Keep Waking Up And Taking Mask Off

[tapeworm]

I've been using my CPAP for about a month now. I put it on every time I go to bed or take a nap. I just can't get past the 2-hour mark. Usually less than that. I wake up feeling sweaty and irritated and uncomfortable and rip the mask off, turn off the machine and go back to sleep. I feel like I've plateaued - I was getting an hour or two in right after getting it and haven't progressed past that. How long did it take you to get a full night's sleep without waking up?

I am also wondering if there could be a CPAP-related reason that I have been more exhausted than usual the past month...like for instance, if I'm catching up on some sort of sleep deficit when I mange to get those two hours, and until I catch up, it's making me more tired. I have been so groggy.

Thanks!

[AndyCelt]

I have only been doing this for two weeks, but I am experiencing the same thing - I wake up, take off the mask and turn off the machine. I'm not doing it every night but I did for the past two nights so I am worried this is becoming a pattern. And yes, as compared to nights I kept the mask on I am tired and grouchy.

[BleepingBeauty]

I've been using my CPAP for about a month now. I put it on every time I go to bed or take a nap. I just can't get past the 2-hour mark. Usually less than that. I wake up feeling sweaty and irritated and uncomfortable and rip the mask off, turn off the machine and go back to sleep. I feel like I've plateaued - I was getting an hour or two in right after getting it and haven't progressed past that. How long did it take you to get a full night's sleep without waking up?

I am also wondering if there could be a CPAP-related reason that I have been more exhausted than usual the past month...like for instance, if I'm catching up on some sort of sleep deficit when I mange to get those two hours, and until I catch up, it's making me more tired. I have been so groggy.

Thanks!

Yes, we all have some sleep debt to repay when we begin therapy. But you're not going to make any progress on that score until you can wear the mask and use the machine for a lot longer than two hours per night.

Many of us took the mask off during the night in the beginning. If you haven't adjusted your mask yourself, I suggest you do so. Most of us start out with a mask that's been "fitted" by someone else; but more often than not, it's way too tight for us. (THEY don't wear it, YOU do, so YOU should adjust the headgear for a good fit. Lay down on your bed and adjust the mask while the machine is running at your pressure; if you're using an APAP, then at the highest pressure in your range.) It should be just tight enough to (a) allow the seal to inflate when the machine is running at your prescribed pressure, and (b) maintain a good seal. Once you think it's adjusted well, turn from side to side (i.e., mimic how you might move in your sleep) and make sure the seal is maintained. Make a small adjustment to the strap nearest to any leak you hear or feel.

Taking the mask off is a really bad habit that must be overcome. Some people use medical tape to adhere the mask to their face, so that when they try to pull it off in their sleep, the tape reminds them not to. Bottom line: You don't stand a chance of getting good therapy if you can't wear the mask all night. I suggest you put some serious effort into properly adjusting the mask you're using (or try another one).

[Paper_Nanny]

Bottom line: You don't stand a chance of getting good therapy if you can't wear the mask all night.

I will second that. In addition to the mask adjustments BleepingBeauty suggested, some mental adjustments may be in order, also. Tell yourself you will not sleep without your xPAP. Tell yourself how important it is to you to take care of yourself in that way. Tell yourself that your mask is your friend; it wants to help you be as healthy as you can be. Tell yourself other things along those lines, all day long, as often as you can.

I know it sounds a little goofy (okay, maybe it sounds a lot goofy!) but getting yourself in a positive mind set and focusing on the benefits of the therapy instead of building up resentment will help.

I was able to use my machine for the entire night after about two nights. I really think one of the main reasons is that I have a friend who is supposed to be on CPAP. After a year, she still doesn't consistently use her machine. And I nag her about it. I pester her. I tell her if she is having problems, she needs to take care of them so she can use her machine, every night, all night. I tell her this because I care about her and want her to be around for a long time.

