Issues keeping CPAP Mask on.

[Anten33]

Hi all, I am new to this, but not so new that I did not try to search for this answer through the 53 other topics on removing the CPAP machine when sleeping. Unfortunately I have not found my answer.

I have had my CPAP machine for close to 5 years now and am still nowhere near being able to leave the machine on. I have tried the following.

1) When I started I had the Resmed Quattro mask and only used the strap that came with it. I would put it on when reading and watching tv before bed, but would always get .5 .75 1.25 hours of usage but never over 2 hours. I would always wake up with the strap still attached and the mask on the floor.
2) I switched to the Resmed Quattro Air mask, and tried the same thing. again only .5 .75 1.25 hours of usage but never over 2 hours, and the same results
3) I tried the CPAP pillow, no avail.
4) I tried buying a chinstrap and wrapping the masks straps around the chinstrap, nothing.
5) I tried the Resmed Mirage Liberty, chinstrap and mask strap, cpap pillow, nothing
6) I got a bit clever at this point, thinking that I hook my thumb under the straps, I went and bought a balaclava thinking that this would be the solution. Wrong again, the mask is still coming off and I get .5 .75 1.25 hours of usage but never over 2 hours and still wake up with the straps still attached to the mask and the unit on the floor.

A few more pieces of information

1) I am a stomach sleeper. I don't sleep on my back, because it is too uncomfortable, and I rarely sleep on my side.
2) I eventually get frustrated with the lack of sleep with the CPAP that I stop using it, for long periods of time.
3) I have not thought about changing my machine. I use the Resmed S9 with H5i humidifier.
4) I was diagnosed with having severe sleep apnea.
5) With nothing working, my supplier and myself are out of ideas of what to try next.
6) I have a problem with claustrophobia, depression and anxiety, not sure if any of these play a factor
7) I breath through my mouth almost as often as I breath through my nose.

Any suggestions would be welcome, I have tried everything that I could think of, and would like to be able to get better sleep with my machine.

[Julie]

Hi - I'd change the heading of this post to 'mask' rather than machine, as your problem is not with the machine. Some people use tape on the cheek straps so that they'll be woken up if they try to remove the mask, and be able to adjust it again before going back to sleep.

I also think that your #6 item could be a factor, but that's something you need to work on with your MD I guess. Have you tried using e.g. Ambien for a few nights at least (not aiming tho' for long term) to help you get over the mask removal hurdles?

[yaconsult]

I think that you should tell us what settings you are using on the machine. What is your prescribed pressure? What pressure range is set on the machine? Do you use the ramp and, if so, for how long? Have you ever used the free SleepyHead software to look at the data recorded by the machine?

What do you feel that the main problem is? Is the mask uncomfortable? Is the mask leaking too much? Is it the claustrophobia? Why do you think you are taking it off?

Some people who don't want to wear the a face mask because of claustrophobia are able to do something like using a combination of nasal pillows and taping their lips together. Some masks like the AirFit P10 are tiny little things that you hardly know are there and cpap.com sells it with free return insurance.

[ShelaghDB]

I don't like to answer posts as there are others here that are far better qualified than i but I was doing exactly as you are when I first began.

Kept taking mine off every night in my sleep without realizing i was doing it.
You mention you have anxiety.

Any chance you smoke?
Only ask as I believe some smokers might have undiagnosed anxiety, leading to chronic smoking.

Are you becoming stuffed up at night, waking up realizing 1 or both nostrils are *clogged* leading to breathing through the mouth only?

If not, ignore my post
if so, consider it might be smoking related, or not
was for me
over 1,000 chemicals in a cigarette u can potentially be allergic to
i have never been allergic to anything
but apparently i was to something in the cigs.

obviously to quit smoking if so is best
not all can, many don't
took up vaping instead
quit on the spot
few days later, I think it was
and since then, almost 2 years
have never been nasally stuffed up since
no longer rip it off
AHI now 0 and I too was severe up around AHI 57 until i quit

likely not your problem but in case that fits, u might want to consider it

[ChicagoGranny]

I am a stomach sleeper.

Here is an good explanation of how to sleep on your stomach while wearing a CPAP mask - http://www.uarsrelief.com/sleeppositions.html

[Anten33]

Thanks for the posts.

@ChicagoGranny, I will try using this method, have not used this before, usually sleep with arms under pillow.
@ShelaghDB, Diagnosed with anxiety issues by a psychologist, and I do not smoke. Also as I said I am not a first time user. I am at AHI 2.1 for the brief periods that I do use it.
@yaconsult, I will add the settings when I get closer to my machine. I have never used the SleepyHead software, but get the ResScan Software Statistics printed out. I think that the main problem is that the mask is coming off, and therefore not being used. I did discuss with the Respiratory Therapist again, and they suggested switching masks again (not cheap) or going for another sleep test (OHIP allows for 1 every 2 years) to see if there has been any change.

[metsfan302]

Go ahead ShelaghDB with all that Apple Hardware I use to have a 27" imac when it first came out, miss that computer. sorry to hijack your thread.

[metsfan302]

Masks have got to be the hardest part of cpap therapy..... finding one that works for you takes a long time.... I always used Full Face masks, but once I tried nasal pillows, man what a change!!! I thought I would hate them, not the case they are amazing!!!

