Taking the mask off in your sleep

[raneyday]

Anybody else have this problem? For a couple of weeks, I've been taking the mask off in my sleep. Sometimes the machine is still running, sometimes I've turned that off too. I have just ordered a new cushion for my Quattro FF mask--hopefully that will help. Any ideas?

[roster]

Please fill out you equipment profile ("text" not "image') and indicate your pressure settings.

[rubymom]

Hi Raney,

I had the login problem yesterday so sorry for the delay in responding. I tried a few times without luck. I was afraid you'd be discouraged by no replies.

Anyhow, I've been in this for three months now. Yes, I have often taken my mask off in the middle of the night. And reading this forum, I find it's a common problem. I don't recall ever leaving the machine on when I did though.

Those occasions have minimized, due, I think, to a few things:

1. My pressure is 20. I could not tolerate that on the CPAP machine. I felt like I had a tornado blowing in my face once the ramp wore off. I switched to a Bi-Pap machine where my pressure doesn't ever go above 16 and it's better. But not perfect. I still sometimes feel that strong wind.

2. I also now with my new machine and the Liberty mask, wake up with leaks and sometimes get frustrated trying to reseat the mask. The mask is sealed properly when I go to sleep but sometimes I just can't get that back. It helps for me to turn the machine off, take off the mask and headgear and put it back on again. But that doesn't always work.

3. I forced myself to be conscious of removing my mask and basically not allowing myself permission to do so. If I was honest, I could remember doing it sometimes (not always) and in my desire for sleep, allowed myself to do it. Now I stop and tell myself not to take it off. Still, sometimes and do and usually then at my next bathroom break, I put it back on.

Good luck to you and welcome to this forum!!

[BeanMeScot]

There can be legitimate reasons for removing the mask, like pressure too low. Or it could just be the strangeness of it. Some put tape that will pull if they take the mask off to wake them should they try to do it or try to get more used to the mask by using putting it on and breathing through it while awake and watching TV. But it is a good idea to determine if there is a real reason for doing it.