One day, in frustration, she said to me, "You don't know what it's like! You wait until you have to use a CPAP and you'll see! You won't be able to do it!!" And I told her, "If I ever have to use CPAP, I will use it, and I'll use it for all the reasons I tell you to use it"

When I ended up with a BiPAP, she brought that up. That's the kind of friend she is. And me, being the kind of stubborn girl I am, I reminded her that I said I wasn't going to have problems. And I really couldn't back down from that, so I knew no matter what happened, I was committed to making it work.

It took awhile of trying one mask after another until I found one that works for me. It fits comfortably, no major leaks... And now it's my happy mask and one of my very best friends.

Deborah

[archangle]

Are you aware of taking the mask off, or just finding it off the next morning?

If you're aware of what's going on, try to get up and do something for a few minutes until you can get up the gumption to put the mask back on and go to sleep.

[ozze_dollar]

Hi Tapeworm.
I see you are useing a full face mask. I had a lot of trouble with that also. I now use two masks.
A nasal mask with chinstrap.
Nasal pillows with chin strap.

Forget the FFM.

[tapeworm]

Thanks for the responses. I AM aware that I'm taking it off at night, which is a good thing I guess, it's not automatic. I'm going to work on keeping it on no matter what. I tell myself I will when I go to bed, but when it comes down to it I usually do anyway, so maybe the tape is a good idea. I'll try it.

As for the FFM, I'm not sure - I am a mouth-breather and have major sinus & allergy issues, and I'm not sure I can breathe through my nose at all, much less while sleeping. My CPAP is also at a pressure of 15 and the nurse who gave the study told me that she suggested I use a full mask at that pressure. I will look into a nasal mask, though...the full face is very annoying. Lately the issue has been itching.

Thanks again and good luck to everyone!

[SleeplessInNyack]

I too take the mask off after an hour or too. It just feels like an encumbrance keeping me from sleeping rather than something helping me to sleep, like a comfy pillow. I think I suffer from sleep anxiety probably from a lifetime of poor sleep. The pressure of the CPAP seems to feed that anxiety and I relax when the mask comes off. But then I never get rest.

These above posts are giving me encouragement to white-knuckle through it. If I could just get one deep sleep from this thing I would be encouraged, but after three years of on and off use I've never had a hint that this can work for me. (I've tried high pressures, low pressures, CPAP, APAP, multiple masks, lots of recommendations from the board). But I will keep trying, due mainly to the encouraging words of the forum members.

[beckah]

Thanks for the responses. I AM aware that I'm taking it off at night, which is a good thing I guess, it's not automatic. I'm going to work on keeping it on no matter what. I tell myself I will when I go to bed, but when it comes down to it I usually do anyway, so maybe the tape is a good idea. I'll try it.

As for the FFM, I'm not sure - I am a mouth-breather and have major sinus & allergy issues, and I'm not sure I can breathe through my nose at all, much less while sleeping. My CPAP is also at a pressure of 15 and the nurse who gave the study told me that she suggested I use a full mask at that pressure. I will look into a nasal mask, though...the full face is very annoying. Lately the issue has been itching.

Thanks again and good luck to everyone!

If the full face mask is causing itching where it contacts your face, have you tried a mask liner from PadACheek for your mask? The liner removes the direct contact to your face and replaces it with a soft liner custom designed for your specific mask. They have made a world of difference for me, adding to the comfort and leak control. Check out her website. She also offers padded covers for the side straps to reduce strap marks on your face.

http://www.padacheek.com/

If the itching you mention is your nose, try a vigorous facial scrub with your hands before you don your face. I've heard this will keep the itching at bay and prevent itchy spots.

Anything you can do to make your mask comfortable and leak-free should help you keep the mask on for longer periods of time. Don't give up, keep trying different things until you can wear the mask every time you sleep.

