Newbie here, just want to some help and encouragement

[Pugsy]

Yes, something caused you to wake up....and then the flow reduced and the mask came off.

From the air flow rate prior to when this happened I don't think it is airway related though. Wish I could say it was because that would be a relatively easy fix.

Looks like normal asleep breathing and then WHAM....something woke you up. What???? Dunno but the breathing looks to be just fine.

[Pugsy]

Are you awake when the mask gets removed? Awake as in you knowingly remove it or do you remove the mask when half asleep and don't realize it and then you wake up fully and realize the mask is off?

[Brounmoney]

Are you awake when the mask gets removed? Awake as in you knowingly remove it or do you remove the mask when half asleep and don't realize it and then you wake up fully and realize the mask is off?

So the first time I was awake because I remember waking up a night terror and I was screaming. I remember taking the mask off and jumping out the bed. The other two times, don't remember taking it off, all I remember is waking up and the mask is laying beside me in the bed.

[Brounmoney]

Yes, something caused you to wake up....and then the flow reduced and the mask came off.

From the air flow rate prior to when this happened I don't think it is airway related though. Wish I could say it was because that would be a relatively easy fix.

Looks like normal asleep breathing and then WHAM....something woke you up. What???? Dunno but the breathing looks to be just fine.

Right something is causing it, but like you say it doesn't like like airway related. I don't understand because I got the leaks under control, which originally was what was waking me up.

Here is the zoomed in of the final removal, the one I don't remember. At 12:45 you can see something woke me up and it looks like I tried to mess with the mask and made it leak. Then it was taken off.

[Pugsy]

You know there are many disorders related to sleeping that aren't necessarily caused by airway issues.
Everyone wants to put all their problems in the sleep apnea basket and want the machine to fix them but the cold hard fact of life is that problems unrelated to the airway cannot be fixed by the machine no matter how much we wish it so.

CPAP fixes bad sleep only when the bad sleep is related to airway issues.....it can't fix bad sleep unrelated to the airway.

You have bad sleep from most likely 2 things...the OSA side of things and some other unknown cause of bad sleep or frequent wake ups...the cpap can fix one side of the problem but can't fix the other side.

Your brain probably wants to blame the mask for the bad sleep or cause of the wake up....that's why it removes the alien.
Your brain just hasn't come to terms with the fact that the mask is there to help and not hurt.

You don't take any medications of any kind do you? Any OTC stuff? Any recreational stuff? Alcohol stuff?

[Brounmoney]

You know there are many disorders related to sleeping that aren't necessarily caused by airway issues.
Everyone wants to put all their problems in the sleep apnea basket and want the machine to fix them but the cold hard fact of life is that problems unrelated to the airway cannot be fixed by the machine no matter how much we wish it so.

CPAP fixes bad sleep only when the bad sleep is related to airway issues.....it can't fix bad sleep unrelated to the airway.

You have bad sleep from most likely 2 things...the OSA side of things and some other unknown cause of bad sleep or frequent wake ups...the cpap can fix one side of the problem but can't fix the other side.

Your brain probably wants to blame the mask for the bad sleep or cause of the wake up....that's why it removes the alien.
Your brain just hasn't come to terms with the fact that the mask is there to help and not hurt.

You don't take any medications of any kind do you? Any OTC stuff? Any recreational stuff? Alcohol stuff?

Melatonin is the only thing that I take. My primary care Doc gave me Trazodone when I first started seeking help for sleep. He had me do an in home sleep study, and then told me to lose weight and all my issues would be gone. I have been dealing with night terrors for my entire life. The Trazodone did nothing at all, but I havent taken it since using the CPAP.

And no, no drugs or alcohol at all. I have never had either in my entire life.



Just to clarify, I am not blaming the machine and mask at all. I am simply trying to get to the root of the problem. I figure start with the machine, and get in dialed in. Then I can start to figure out other factors. Maybe go back to meds and see if they can help. The melatonin sure hasn't been the answer.

