Elves!

[JLtheDrone]

That's the only logical explanation I can come up with as to why I keep waking up in the morning to discover that my mask has been removed during the night. You would think that my cat would fend them off or at least alert me to their presence. But no! Has anyone else experienced this phenomenon? If so, what can be done about it?

[JLtheDrone]

Clearly I am being silly with the elves theory. However, I don't know why I keep taking my mask off during the night. Apparently something is bugging me in my sleep (or semi sleep). Short of taping my mask to my face, what can I do to stop it?

[6PtStar]

Not Elves..............Aliens!!! Not unusual take the mask off during sleep, generally goes away when you get comfortable with the mask. Some find wearing mittens or socks over the hands keeps you from doing this.

Jerry

[library lady]

Yes, the aliens do go away! Many of us have experienced this phenomenon,especially when we start our journey into cpapland. It happened to me and I wouldn't remember when or why I took it off.

The phenomenon goes away when we finally arrive at a place of comfort, when we've gotten used to the new way of sleeping.

[palerider]

That's the only logical explanation I can come up with as to why I keep waking up in the morning to discover that my mask has been removed during the night. You would think that my cat would fend them off or at least alert me to their presence. But no! Has anyone else experienced this phenomenon? If so, what can be done about it?

cats are in league!!!

[chunkyfrog]

Mittens sounds like good solution. You could even tape the mittens onto your hands.
This could become very awkward if Mittens is the name of your cat.

[kteague]

A piece of medical tape or a bandaid could do the trick, something uncomfortable enough to wake you and make you aware of the behavior. It wouldn't hurt to check your data and make sure you aren't having some pretty bad apneas preceding mask removal.

[JLtheDrone]

[quote="chunkyfrog"]Mittens sounds like good solution. You could even tape the mittens onto your hands.
This could become very awkward if Mittens is the name of your cat. [/quote

Ha! No, her name is Sally O'Malley.

[Need2sleep2]

Handcuff yourself to the bed post always works for me.

[Guest]

That's the only logical explanation I can come up with as to why I keep waking up in the morning to discover that my mask has been removed during the night.

This is normally an indication that you may not be getting enuff air (could be having large leaks). Does your machine have data you can review?

[Suzannaor]

Oh yes! had that happen several times over the past few months. I agree: it is either aliens or elves! Surely we wouldn't do that ourselves! I've been on my CPAP for over a year ... wonder if I will ever get comfortable with it??

[Wulfman...]

That's the only logical explanation I can come up with as to why I keep waking up in the morning to discover that my mask has been removed during the night. You would think that my cat would fend them off or at least alert me to their presence. But no! Has anyone else experienced this phenomenon? If so, what can be done about it?

This is probably the most common/universal problem that new users encounter. The trick is to recognize when it's happening or about to happen and stop before it happens or put the mask back on as soon as it does.
Usually happens within the first couple of months of starting therapy. We're not used to sleeping with this stuff on our faces and something subconsciously tells us to remove it.

It happened to me when I started therapy and probably most of the users on this forum. I was also one who has recommended using the socks on the hands, even though I never got to the point of needing to try it......I trained myself to stop it after a couple of incidents. Ironically, about a year after I started therapy, I caught myself in the middle of starting to take my mask off.


Den

.

[chunkyfrog]

Five years and three months in, --not yet for me.
Maybe lucky, or the elves are scared of me.