Cant keep mask on

[francblack]

Hello everyone, Lately I have been getting very frustrated. I had started out using my cpap machine since september
and for some reason in the middle of the night either my mask falls off or i subconciously remove it. there are nights
where I dont even wear it for an hour. I have been reading around and people say eventually you will get used to it.
It is really getting frustrating I dont know what do do anymore is it the mask or is it me. Im at my last straw.
Any suggestions.

Thanks again.

[49er]

Hello everyone, Lately I have been getting very frustrated. I had started out using my cpap machine since september
and for some reason in the middle of the night either my mask falls off or i subconciously remove it. there are nights
where I dont even wear it for an hour. I have been reading around and people say eventually you will get used to it.
It is really getting frustrating I dont know what do do anymore is it the mask or is it me. Im at my last straw.
Any suggestions.

Thanks again.

Hi francblack,

Welcome to the forum.

If you could click on the link in my signature profile for filling out your equipment, that would be a good first step so members can better tailor their responses to your situation.

The reason you are taking it off could be due to several reasons so it is hard to say without more information from you. I had that problem when I was wearing full face masks and felt like I wasn't getting enough air and they were very uncomfortable.. Has only happened once with my cloth elan mask because it is comfortable.

So first question is, is your mask comfortable? If not, you might need to see about getting another one if you can.

How is your nasal congestion as that can lead to mask discomfort and cause a premature removal?

What is the pressure for your machine? Many people are prescribed wide open pressures of 4 to 20 for apaps and this leads to very ineffective treatment since it takes forever for the machine to get to the necessary pressure.

Hopefully, you have a data capable machine so you can download Sleepyhead, a free program that lets you view your data and make sure your therapy is optimal. You might want to go to the top of the site and access the Sleepyhead tutorial by Pugsy.

Hopefully, this will get you started.

49er

[francblack]

Thank you for responding I changed my signature so it should be able to show what I am using.
The mask that I have is ok for a full face mask its as comfortable as it could be. I am considering
getting another. My congestion is ok generally speaking I breathe from my mouth and I was told
I am better off with a mask. I was told by the therapist that my pressure is set to 11.

Thanks again.

[Sheriff Buford]

Get some painters tape and place in a couple spots on the mask. When you remove the mask at night, it will awaken you. It won't take long and you'll keep the mask on all night.

Sheriff

[OffroadToy]

If you could handle a pillow mask the AirFit P10 with a Carefushion Ruby Red adjustable chin strap placed over it would keep the mask on... no problemo.

[49er]

Thank you for responding I changed my signature so it should be able to show what I am using.
The mask that I have is ok for a full face mask its as comfortable as it could be. I am considering
getting another. My congestion is ok generally speaking I breathe from my mouth and I was told
I am better off with a mask. I was told by the therapist that my pressure is set to 11.

Thanks again.

Unfortunately, you are stuck with what is known as a brick, which will provide very little information on how well your therapy is working.

http://maskarrayed.wordpress.com/2011/0 ... h-a-brick/

Unfortunately, if you have had it since September, your chances of swapping it out are slim and none assuming you live in the US. If you could buy a data capable machine second hand, that would be to your great benefit but of course, not everyone can afford to do that.

I mean, the pressure of 11 might be fine but there is no way for you to know that with the escape. Sorry.

49er

[francblack]

From what I understand my machine does have data. It has the sd card.

[LSAT]

It only shows compliance information. Shows how much you are using your machine...not how your therapy is working.

[palerider]

From what I understand my machine does have data. It has the sd card.

unfortunately, you got screwed... you were given a brick.

http://maskarrayed.wordpress.com/2011/0 ... h-a-brick/

[francblack]

Unfortunately I cant afford another machine right now but anyway again last night I woke
up with the mask off and from what I gather I wore it for about 3 hours. 3 hours seems to be
about the time that I am taking it off. Tonight I am going to try and tape the Velcro straps.
I have a feeling that since I sleep on my side I might be releasing the Velcro straps or the clips
because I am a pretty restless sleeper.

[palerider]

Unfortunately I cant afford another machine right now :

what CAN you afford? you should know that great machines come at all price points on the used market.

[minniesc]

I have the same machine and have been using it for over three years. While it has been challenging at times, over all it has been a good machine for me. One of the things I noticed that caused me to remove my mask at night was the temperature. If it is a bit warm, I tend to remove the mask. Try lowering your temp. Also play around with the humidity if you use the humidifier. When it is too high I also take my mask off. Keep the cushion clean, that helps with leaks. Above all, give it time. I could not wear mine all night for a while. If you continue to have trouble ask your doctor to lower your pressure a bit and see if that makes a difference. When mine was at 10 it leaked a lot. My doctor retested and dropped it to an 8.
Good Luck!

[Julie]

Minnie - just for the record, most of us on this forum change our own pressures when we need to. It's our treatment, our bodies, our input to our problems, and having control of it is important to us... plus we've discovered that not many doctors - unless they're qualified sleep docs - are at all informed about treatment, only getting us diagnosed, then they let the techs and dealers take over, too often with lousy results.

[francblack]

I have the same machine and have been using it for over three years. While it has been challenging at times, over all it has been a good machine for me. One of the things I noticed that caused me to remove my mask at night was the temperature. If it is a bit warm, I tend to remove the mask. Try lowering your temp. Also play around with the humidity if you use the humidifier. When it is too high I also take my mask off. Keep the cushion clean, that helps with leaks. Above all, give it time. I could not wear mine all night for a while. If you continue to have trouble ask your doctor to lower your pressure a bit and see if that makes a difference. When mine was at 10 it leaked a lot. My doctor retested and dropped it to an 8.
Good Luck!

Im going to try lowering the humidity tonight and ill see what happens. It just gets very frustrating.
Im also considering an air pillow and was wondering if I would have to change the pressure for that.