[kteague]

There's more than one approach to training oneself to not take off the mask. What works for one may not work for another. But one thing I think is common to all is to make sure there are not events preceding the mask removal. Even if there are only a few events overall, if one event is long enough to become uncomfortable or cause a desat it could prompt mask removal. When one has been using the treatment for a while and the behavior hasn't stopped, this needs to be assessed.

Many months into my treatment I was still a mask remover. My approach may have been counter intuitive in regards to preserving continuity of sleep, but in the end it worked. After getting my therapy fine tuned and knew it wasn't an issue, I focused on using tape and/or bandaids across the mask straps that were strong enough to cause pain upon removal so that I could wake up and stop the behavior. Only pain could pierce the veil of deep sleep. Once I realized it was off, I never allowed myself to go back to sleep without it. I had read on here that doing so is rewarding bad behavior and training the brain it's ok to take it off. The thing I did that goes against the grain is I adopted an alarmist perspective on mask removal, since the sleeping brain discerns alarm signals even when it can ignore ones it does not perceive as a threat. Believing that mask removal was actually dangerous for me, I made it a point to make it a big deal when I woke up without the mask. Even though it was feigned, I'd have an OMG!!!!!! OH NO!!!!! over reaction. I was training my brain. At some point I quit taking my mask off.

Everyone has to figure out what works for them. Hope you can find what works for you.

[49er]

Hi all, I am new to this, but not so new that I did not try to search for this answer through the 53 other topics on removing the CPAP machine when sleeping. Unfortunately I have not found my answer.

I have had my CPAP machine for close to 5 years now and am still nowhere near being able to leave the machine on. I have tried the following.

1) When I started I had the Resmed Quattro mask and only used the strap that came with it. I would put it on when reading and watching tv before bed, but would always get .5 .75 1.25 hours of usage but never over 2 hours. I would always wake up with the strap still attached and the mask on the floor.
2) I switched to the Resmed Quattro Air mask, and tried the same thing. again only .5 .75 1.25 hours of usage but never over 2 hours, and the same results
3) I tried the CPAP pillow, no avail.
4) I tried buying a chinstrap and wrapping the masks straps around the chinstrap, nothing.
5) I tried the Resmed Mirage Liberty, chinstrap and mask strap, cpap pillow, nothing
6) I got a bit clever at this point, thinking that I hook my thumb under the straps, I went and bought a balaclava thinking that this would be the solution. Wrong again, the mask is still coming off and I get .5 .75 1.25 hours of usage but never over 2 hours and still wake up with the straps still attached to the mask and the unit on the floor.

A few more pieces of information

1) I am a stomach sleeper. I don't sleep on my back, because it is too uncomfortable, and I rarely sleep on my side.
2) I eventually get frustrated with the lack of sleep with the CPAP that I stop using it, for long periods of time.
3) I have not thought about changing my machine. I use the Resmed S9 with H5i humidifier.
4) I was diagnosed with having severe sleep apnea.
5) With nothing working, my supplier and myself are out of ideas of what to try next.
6) I have a problem with claustrophobia, depression and anxiety, not sure if any of these play a factor
7) I breath through my mouth almost as often as I breath through my nose.

Any suggestions would be welcome, I have tried everything that I could think of, and would like to be able to get better sleep with my machine.

Hi Anten,

I have had problems with prematurely removing my mask with various full face ones and the nasal zest mask. Rarely has happened with the elan cloth mask listed in my profile which I am assuming is because I find cloth masks alot more comfortable.

Maybe trying this mask is worth a shot? Obviously your mileage will vary.

49er

[davep700]

Last night I taped the straps to my face, and while I did still wake up a few times, i peeled off the mask to get a bit of fresh air, then reapplied it on my face. Only issue is I might not have a good positioning when reapplying it.

[LSAT]

Hi all, I am new to this, but not so new that I did not try to search for this answer through the 53 other topics on removing the CPAP machine when sleeping. Unfortunately I have not found my answer.


I have a problem with claustrophobia, depression and anxiety, not sure if any of these play a factor


Any suggestions would be welcome, I have tried everything that I could think of, and would like to be able to get better sleep with my machine.

All are a factor

[ChicagoGranny]

i peeled off the mask to get a bit of fresh air

The air coming through my CPAP hose is fresher than room air. It's been filtered and pressurized.

[davep700]

I'm still having issues with an intolerable, warm stale smell.

Cold water in the tank works, but that makes me feel like I'm going to come down with pneumonia. Bringing in outdoor air can introduce pollutants.

I believe that there's no reason the air should feel warm/stale with a plastic rubber smell if:

you have :
1. a cool room
2. your intake filter is clean
3. your water in the tank is fresh and are using 'passover' humidification
4. Your hose and mask have been washed.

Am I missing something?

[blownaway]

Perhaps subconsciously you just don't want the mask on. I had that problem also and after a few weeks discovered that my negative attitude toward CPAP in general was the problem. I hated the whole idea of going to bed with a mask on. When I made a commitment to try to resolve this problem, it was only a few days before I stopped tearing it off in my sleep.