Removing mask during sleep

ham7137 wrote:Hey all--

I just started therapy two nights ago. I seem to be taking the mask off, totally unaware of it, about 1.5 hours into sleep. I wake up with it laying on the floor. Does anyone have any suggestions on how to keep myself from doing this???

Thanks for any help!

Do you have nasal congestion? I have noticed that the times I have pulled off my mask I am extremely congested and stuffy. The nights my sinuses are clear, I don't do it.

Trike-Mike thanks for the suggestion I made some setting changes---FA

freshair... sorry to hear that it feels like it's back but I suspect, like me, it is a passing thing. As to the mask off and the machine blowing for 3 hours, try setting both the "Mask Alert" and "Auto-off" to ON. That way, the machine will beep at you for while to see if it can raise you to put it back on and if you don't wake up, simply gives up and shuts itself off. The beeping didn't always wake me in the early days of the 1.5 - 2 hour mask yank but it did enough to get me back on, often before the machine shut itself off.[/quote]

It seems to me that those masks that have minimum harnessing are those that are likely to be yanked off. It's probably paying the price for this product design goal: Headgear Leading in innovation, ResMed introduces a soft, silicone-based headgear that cradles your face. Made from similar, silicone material found in cushions and pillows, the Swift FX headgear lightly rests on the user's cheeks and quickly feels like nothing is there at all. This streamline design helps foster a sense of freedom and promotes early CPAP acceptance

Hello,
I'm trying to help my Dad solve the DRY MOUTH issue with the use of his mask. He has tried the Biotin and chewing gum/candy trick but neither seem to work? he is waking up with his tongue stuck to the roof of his mouth and has started using the mask every other day because of the discomfort of the dry mouth. Anyone have this problem or any solutions that have worked???? Thank you!!!

drymouth wrote:Hello,
I'm trying to help my Dad solve the DRY MOUTH issue with the use of his mask. He has tried the Biotin and chewing gum/candy trick but neither seem to work? he is waking up with his tongue stuck to the roof of his mouth and has started using the mask every other day because of the discomfort of the dry mouth. Anyone have this problem or any solutions that have worked???? Thank you!!!

Hi there! I'd suggest starting a new thread for this question, but first, take a few moments and register. Even if you do not use CPAP yourself, you can still fill out everything but the equipment parts of your profile.

After registering, start a new topic with your question, it'll get a better response.

I have had this issue for the last 4 months since starting treatment. I believe I remove the mask because I am having an episode and the mask is not responding fast enough. As a result I clear all opsticals from my nose and mouth. I have gone to long without air. I remove the mask and slightly arise in my sleep. I am then able to breath and I go back to a deep sleep but now I have no support so my condition has only improved a little. I take it off every night so I need to talk to my doctor to raise my air pressure. The real problem is that the doctor feels you don't have sleep apnia because you don't sleep with the mask.

I think it occurs in people who also struggle with "coma" like sleep or people who tended to physically act out before cpap.

Dont let it bother you, hopefully you wont damage the mask when you yank it off. As you get used to things more, you'll do it
less.

In the meantime, you might try your phone alarm set to make sure its on halfway through the night,

or you could even try giant mittens of some kind.

Try to keep your arms down along your side when you drift off.

I started using a chin strap over my mask, which made a big difference as the mask stays on now. I also dropped the pressure on my machine from 12 to 10 which seemed to do the trick for me. It has also allowed me to get more sleep and my AHI is less than four most nights. I had one night where it was 0.7 something. Which never happened at the higher pressure setting.

jacob006a wrote:It has also allowed me to get more sleep

Its good indicator .............Congrats

Sometimes we have to get creative: mittens, tape, vetwrap--if it slows us down, maybe we can wake up in time to stop.
The important thing is learning to trust the machine. (Adjust settings moderately, if necessary)