Keeping The Mask On For A Compliant Night

In the middle of the night I often unconsciously remove the mask. I switch off the machine and go right back to sleep. I wake the next morning and look over and see my mask across the CPAP.

Before I switched to the new mask and machine I periodically pulled the mask off because I felt I wasn’t getting enough air. Since I use a nasal pillow and have chronic sinusitis, the people at the sleep clinic feel it was because my sinuses were swollen and blocking the flow of air. This doesn’t seem to be the problem anymore.

Now that I have a new diagnosis and a prescription for Ambien and meds for restless leg, I should be making it through the entire night.

Do you have similar problems?

What have you tried that worked?

Should I simply give it some time to settle in?

Thanks

Joe

Joe,

I think you mentioned that you have a wife. If she is nearby, maybe she can give you a gentle nudge if she is aware that you have turned off your machine or pulled off your mask.

Just a thought...my hub did a good job of nicely giving me a nudge with my snoring.

Good luck,

2Sleepy aka Janet

Hi Joe. Adjusting to treatment takes time and patience for many CPAP users. Have you tried wearing your treatment while awake to help you adjust to the feeling of wearing the treatment? Sometimes wearing it while watching television or reading before going to bed can be helpful as you adjust. I used to have the same problem with waking up to find my mask next to me in bed or laying across the nightstand. The key for me was practicing wearing treatment while awake and then putting the mask back on during the night if I awakened to find the mask off of my face. I also found that being positive about whatever amount of time I was able to wear my mask was a much better feeling than being discouraged about the amount of time I did not wear the mask. It took some time, but I was slowly able to increase the amount of time I wore the mask each night. I am now able to wear treatment for the full night without removing the mask, and I feel much better during the day. Some machines have a mask alert (alarm) feature that sounds a tone when the machine detects the mask has been removed. Your equipment provider can tell you if that is an option on your machine. Good luck!

Thanks for everyone’s response. I’m doing much better with my new mask and machine.

Janet - like many couples, due to my snoring and restlessness my wife and I sleep in different beds.

Dan - I’m not only pulling off the mask, but turning my machine off. It’s funny what we do in the middle of the night. I call it being “sleep drunk”.

PROGRESS

I discovered two things. 1. My old nasal mask was slightly uncomfortable. That’s probably one reason for pulling it off during the night. 2. The new mask is more comfortable. But, I’m a side sleeper. My bed pillow tends to push the mask slightly out of alignment. When that happens, the air is blocked and I can’t breathe. All I have to do is tug on the nasal mask a bit, let it snap back into place and I’m good to go.

To prevent from breathing through my mouth I use a chin strap. I have the Ruby-Style chinstrap from the folks at cpap.com.

Also, are any of you using a CPAP pillow? I’m hesitant to get one due to the cost. Online $50 to $80. Insurance will not cover it because it’s a luxury item.

Joe

Hi Joe,

Yeah for progress!

I am also a side-sleeper. I had the same issue with my pillow moving my mask out of alignment. I tried a regular pillow, a travel pillow and a roll shaped pillow. None of them worked. I was also hesitant to spend $50 on a pillow that is not returnable.

When all else failed, I ordered the CPAP pillow by Contour Products. It is the original model with an indented area in both lower corners to accomodate the mask (works great), ear depressions to avoid excess pressure from sleeping with ears compressed between pillow and the straps behind me ears (works great) and it is molded for good head and neck support (great!) There is a newer model, but the new model seemed to have fewer features.

It was costly but works great for me.

My next step will be trying a travel size PAP pillow. I am travelling in June, and my CPAP pillow is kind of large to put in a suitcase. I am trying to make just 1 change at a time and re-evaluate each step.

I hope whatever you decide works for you. Janet

Janet, Thanks for the reply. That's exactly the pillow I've been looking at. Surprisingly, the manufacturer website seems to offer the best price. In addition, they offer a "kit" with a pillow case and a container of mask wipes.

Everyone enjoy your memorial day weekend.

Joe

Joe,

I also purchased mine from the manufacturer and got a couple of items tossed in.

I hope the pillow works for you.

Happy weekend to all...

Janet

Just be careful with the Ambien. My brother drove me to work (30 miles) and then drove back home and had absolutely no recall of ever taking me. He never used Ambien again.

In my case of restless legs, if my legs get too warm, I have problems. So, I wear socks to bed and leave the blanket off my legs. For my sisters, they need extra warmth on their legs or they get restless legs. In addition, low iron, magnesium or potassium can cause restless legs (or at least make them worse). Not something you can really diagnose yourself however.

My wife and I have some wild Ambien stories. One or two would not be allowed if I posted them here.

Needless to say, it is a take it and go right to bed kind of drug.

Here lately, I'm concerned with becoming dependent on Ambien. This past Friday night I didn't take any and ended up with insomnia. I got zero sleep that night. It's Tuesday and I'm still not fully recovered. Old age stinks! :-)

I am having problems with deep sleep. Years ago I took Ambien for a whole year with no problems...then it started. My son never told me I was sleep walking and making phone calls. He had always heard that a sleepwalker should not be woken up. I wish he at least told me the next day. It was the person I made a not so nice call to that made me realize something was happening I was not aware of!

I have been using my C-PAP now since 12/31. I am still taking the mask off during the night. I put it next to my pillow, or hang it by the strap on the end of my night stand. I am getting more hours per night. I may need to turn the pressure down. I am using my sister's and it is a BIPAP

to add to my post just added. I have my pressure set at 11-13, and may have to turn it down in order for me to keep the mask on all night. I am finding the mask more comfortable each time I wear it. I know it's going to help me breathe at night, and not breathing is too scary for me.
As far as learning more, I would like to know more about the abbreviations that are used on the machine, that will help me a lot.

I used to work an early shift. I was up at 3:45 each morning. One morning there was a notepad by the phone in our kitchen. There was about three or four pages of notes. My wife had taken an Ambien and started watching TV. WRONG! She saw a commercial for a psychic hotline and called. It was one of those 900 numbers where they charge back to your phone. Our next phone bill showed a 45 minute call and a charge of $135.

You just gotta laugh!

Joe