Taking off mask during sleep?

Hi,

I have a question. I have been on CPAP since March 29, 2010 with almost 100% compliance. Twice now, on different nights, I have woken up to find my mask on my bedside table, and my CPAP machine turned off. I have no idea when or why I removed my mask in the middle of the night, and each time I woke up without it, I put it back on. Just wondering if anybody else has ever had this issue and how did they deal with it.

My AHI has remained low since I started therapy, usually less than 2 most nights.

I had that a few times when I first started, and once even a whole year after successful therapy. If it's only once in a while, especially at the beginning, I wouldn't worry too much about it. If you're worried, set the leak alarm on and lock up the CPAP so you can't turn it off.

If it continues, you might want to dig into the physical reasons why you may be doing this: rain-out issues, mask leaks, mouth breathing, dragging on the hose, mask discomfort, possibly pressure too low/high or problems adjusting to APAP mode (though I see you're using straight CPAP)..... remember that we perceive things differently when we're asleep vs awake, so something that's not bothering while falling asleep could be ringing alarm bells while you're sleeping.

Normally this is due to either (a) not being conviced you need CPAP and therapy not tweaked properly, though you're not really in that category or (b) something bothering you at night - like the aforementioned issues. It could even be due to some additional stress you're having in your life (like oh twins ).

TheTwinsMom1 wrote:Hi,

I have a question. I have been on CPAP since March 29, 2010 with almost 100% compliance. Twice now, on different nights, I have woken up to find my mask on my bedside table, and my CPAP machine turned off. I have no idea when or why I removed my mask in the middle of the night, and each time I woke up without it, I put it back on. Just wondering if anybody else has ever had this issue and how did they deal with it.

My AHI has remained low since I started therapy, usually less than 2 most nights.

You won't find many users who have NOT done what you describe. Yours is one of the most-asked questions on the forum.
Our subconscious is not (immediately) used to dealing with this new way of sleeping and something tells us to remove that thing that's attached to our face.
Many don't actually do that until after they've been on therapy for a few weeks to a few months......but it happens.
The best way to get over it is to do what you did, and try to train ourselves to avoid doing it anymore.

Good luck.

Den

Life is always fun with twins

I think part of it was I think I had my mask adjusted too tight. It was giving me forehead pain lol. I agree it could just be from all the changes I have dealt with in a short period of time. I have slept on the same side, right side, for over ten years, I have used the same exact pillow in a certain way forever also. I have since, gotten a new pillow, started CPAP, dealt with some rain out issues, and have been getting used to not "flopping around like a dead fish" during sleeping as my boyfriend calls it.

I am hoping this is just an adjustment phase that will pass soon. My doctor heard about my rainout issues and sent in a new script for an S9 with the climateline tubing to help solve that issue. Gotta give my doctor credit as his office seems on the up and up of what is going on in the CPAP world.

I only have two weeks on the hose and have removed my mask a couple of times too. I think its just a matter of getting accustomed to having a mask on our face, we do strange things when half asleep.

I too am a new CPAP user (started using May 5th). So far, I haven't made it much past two hours use each night. Some nights I am aware that I am removing my mask, thus I am also aware why I am removing the mask. The nights that I am removing the mask without being aware of it are the nights that "bother" me more. I'm trying so hard to make this work, and I find it very disturbing to wake up and discover that I have removed the mask. One night, I removed the mask three times. Each time I woke up and realized I wasn't wearing my mask (machine was turned off), I put the mask back on and went back to sleep.

Ron Bernier,
Woonsocket, RI

As Den said it is a very common problem for most people in the beginning of treatment. I think we have all done it. Some people suggest to put tape on the straps of the mask to your face. This should wake you up when you are taking it off in your sleep. I would tell myself before I went to sleep not to remove my mask. Even woke up one night after I was arguing with myself whether to take the mask off or leave it on. I still wake up once in awhile with it lying next to me on the bed. Hang in there it will get better.

rosie

When I had this problem, it was because I couldn't get used to the mask. I switched to the nasal pillow type and the nocturnal mask removals have mostly stopped. You just have to find what works for you.

AS a cpap user, I have had the same problem that many have, waking up with no mask on. I am glad I visited this blog. I will do what the gal did where she put the mask back on and continued to sleep. thank you all very much, Fred