Coping with CPAP

[cmyers581]

I'm having trouble coping with CPAP. I have trouble falling asleep with the mask on, when I do, I wake up two hours later and I subconsciously (or unconsciously) take the mask off and go back to sleep with the mask off. I then sleep for an hour or two, wake up again realize I have the mask off, then put the mask on, sleep for an hour or two and start the whole process all over again. Any advice or tips I would appreciate it.

[Lizistired]

If you just started cpap, don't beat yourself up over it. I think most of us did that starting out. Please register and list your equipment so it shows in your signature like mine. It makes it easier for us to help you.
If you have an auto start/stop feature on your machine, disable it so the machine keeps blowing when you take the mask off. Maybe you will hear it and put it back on sooner. That's what worked for me.

[Mary Z]

Don't take that mask off. Do whatever you have to do to get used to wearing the mask.
Good luck.

[LoneStar]

A few tips for training yourself to keep the mask on:
- use tape to tape it to your face/hair so that when you try to take it off in your sleep, the pull of the tape will wake you up. (Note: you won't have to do this forever, just until your asleep brain learns to tell your body that mask removal is a no-no.)
- wear mittens or socks on your hands to make it difficult to pull off the mask while asleep.

Lisa

[archangle]

Welcome to the board.

Please sign up for an ID on the board and fill in the equipment in your profile. There's a link at the bottom of this post. We may be able to give you better advice if we know what equipment you have.

I don't think we really take the mask off in their sleep. I think we wake up and while we're still groggy, take off the mask, either "just for a second" or for good. Then we either decide to go back to sleep without it or fall asleep before we get around to putting the mask back on.

If you wake up briefly, do something and go back to sleep, you may not remember it.

If you have to take the mask off at night, even for a second, get out of bed immediately for a few minutes. Put the mask back on before you get into bed.

[GregD]

I'm having trouble coping with CPAP. I have trouble falling asleep with the mask on, when I do, I wake up two hours later and I subconsciously (or unconsciously) take the mask off and go back to sleep with the mask off. I then sleep for an hour or two, wake up again realize I have the mask off, then put the mask on, sleep for an hour or two and start the whole process all over again. Any advice or tips I would appreciate it.

Hi, maybe you have issues with having anything on you. I know from a friend who has such a thing where she even gets irritated if you would ask her to wear a watch or a bracelet. So if this is something familiar to you why don't you just during the day put the mask on you even for a minute just to get yourself trained that mask is safe and part of you now the brain needs time to process all this information so your help to your brain would be good.

Also you can try to wear it before going to sleep and instead of "starting" sleeping you can meditate and be conscious that the mask is on you and that you will fall asleep any moment and that it is going to be ok.

I think some days n' weeks of such training should help generate a habit...
Hope that helped.

[pap4life]

If you are female, take a hair clip (pin) and attach it to the mask strap and your hair.
If you are male, borrow the above mentioned product from the female and follow the above instructions. Works.
In either case...reattach the mask to your face.

[ameriken]

It's just a matter of getting acclimated to the mask. Here's what I did right from day one:

*During the day and evening, wear the mask (without the hose) around the house maybe while watching tv, reading, spending time on cpaptalk.com or whenever.
*Every night, about 20 or 30 minutes before bed, put the mask and machine on and read or watch tv for a while.
*Take some short naps during the with the mask and machine.
*The most important key to success: attitude. Your mind is one of the most powerful assets or liablities you have and I think that is 90% of the key to successful therapy, and 90% of the cause of failure. If you view this unfavorably, negatively, or as something bad in your life, you are going to have trouble getting used to it and wearing it and dealing with it. If you see this as a wonderful opportunity, and view the mask and machine as your friend, you wll take to it very quickly. It doesn't mean therapy will be issue-free, but I think it does mean you'll handle issues more readily and positively. I also believe that your subconscious will get the message that this is a good thing and will stop telling you to take the mask off while you're totally asleep.

I took to this with that positive attitude right from the start and I've never had trouble with wearing the mask or taking it off. Now, when I put the mask on I immediately get drowsy and have to turn over to go to sleep. The mask is now a 'signal' to go to sleep. Very often I even forget that I am wearing it, it feels so normal. So, IMO attitude is the key.

I hope that helps! Good luck.

[SilverAnn]

It takes awhile to get used to the mask. At first I would wear it when it wasn't bed time. (thanks to the good advice I got here!) I put it on and read, took naps, played on my phone. I had been tired for so long that the good rest I got while asleep with the mask on made an immediate difference. My main worry was that the mask wasn't fitting properly and thus it wouldn't work right. For the first few weeks I kept checking the fit constantly. Before CPAP I would often lay awake for hours. Now when I put on the mask I start getting drowsy. Last weekend I snuggled up to my husband and fell asleep without the mask for only 20 or 30 minutes. This was the first time since I got it 2.5 months ago. He told me that he hated to wake me, but that I struggled for breath the whole time I slept. Daily I am grateful for that little machine and the mask that has given me my life back.

Ann