Good luck!
beckah

[tapeworm]

Yes, it's the nose that itches...I probably need to clean the mask more often. Although i think what wakes me up is usually a small leak. Does medical tape help with leaks too? If so, I"m all over that. Thanks so much for the tips.

[beckah]

Yes, it's the nose that itches...I probably need to clean the mask more often. Although i think what wakes me up is usually a small leak. Does medical tape help with leaks too? If so, I"m all over that. Thanks so much for the tips.

I don't know about medical tape, have never used it. I use a Hybrid mask and had a lot of leaks before I purchased the mask liner from Karen at PadACheek. The liner really helps stop the leaks and makes the mask so much more comfortable. Soft fabric against your skin instead of the mask contacting the skin directly. You can also make your own with an old, well washed soft cotton T-shirt material. Do a search and you should find instructions on how to make your own.

I use disposable wipes to clean my mask and my face each night before putting the mask on. Having a clean, oil-free face and mask helps keep the seal intact. Just make sure the wipes you use don't have any lotions or alcohol added to them.

I also use a strap to stabilize the mask and reduce mask shifting while I sleep. You have to try different things until you find what works for you. Once you get leaks and comfort under control, masking up each night becomes much easier.

[archangle]

These above posts are giving me encouragement to white-knuckle through it.

I know it's easier said than done, but you've somehow got to not "white-knuckle through it". Somehow it's got to not become a fight. Not "I'm going to fight my way through it," it needs to be "yeah, there's a thing on my face blowing air into my nose, BFD."

Maybe on some weekend, you can park yourself in front of the TV in a recliner, and just decide you're going to sit there with the CPAP turned on for the next 8 to 12 hours. If you go to sleep and wake up, then wake up and continue to CPAP with the TV on. If you don't get sleep, get up, do something, but when you have to get some sleep, put the CPAP back on and watch more TV. Just decide you're not going to sleep or even sit where you might doze off without the CPAP that weekend. If you can't sleep, don't stress over it, just say, "OK, I'm not sleeping for a while." Think of the CPAP as being like some annoyance you simply can't get rid of like a sore shoulder that hurts when you lay down.

[Lizistired]

Can you poition your machine so it isn't so easy to turn it off?
If you hear it blowing you might put it back on.

I'm not familiar with your machine. Are you using a ramp feature? EPR? What are your settings?
Maybe try the recliner watching TV without ramp to get used to the full pressure.

[Mr Bill]

This will pass with time. I was constantly taking mine off after a couple hours of sleep for the first several months. When I woke up remembering why, it was usually because I felt starved for air. But every now and then I would have it on for 7 hours and I would feel just fantastic. I slept with a pulse oximeter almost every night for the first 4 months and it was totally obvious that my blood oxygen was going in the dirt when I had my mask off. That made for some convincing evidence that any sleep without my unit was not sleep and even harmful. Gradually I began to trust my machine at the gut level and now the mask is not so freaky. I occasionally get freaky about my mask if I am having a little trouble breathing from my asthma. But I tell myself (and its true) that the pressure my machine can bring to bear will get me enough air even through partially clogged sinuses.

Recently I took it off a couple times last week and finally woke up remembering why. I dreamed it was time to get up and took off my mask, then I fell back asleep.

[Riorican]

My first month I was sleeping with my Swift fx for 3-4 hours a night. It went downhill from there. For the next two months I was sleeping 2 hours a night and ripping the mask off without realizing it. You mentioned waking up sweaty, irritated and uncomfortable. I felt the same. What made a significant difference for me was getting a hose hanger. I chose the HoZer Hose System and it's great. I don't even think about the hose any more. With that simple change I increased my sleeptime with my mask to about 4 hours a night. I then changed my brand of chin strap as I knew that was making me hot. I am now experimenting with different masks. Last night with a new mask I slept 6 hours. I hit 9.5 one night last week. It's a process to find out what's causing you to rip the mask off so just take it step by step until you can identify what's irritating you in the middle of the night.