need help using cpap thru the whole night...

so first off i am 18...i have severe sleep apnea and it is destroying me. i notice it getting worse each year. i bought a machine and i have the nose plug mask. i absolutly love the nose cushion one i have it is very comfortable i can fall asleep very easily with it with no problem, but the problem is when i am awake i know to breath thru my nose and control my breathing but when i doze off i stop breathing thru my nose and unconsciously rip off the mask to find it in the morning on the floor. I do not wake up and take it off nor do i wake up after ripping it off...what should i do????

You may be a mouth breather once you fall asleep so maybe a chin strap would help to train yourself to sleep and breath through your nose. Plus whatever you do do NOT give up!!! Once you get this under control you will so much better. There are alot of smarter people then I on here and I'm sure that will chime in with there thoughts.

Greg6657 wrote:You may be a mouth breather once you fall asleep so maybe a chin strap would help to train yourself to sleep and breath through your nose. Plus whatever you do do NOT give up!!! Once you get this under control you will so much better. There are alot of smarter people then I on here and I'm sure that will chime in with there thoughts.

Picking a chin strap that can be work over the mask headgear may help with the other problem. Anything that makes removing the mask slightly more complicated may reduce the chances of being able to remove it without waking up.

mikeydingo wrote:so first off i am 18...i have severe sleep apnea and it is destroying me. i notice it getting worse each year. i bought a machine and i have the nose plug mask. i absolutly love the nose cushion one i have it is very comfortable i can fall asleep very easily with it with no problem, but the problem is when i am awake i know to breath thru my nose and control my breathing but when i doze off i stop breathing thru my nose and unconsciously rip off the mask to find it in the morning on the floor. I do not wake up and take it off nor do i wake up after ripping it off...what should i do????

The usual advice for getting used to an xPAP is to wear it while awake, for example while watching TV. Maybe doing that would help you get sufficiently used to it to keep it on all night.

You might try using tape on the mask so when you "rip it off" at night, it will awaken you. You will eventually sleep all night without taking the mask off. Be sure you use a "delicate" tape so it won't take off skin.

Sheriff

You don't say how long you've been using the mask, which could be an important part of the equation. The human mind is an odd thing, until it recognizes something as "safe and normal" it will do everything to remove whatever the object is from you =)

However, after a few weeks, the mask gets marked as normal by the brain. Just like the sheets and mattress you sleep on. Your mind will eventually just ignore the mask completely - and you might actually find that you have trouble falling asleep without the mask on.

For now, a little tape (as was suggested earlier) and/or a chin strap will make it difficult for you to unconsciously remove the mask. This can help by making your brain realize it's there to stay. Also, wearing it while watching TV or reading while awake can often help get the brain to edit out the mask. Just be careful not to help draw a link between the mask and being awake and alert.

Nearly everyone here has gone through this stage. Hang in there, it gets better - a lot better - over time.

pats wrote:[

Picking a chin strap that can be work over the mask headgear may help with the other problem. Anything that makes removing the mask slightly more complicated may reduce the chances of being able to remove it without waking up.

I was also taking off my nasal pillow mask during the night, in my sleep. I do use a chin strap, and tried pacing it over the mask, but didn't find that comfortable. So, I went back to placing the mask over the strap, and used a twist tie to connect the strap to my mask's headgear. Apparently, I can't open a twist tie in my sleep.

now that i have ben trying to use it my throat has ben bothering me allot like its sore or dry and same with my nose...what can i do to help this