exhaustion

▪ Sleep problems

▪ Depression

▪ Deteriorating relationships

Stress activates an amazing system in your body—your emergency response system. Hormones are released to increase your breathing, heart rate, and blood pressure. In addition, reserves of blood cells and glucose flood into your bloodstream. This cascade of reactions prepares you to deal with the stressor, the stimulus causing the stress. After the stressor has passed, your body may return to normal. But when a stressor remains, it can leave you chronically anxious or tense, like a motor that stays revved up. So learning how to deal with stress is important to both your physical and your mental well-being.

Managing Stress

Stress in itself is not necessarily harmful. The American Psychological Association has noted: “Stress is to the human condition what tension is to the violin string: too little and the music is dull and raspy; too much and the music is shrill or the string snaps. Stress can be the kiss of death or the spice of life. The issue, really, is how to manage it.”

Adding another dimension, people vary in temperament and general health. So what stresses one person may not stress another. That said, you are likely overstressed if your regular routine makes you so tense that you cannot relax or deal with the occasional emergency.

To help them “cope” with chronic stress, some people turn to alcohol, drugs, or tobacco. Others begin abnormal eating patterns or sit passively in front of a TV or computer—habits that do not address the underlying problem but may, in fact, exacerbate it. How, then, can we learn to manage stress effectively?

Many people have been able to manage life’s stresses by applying the practical advice found in the Bible. Could its tried-and-tested wisdom help you? Consider that question in the light of four common causes of stress.

INSECURITY

Not one of us has total security. As the Bible states, “time and unexpected events overtake [us] all.” (Ecclesiastes 9:11) How can you cope with feelings of insecurity? Try these suggestions.

• Confide in a trusted family member or friend. Studies show that the support of loved ones consistently confers protection against stress-related disorders. Yes, “a true friend shows love at all times, and is a brother who is born for times of distress.”—Proverbs 17:17.

• Do not continually focus on worst-case scenarios. Such thinking does little more than drain emotional reserves. And what you fear may not happen! For good reason, the Bible says: “Never be anxious about the next day, for the next day will have its own anxieties.”—Matthew 6:34.

• Tap into the power of prayer. “Throw all your anxiety on [God], because he cares for you,” says

1 Peter 5:7. God shows his care by giving us inner peace and by assuring us that he “will never abandon” those who sincerely turn to him for comfort and support in times of need.—Hebrews 13:5; Philippians 4:6, 7.

DEMANDING ROUTINE

A relentless routine of commuting, working, studying, or caring for children or elderly parents can keep stress levels high. Moreover, stopping some of these activities may be out of the question.

(1 Timothy 5:8) What, then, can you do to cope?

• Try to give yourself some downtime, and get adequate rest. The Bible says: “Better is a handful of rest than two handfuls of hard work and chasing after the wind.”—Ecclesiastes 4:6.

• Set sound priorities, and adopt a modest lifestyle. (Philippians 1:10) Consider simplifying your life, perhaps by reducing expenses or time spent at work.—Luke 21:34, 35.

Kari, mentioned earlier, took a fresh look at his life. “I realized that I was pursuing a selfish lifestyle,” he wrote. He sold his business and took on work that gave him more time at home. “Our standard of living has dropped a little,” he admits, “but my wife and I are now free of constant stress, and we have more time to spend with family and friends. I would not trade the inner peace I now have for any business opportunity.”

INTERPERSONAL CONFLICTS

Conflicts with others, especially in the workplace, can be very stressful. If you experience such difficulties, you have a number of options that might help.

• When someone upsets you, try to stay calm. Do not add fuel to the fire. “A mild answer turns away rage, but a harsh word stirs up anger,” says Proverbs 15:1.

• Try to settle differences privately and respectfully, thus dignifying the other person.—Matthew 5:23-25.

• Try to gain insight into his or her feelings and viewpoint. Such insight “slows down [our] anger” because it puts us in the other person’s shoes. (Proverbs 19:11) It can also help us to see ourselves through the other person’s eyes.

• Try to forgive. Forgiveness is not only beautiful. It is also good medicine. As reported in a 2001 study, “unforgiving thoughts” resulted in “significantly higher” blood pressure and heart rate, whereas a forgiving attitude reduced stress.—Colossians 3:13.

TRAUMATIC EVENTS

Nieng, who lives in Cambodia, suffered a string of tragedies. In 1974, she was injured when a bomb exploded at an airport. The following year, her two children, her mother, and her husband all died. In the year 2000, her home and other belongings were destroyed by fire, and three years later, her second husband died. At that point, she wanted to end her life.

Yet, Nieng found a way to cope. Like Kari, she examined the Bible and benefited so much from what she learned that she, in turn, devoted time to helping others enjoy the same benefits. Her story calls to mind a 2008 study by British researchers. One way to develop “resilience in the face of stress,” they found, was to “give in some way . . . to others”—advice that has long been espoused in the Bible.—Acts 20:35.

Additionally, Nieng gained a sure hope for a better future, one in which all the problems that plague mankind will be gone. Instead, “peace will abound” earth wide.—Psalm 72:7, 8.

A genuine hope and the wisdom to cope with life’s many stresses are both priceless, and both can be found in the pages of the Bible. Millions have already benefited from this remarkable and unique book. You can too.

“Better is a handful of rest than two handfuls of hard work”

“The Best Start” to Relieving Stress

“Making certain lifestyle changes is the best start” to relieving stress, says the National Institutes of Health (NIH) in the United States. “Start with eating a well-balanced, healthy diet as well as getting enough sleep and exercise. Also, limit caffeine and alcohol intake and don’t use nicotine, cocaine, or other street drugs.” The NIH also suggests taking breaks from work, spending time with family or friends, learning to make things with your hands, or learning to play a musical instrument.

I hope you enjoyed the article. Truly yours, Colleen

[Mungee]

My husband and son both use a c-pap machine. I run my husbands when he is out of bed, kind of a white noise machine for me now. However, neither one makes beeping noises unless something is wrong. Sounds like your hubby should have his checked. Mine has a card in his that has to be checked every now and then, when it is time and alarm or beep will sound. He takes it in and they give him a new one. Last time he just took it out and runs it without it. As for the dog, can you let it sleep in the room with your husband and you sleep in the guest room? I have done that when my husband starts kicking during the night. While his machine doesn't keep me awake, his restless legs do. He has a RA and some other bad forms of arthritis, so the legs can get pretty active.

[TerminusEst]

I've had the same problem from my own cpap machine-- the noise would make it hard for me to get to sleep. What helped me, and might help you, is the fact that my machine has a 'ramp' function. Basically it starts the machine at a lower pressure, which means less noise, before 'ramping up' to the therapeutic level. Have it set long enough that you can get to sleep before it gets really noisy.

Of course, if it's waking you up after you're already asleep there really isn't much you can do besides trying to soundproof the machine more.

[Cefn48]

Dont ear blugs work? Xx

[sue930]

So many thank sto all ..and yes l wear ear plugs and no they don't work, have devised yet another contraption l call my ear muffs which l wear over the ear plugs and the a very light folded quilt over my head , it's cut the noise down quite a bit thankfully, have actually got a few hours sleep each night!!!