using cpap while awake

I originally went to my doctor because I have had problems sleeping most of my life which is when I was diagnosed with sleep apnea. I have got a machine thanks to a lot of help here and I have no problem sleeping with it on my problem is getting it on to sleep with for example last night I knew I was about to fall asleep got everything ready then woke up 4 hours later with the mask next to me. while getting it ready I had just fallen asleep before I had put the mask on this is normal for me. So far I have managed to wear it only about 1/3 of the time.

So what I am thinking is putting the mask on at any sign of tiredness but this would mean I wear it a lot and not sleeping I am wondering if there is any dangers or downsides of doing this

I can't see a problem, but it takes me 45 sec to put mine on, I can't picture what is taking the time you fall asleep without it on.

I just slip mine on my head, hook up one clip and start the machine. 45 sec to lights out. Jim

If you use the HH, fill it before bed. I turn on a O2 pump, T.V, Sound Machine then hook up. Turn on Electric Blanket. 1:30 min tops.

I wish I could fall asleep like that, but with my gear on. Jim

When I was early in recovery from long term sleep loss, I couldn't even let myself sit on the side of the bed without the mask. Had to put it on while standing to assure I didn't fall asleep without it. This was just a phase for me and once I got a bit caught up on my sleep the sudden onset sleeps lessened. I still don't lay down without it because there's a limit to how much I trust myself. As time goes on you'll figure out how much you can trust yourself. Till then, better to be safe than sorry. Won't hurt you to use it before sleep. May make your data a little wacky is all, but you'll know to take the wake time into consideration.

Thanks for the replies I will give it a go. Goofproof I know it does not take long I do not even have to turn anything on I have mine set so all I need to do is put the mask on and it starts up but even 45 seconds can be to long sometimes. It is 5pm in the afternoon and I am tired and may or may not fall asleep if I get any more tired I will put the mask just in case. Sometimes I fall asleep at the click of fingers others it can take hours I just never know

Before CPAP I had a significant "sleep latency" my entire life (time it takes to fall asleep). It was at least 30 minutes and more like 2hours most nights. This was from childhood. I had a series of stories I'd make up, quite elaborate, and I'd add to a story each night or redo a scene in my head. Somewhere along the way, I'd eventually fall asleep.

But since CPAP, I put the mask on and I'm out immediatly. No more sleep latency. I miss my stories, but I do get better and longer sleep.

Put the mask on as soon as you get into bed. You may surprise yourself by eliminating your own sleep latency.

Janknitz wrote:Before CPAP I had a significant "sleep latency" my entire life (time it takes to fall asleep). It was at least 30 minutes and more like 2hours most nights. This was from childhood. I had a series of stories I'd make up, quite elaborate, and I'd add to a story each night or redo a scene in my head. Somewhere along the way, I'd eventually fall asleep.

But since CPAP, I put the mask on and I'm out immediatly. No more sleep latency. I miss my stories, but I do get better and longer sleep.

Put the mask on as soon as you get into bed. You may surprise yourself by eliminating your own sleep latency.

My problem is more I never know when I am going to sleep a lot of the time I do not even get to bed.. I have always had sleep problems which I use to cope with (I know badly) by drinking as I basically stopped drinking 3 years a go I have become more aware of how bad my sleep pattern is and since starting Cpap I am noticing even more, due to monitoring my sleep more. I can go up to 48 hours without being able to sleep and I have days I sleep 12-14 hours. While looking for sleep tips I stumbled across dspd (delayed sleep phase disorder) which I thought I may have as I found it a lot easier and got a better sleep during the day but for some reason since getting the cpap machine I have been sleeping a lot more during night hours both on the nights I manage to put the mask on and the ones I do not.

There is something wrong with my body clock or something 1 hour a go I was really tired and felt there would be a good chance I would fall asleep now 1 hour later I am wide awake (did not sleep at all) I am hoping to be using cpap at least most of the time if not all the times I sleep and maybe once I have done it for a while I will see some improvement if not I can push my dr to look further into what is going on.

You might try setting a timer that you have to turn off after you get your mask on. If you fall asleep without the mask on, then the timer goes off, and you have to get up and put the mask on.

The only downside for me for using the mask while awake is that I use a full face mask, and my nose will tickle if I am awake thinking about it. As long as I put on my mask, hit the lights, and get into bed, I am good. I can fall asleep fast and usually don't have any tickles. But trying to watch tv with it on, and I have a tickles every few minutes.

zoocrewphoto wrote:You might try setting a timer that you have to turn off after you get your mask on. If you fall asleep without the mask on, then the timer goes off, and you have to get up and put the mask on.

The only downside for me for using the mask while awake is that I use a full face mask, and my nose will tickle if I am awake thinking about it. As long as I put on my mask, hit the lights, and get into bed, I am good. I can fall asleep fast and usually don't have any tickles. But trying to watch tv with it on, and I have a tickles every few minutes.

Do not think a timer would work for me if I wake up then I am awake rarely can I go back to sleep even if I have only had 15 minutes sleep. I have a SleepWeaver Advance Nasal mask and think I should be ok I find it pretty comfortable to wear, I am aching to hit a tired phase to find out hopefully get to try sometime in the next 12 hours

Sounds like it might take you a bit for things to straighten out. I can relate to the unpredictability of sleep. It was only after effectively treating my sleep disorders of OSA and PLMD and changing some meds that I began to get an idea of what my natural sleep inclinations would be - my new normal. My brain was used to erratic shallow sleep and it did not yield readily to retraining. Do what's necessary to not sleep untreated and address issues as they become apparent, then trust the process. Only by giving your brain some healthy sleep can it sort this all out. It is reasonable to expect things will sort themselves out in time. If not, cross that bridge when you get there.

Put my mask and was awake for about 30 minutes before falling to sleep was not to annoying which is good and another 4 hours sleeping on Cpap think this is the way to go for me right now, one little surprise was my ahi was 1.04 where it has been 2 to 4 other times I have had it on, I think I am a little lucky in that I find Cpap relaxing may have to buy a battery and where it all the time

Next step learn how to interpret the data and get it working the best for me