[Pugsy]

I am a firm believer in the fact that sometimes there is a time and place for some help with medications from a doctor.
Short term to get over the hump and help the brain to settle down and become more accepting of having the alien plastered on the face.
I always feel this is between the person and their doctor as to what road they want to travel.

Melatonin is really more for falling asleep and not so much staying asleep which appears to be your main problem.
Maybe need something with a little more umph to it to help out.

[Brounmoney]

I am a firm believer in the fact that sometimes there is a time and place for some help with medications from a doctor.
Short term to get over the hump and help the brain to settle down and become more accepting of having the alien plastered on the face.
I always feel this is between the person and their doctor as to what road they want to travel.

Melatonin is really more for falling asleep and not so much staying asleep which appears to be your main problem.
Maybe need something with a little more umph to it to help out.

Yeah, I still have the Trazodone and the doctor said it was fine to take. Might give that a go, at least for a couple weeks to see if I can get through the night. Couldn’t hurt I don’t think.

[Brounmoney]

Well had one of my better nights I thought last night. Seemed the machine worked well, but my crazy body didn't completely cooperate. Since Friday night I have been taking Trazodone and this new Dream Water. Getting to sleep hasn't been an issue, but staying asleep has been. Saturday I remember taking the mask off and never putting it back on again. Last night though, the Trazodone seems to work. I stayed asleep and never remember taking the mask off a little after 2am. I help pretty tired this morning after I am sure I had plenty events of apnea without the mask until my 4:20am wake up alarm. At this point I am struggling figuring out any way to keep the dang mask on. I thought with over a month of use that my body would start getting use to it, but it doesn't seem to be the case. Any suggestions for keeping a mask on? Or is this more of a staying asleep issue that I need to work on?

[zonker]

Any suggestions for keeping a mask on? Or is this more of a staying asleep issue that I need to work on?

tape. or at least that's what some folks on the forum recommend. they say that pulling off the mask pulls the tape and that reminds you. haven't tried it myself as i've never pulled off my mask during the night.

as to the other, if it hasn't been mentioned already, goggle sleep hygiene to see a list of things that you can change during the day to help you stay asleep at night.

it's a pretty long list. while i don't adhere to everything on the list, i've made some changes suggested there and it's helped me stay asleep once i'm asleep. mind you, i still wake up to turn over. almost everyone does that. but i don't stay awake after settling back in.

good luck!

[Brounmoney]

Any suggestions for keeping a mask on? Or is this more of a staying asleep issue that I need to work on?

tape. or at least that's what some folks on the forum recommend. they say that pulling off the mask pulls the tape and that reminds you. haven't tried it myself as i've never pulled off my mask during the night.

as to the other, if it hasn't been mentioned already, goggle sleep hygiene to see a list of things that you can change during the day to help you stay asleep at night.

it's a pretty long list. while i don't adhere to everything on the list, i've made some changes suggested there and it's helped me stay asleep once i'm asleep. mind you, i still wake up to turn over. almost everyone does that. but i don't stay awake after settling back in.

good luck!

Yeah I might have to try the tape. I tried to use medical tape, but it would not stick to my skin.

I will google the sleep hygiene, and give some of them a try. Thanks!

[zonker]

Yeah I might have to try the tape. I tried to use medical tape, but it would not stick to my skin.

I will google the sleep hygiene, and give some of them a try. Thanks!

let us know what works for you.

[Brounmoney]

Yeah I might have to try the tape. I tried to use medical tape, but it would not stick to my skin.

I will google the sleep hygiene, and give some of them a try. Thanks!

let us know what works for you.

Thanks will do! Its been a struggle.

[Brounmoney]

Whelp I tried socks on my hands last night, and that last about 3 1/2 before I took one sock off my hand, and took the mask off. All without waking up at all. I woke up at 3:30 this morning to the air blowing out of the mask laying beside me. I am out of ideas to keep the dang mask on my face. Will it just take time?

[Brounmoney]

Finally started to get results! I need to be in bed earlier because I get up so early, but finally seeing a restful sleep. Only 2 times of getting up, and that was to use the restroom. Good pressure, mask fit, and I think the AHI is pretty good?