Pulling off mask while sleeping!

[drd3us]

I started off great. Was averaging 8 hours a night; now I can't keep my mask on. Pulling it off in my sleep and I have no idea that I am doing it. I go to bed wearing my mask and wake up without it. Does anybody have any ideas?

[MartiniLover]

Very common problem.

Comfort of mask is usually problem.

Make up your mind your going to keep it on.

[bdp522]

Some have had luck using an extra strap to make it harder to remove the mask. Some have taped the headgear to their faces to cause enough discomfort to wake them if they should start to remove it.

Brenda

[Babette]

I envy you. I'm wide awake when I rip the sucker off my face and throw it against the wall...

Sorry. Bad night. Still waiting for my Miraculous Feeling of Energy, Vitality and Happiness to show up....

I think duct taping it would be good. You'd notice the pain when you pulled on it.

Good luck!
B.

[oceanpearl]

Have you tried Super Glue??

[jjposey]

Sorry to say I can't offer any suggestions or a success story. I have the same problem - waking up to find I've taken off the mask off 6-8 times a night!
I go to bed every night DETERMINED to KEEP ON THAT MASK!!!!
and then I wake up an hour later (or less) furious with myself and exhausted.
I have taped on my mask only to wake with blisters where I have ripped off the tape as well.
My sleep docs suggestion... "Short of cutting off your hands there's nothing you can do."
Reeaaalllly helpful!!!!!
I will say it had improved until about 3 weeks ago when I was in an auto accident (not my fault - but VERY UNNERVING as my 3yr old son was with me). Since then my nerves have been pretty well shot!
If anybody has a success story about stopping taking off your mask PLEASE tell us!

(starting to feel desperate!)

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CPAPopedia Keywords Contained In This Post (Click For Definition): auto

[blarg]

JJ, try a few different masks. It couldn't hurt.

[jjposey]

Not sure how to go about that. I've got to gather up the strength and TIME!!!! to go to my DME and try to figure out why I haven't been contacted in over 3 months, I haven't received a bill, my ins hasn't received a bill, etc.
Waiting on the sleep clinic to mail me my sleep study results and a copy of my prescription (they can't seem to find the prescription). "I'll be glad to fax a copy of your prescription - if we kept one."

[jjposey]

sorry drd3us, didn't mean to hijack your thread!
Was just about to start my own when I read yours and was hoping someone would help us both.

[rtorres]

I have had my unit for about 6 weeks now. If I am lucky I make it to about midnight before pulling of the mask. I have the mask that just fits over the nose. Usually everytime I roll over the seal breaks leaking air creating a whistling sound that wakes both me and my wife up.

Has anyone had any success with other types of masks?

I would appreciate your help, as I have yet to feel one bit better since the diagnosis.

[blarg]

I have the mask that just fits over the nose.

That description matches at least 30 masks. You may find another mask that fits over the nose doesn't leak at all for you. Check out the lightbulb up at the top of the page and start reading about your mask choices. Obviously the one you've got now either isn't adjusted right or just won't work for you.

[THier]

OK here is my suggestion,,, get a "strapless" mask,,, I STILL take all my strap masks off EVERY night, I am having much better success with one of three setups, Comfortlite 1,, with the "mask" setup,, you wear it like a ballcap, Comfortlite2,, very similar to the CL1,, again with the Mask" setup,, also having pretty good success with a Optilife, this is a little harder for me to use as it uses "nasal pillows" there are other setups out there,, these are just the three I have had better success with. EVERY mask with strap head gear I take off EVERY night, look at the list of interfaces I have in the bottom of my sig,,, and you will see I have tried many. I actually bought a extra Comfortlite1 to have spare head gear,, as I read it will be discontinued this summer. My doc then gave me another at my last appt on Monday,,, I now have 2 unopened Comfortlite1, one in use,, and the CL2 is working ok,, so if the CL1 goes away I may live to talk about it

I have other issues,, but doc has written a scrip for an APAP,,, if that doesn't work then a Bi-level is the next step.

Hang in there,,, it's not easy.

Tom

[kteague]

Hi. For many months I did the same thing. All my best intentions were for naught. Since my issue by this time (used to be pressure issue) was mask discomfort and sleeping thru taking it off, I decided to change my strategy.

I read somewhere a while back that a certain part of the brain learns to differentiate during sleep between senses that are safe and those which are cause for alarm. (That could explain why many years ago I could sleep with a train running thru my back yard and shaking the house over and over all night.) Anyhow, instead of purposing to keep my mask on all night, I purposely exaggerated my distress and made a frantic big deal out of every time I found it off. A couple weeks of this and I was no longer waking up and finding the mask off.

But I believe there have been a couple other influencing factors, one being that in those short times wearing my mask I was recovering just enough to not be such a zombie. The other was that one night I put my mask on and by surprise found I slept so deep that my mask and I felt like one. Was it that I finally adjusted? Was it that I finally found the right mask? Probably a little of both.

Do what you can to address those things that seem to not be working for you. Then persevere in your therapy. In other words, fake it till you make it.

Best wishes.

Kathy