Taking mask off in sleep (Version 1001)

[qwertydvorak]

I know this has been a problem for many people and has been talked about MANY times on this forum, but I take my mask off in my sleep. I clearly remember dreaming it was time to get up and I took it off and shut off the machine. When I woke up because SO was making noise while leaving for work I freaked out because I thought I was late for work. Then I had that realization that she leaves about 3 hours before I do. I have been known to sleep walk and talk to her and others in the past. I don't see this getting any better.

Sleeping with it on isn't a problem and I don't even need to ramp up or anything to fall asleep. It doesn't bother me having it on my head or anything. From what I can tell I am just thinking it is time to get up and taking it off and then waking hours later without it.

Do any mask manufacturers make some kind of complicated or locking mask that is almost impossible to get off without working at it. It seems most tout how easy it is to get on and off. I want the opposite. If I can't find one that locks onto my head I am going to handcuff my hands to my waist like a prisoner in chains. That would be a less good solution in a fire or when I get a major leg cramp in my sleep (which happens once in a while).

Thanks for reading. Total CPAP newbie here and DETERMINED to force it to work (too much at stake for it not to). I WILL be compliant by force if necessary.

[jencat824]

In order for us to best help you, could you please to your User Control Panel & put in the machine, humidifier & mask you are using. This helps other forum members to best help you by having your machine & mask below your post (see mine below in blue).

To address your problem, it sounds to me like your sleep problems are not being adequately treated. Notice I said sleep, not your OSA. OSA can be perfectly treated, but something else is going on when you sleepwalk. Your removing the mask sounds to me like your watered-down verson of sleepwalking, sleeptalking, etc. I have been a life-long sleepwalker, sleeptalker, sleep eater.

The OSA treatment curing a lot of that, but it took 'tweaking' some of my rx to finally get me to stop the walking, talking & eating in my sleep. I can't tell what could be causing this for you, for me is was a combo of OSA, RLD & PLMD. Once all three were treated I no longer do anything in my sleep except sleep. Just the action of taking off your mask in the night does not sound like much, but combined with your history, it looks strangely like looking in a mirror to me. I've not met many people who sleep walk, most of those did so as kids & then stopped. I have done all 3 since childhood & as an adult became a danger to myself with this disorder. Proper treatment by a good sleep dr (preferably a neurologist when dealing with sleepwalking & related sleep disorders) may help with the urge to 'get up for work' in the middle of the night.

Perhaps members out there who take off masks in the middle of the night may have some input. My input is biased as a former sleepwalker.
Jen

[zoocrewphoto]

My very first night, I woke up, thought it was time to get off. I shut off the machine, took off my mask, and then looked at the clock. I went back to sleep and forgot the machine.

I think the problem ideas that I was so used to crappy sleep, I was not used to getting good sleep. It tricked my brain into thinking I had gotten enough sleep.

You may that this problem improves once you get used to having good sleep.

[porete]

I used to remove my mask very frequently when I first got my machine and would not be aware of it until I woke up in the morning. I came up with the idea to put a hair clip in my hair and through the top of my headgear, that way, I would wake up when I would try to remove my mask. After a while, I got used to wearing the mask and could stop wearing the hair clip. It takes a while, but your body will get used to the mask on your face, and it won't feel like a "foreign body" anymore.

[qwertydvorak]

Just wanted to update in case it would help anyone else. I finally figured ut the solution for my problem. My machine defaulted to level 3 humidity level. i bumped it up higher by accident and stopped taking it off. Went from 1-2 hours usage per night to keeping it on until time to get up. I never would have thought to mess with the humidity to solve this problem, but without fail when I bump it back down to 3 I don't keep it on. Hope this info helps someone else having trouble.

[Pugsy]

Interesting. I would never have thought about humidity but it makes sense.
The lower setting was probably causing some low level discomfort in nose or airway and it was disturbing your sleep and knee jerk reaction was to remove the offender...in this case the mask which was delivering the not quite sufficient moisturized air.