humidity

[buggsy54]

I experienced my first all nighter with the mask Monday ( 7/6/09) night. I did use a pill though, but that was still an accomplishment for me since I had never slept that long in years , even with a pill. Tonight was a different . I started out OK , no pill , went to bed just after 10:00. Slept great until about 3:00am . Had the worst case of dry mouth. Drank some water, went back to sleep, woke up shortly with more dry mouth. It was then that I realized that I didn't fill humidifier. Got up , filled it up, put too much in, got back up to empty out some of it. After all that, I cannot go back to sleep. So , like the Doctor told me to do , I got up and started playing on the computer until I get sleepy again. But I do have a question. What is the best method to drink water in the middle of the night with the mask on. I am using a bottle with a cap, but it is awkward trying to drink when the air is blowing out of my mouth. I would think that if I tried to use a straw it would be worse.

[tom@]

How hard is it to turn off the machine for 10 sec to take a drink? You are already fumbling with the cap on the bottle, gust reach over and hit the button on the machine too.

[buggsy23]

Are you serious? Do you think it is easier to stop the machine, take a drink of water, then wait through the ramping again, rather than taking the top off a bottle of water. I was looking for advice on types of bottles or possibly the best type of squirt bottle to use when you are half asleep.

[mallen4258]

Turn the ramp time down or off, if you are waiting for the ramp to end to go to sleep, then you probably don't need it. Then you can turn it off, do what you need to, put the mask back on or hook everything back together and the machine will start automatically and you can go back to sleep. The more you use the equipment, the easier everything will be. You will figure out a routine that works for you. I use a nasal mask or nasal pillow depending on how my nose feels and if I need to get up (or I should say WHEN) I get up to go to the bathroom, I reach over and turn the machine off and take my mask off. Once relieved, put mask back on and lie down, then the machine comes back on and I go back to sleep.

[TheDreamer]

I turn off machine, unhook myself....leaving mask on....get drink of water....hook back up and go to sleep (auto-on). I played with auto-off, but it skews my leak data.

I got a quick hose disconnect to make it easier to unhook myself.

It is a tad tricky drinking with mask on, and I keep meaning to get some straws. But I'm getting by by filling glass really full and only taking a few sips.

I haven't used ramp since my second night....

The Dreamer.

[El Pap]

Are you serious? Do you think it is easier to stop the machine, take a drink of water, then wait through the ramping again, rather than taking the top off a bottle of water. I was looking for advice on types of bottles or possibly the best type of squirt bottle to use when you are half asleep.

Absolutely. I can turn off the machine and remove the mask faster and with less effort than unscrewing the cap from the bottle of water. I can put the mask back on (and have the machine auto-start) with less effort than adjusting the comforter. I don't use the ramp function.

Having a terrible case of dry mouth usually means that your mouth opened during sleep, and your therapy was escaping through your lips. Hopefully that's something you'll be able to get under control as you acclimate to treatment, otherwise you'll have to investigate a chin strap or full face mask.

[klockemy]

That is why I love my Liberty. Just disconnect the elbow, open the spout of a squirt bottle, squirt it through the elbow hole, reattach the elbow and hit start.

[drubin007]

Do you need to drink that much water at night?
I used to dehydrate something horrible and would wake up too many times for water (and to pee) as a result of drinking so much water...
This brings up another question. Are you mouth breathing? Consider a chin strap to help keep the mouth closed?
Before cpap I would be up 3 to 4 times a night to drink water and pee at least twice..
Now, I get up once to use the bathroom most nights and I take a tiny sip of water. not because I have to, but cuz its there...
hopefully if not mouth breathing you will not dehydrate (if that is the case) and it would not be an issue.
But for what its worth, I use nasal pillows and headgear. I turn the machine off, take the headgear off and take a sip of water.

[wrenn]

I don't turn anything off but just disconnect the short hose from the long (and plop the pillow on it so it won't snake around).

I find it easier to sleep (and stay asleep) once cpap became a routine and I am so used to it I could probably get up to bathroom or drink without actually waking up. Hang in there.

[buggsy23]

I did turn the ramp speed down, so that isn't a problem. I do use a chin strap, but It slips off occasionally and I end up waking up with air blowing out of my mouth. The Therapist told me to just pull the tube off and leave the mask on when I get up at night, I tried it and ended up pulling the plastic knob off of the mask. I thought I broke it. Someone mentioned a quick release for the mask , I need to check into that. As for removing the mask and putting it back on, I still have to turn the light on to see the holes for the straps. At least I am wearing it all night now. Thanks for all the suggestions.

[mallen4258]

Buggsy24,

I see that you are using the Swift LT. I use the same mask at times (I alternate between it and a Activa LT frame with an Activa cushion). I have found my best fit with the Swift LT is VERY loose so that I don't even have to take the straps off the mask or readjust. All I do is pull the pillows out away and over my nose and slip it over my head. When I first started, i had the mask tight and did not get as good a fit as when I loosened it (which has been true for most masks that I have tried). It seems counter-intuitive, but it works. Remember, get the fit loose and comfy sitting up and fine tune the fit while lying down.

[buggsy23]

It's funny that you mentioned to wear the mask loose. Last night I did that and didn't seem to lose any pressure, nor did I wake up looking like the Joker.I had been wearing the mask and all the straps so tight that I had lines all over my face that lasted about half an hour.