Tearing off mask in middle of the night

[jpek]

Hi, folks. I've been using a CPAP (Auto PAP) nightly for the last year and two months. I'm pretty well used to sleeping with my Nuance Pro mask now, though I have to pull the hose away from me, so that the mask doesn't rest on my lip. Possibly for that reason, or in general, because it's such a lightweight mask (the only kind of I can handle) it's pretty easy to remove and for the last month or two, I've been discovering that I take it off in the middle of the night, anywhere between 30 minutes and 2 hours after falling asleep.

In the past I would reliably through 4 to 6 hours with the mask. I did used to always take it off when I rolled over on my belly, which generally happened in the later part of my sleep cycle. I can't figure out why I'm taking it off earlier now and nine times out of ten I can't remember doing it. When I HAVE remembered it it seems to me that I have some misguided purpose in doing it, but I'm not sure what it is.

Does anybody have any suggestions for how to address this problem?

[Wulfman...]

Since you don't have any information in your profile regarding your equipment or settings, we'll have to "guess".
Lots of possibilities. Pressure too low.......pressure too high.......too much humidity.......could be any number of things.


Den

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[jpek]

I thought I provided all the information in the Profile that I had the option to provide (except what kind of software the machine runs.) What information would be helpful for you to answer the question?

[Julie]

Hi, the profile's for what equipment you have (plus maybe settings, etc.) but not for what your complaints/problems of a given day are... we're trying to find out what might be causing your mask removal... but in any case, it's very common and sometimes just having to tape the headgear to your face can help - you're more likely to wake up enough (when starting to pull it off) to keep it on by just readjusting something or other. But in your case/mask, something else could be going on, whether inability to breathe due to a stuffy nose (too much humidity?), or ?? I suggest you try wearing it while watching TV though, to get used to it, to forget it's on, and hopefully either that'll work in time, or you'll discover the problem. Are you using Sleepyhead to track things - possibly see what's happened at the time you remove the mask? Seeing as you seem to have an idea of when it occurs.

[jpek]

Are you unable to see the equipment I have listed in my profile?

I have a Phillips Respironics System One Auto CPAP with a humidifier and a heated hose.

A-Flex -- 2
Heated hose -- on
Humidity -- 2
Tube temp -- 3
Pressure 13-17, but it also says under Info that 90% of use is 14, which I guess means it mostly stays at 14?
Ramp pressure 5
Ramp time 30 minutes

As far as masks, I am all about staying as cool as possible and having as little as possible on my face, but I am also primarily a side sleeper (with some belly sleeping, but I don't even try to use a CPAP on my belly.) So, the mask has to be comfortable for side sleeping. The two masks I've been able most to tolerate, both of which I own, are the Nuance Pro nasal pillow and the Wisp nasal mask. I used to alternate them every couple of weeks to couple of months, because they each have their pros and cons and I'd get sick of one and go to the other.

I used to think the Wisp was winning out, but then it switched for me and for the past many months I've been using the Nuance Pro almost exclusively. I've been feeling less enclosed in it -- e.g it doesn't cover my nose like the Wisp and there are fewer straps. Also for some reason, lately, the Wisp has been making the tip of my nose cold when I'm trying to fall asleep, which is distracting. Usually, I like being cool, but this is a little too much. And the straps on the Wisp are not only more extensive but tougher and a little less comfortable to rest my cheek on.

However, the Nuance Pro is a less secure fit, especially since I pull up the hose a bit so the mask doesn't sit on my lip, which I really don't like it doing. For these reasons it's easier to just yank off when I'm sleeping. As I mentioned, that didn't used to be a problem -- I didn't used to try to yank it off, but now that I am... (Last night, in desperation, I tried the Wisp and sure enough I slept with it for 5.5 hours.)

[palerider]

Are you unable to see the equipment I have listed in my profile?

look at one of your messages, you'll see what we see, equipment wise.

if somethings' not showing up, put it in the additional comments. most prs1 machines aren't showing up anymore.

[jpek]

Is there any more detail I should provide? I've said everything I can think of about my situation in my previous message.

[jpek]

Okay, so Wulfman chided me for not providing enough information about my equipment and settings for folks to give me a meaningful response to my question. So, I took the time to look up all the settings I could, but it seems that nobody has a response anyway? Is this just not a problem people have dealt with? Hard to believe.

[Wulfman...]

Okay, so Wulfman chided me for not providing enough information about my equipment and settings for folks to give me a meaningful response to my question. So, I took the time to look up all the settings I could, but it seems that nobody has a response anyway? Is this just not a problem people have dealt with? Hard to believe.

First all, taking the mask off during the night is VERY common for new users. I did it, too a few times.
Trying to stop doing it is the course you want to follow. But, if you're using software like Sleepyhead, it might show something in the time prior to doing it. Also, some of the settings could be contributing to it happening.......higher humidity settings, low pressure, high pressure, etc.

If you're not using software to study your data, I would strongly suggest doing so.
AND, doing whatever you can to stop doing it.

Nothing in what settings you posted actually jump out at me as a potential problem. But, just remember, many of us did it and found ways to stop doing it. It's not "natural" to sleep with something strapped to our faces.


Den

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[Sir NoddinOff]

Check this thread:

viewtopic/t111351/viewtopic.php?f=1&t=1 ... 0#p1070030

[Gasper62]

"Does anybody have any suggestions for how to address this problem? "


Try applying somemedical adhesive tape or duct tape to make a bond on your skin over top of where a strap rests. Something with strong adhesion. It'll thwart your removing your mask long enough for you to realize what you're doing (hopefully), and stop.

[jpek]

The thing is, I am NOT a new user. I've been sleeping with a CPAP since January of 2015 and have used these two masks the whole time. Before I started removing the Nuance Pro, I'd spent months sleeping with it more or less happily for at least half the night. Now I've switched the the Wisp again, in a desperate attempt to get a good night's sleep and for the last few days I've managed to keep that on for a good few hours without ripping it off, but I know that my pattern is that I'll use the one mask for a time and then will suddenly find it very annoying and have to switch, so if I can't tolerate the Wisp after a time, I'll have to go back to the Nuance Pro.

Is there a method for troubleshooting what's going on?

I don't know anything about sleep software. What is it? What does it run on?

[Dancers Need Sleep!]

The software is called Sleepyhead. There are others here who will do a much better job of introducing you to it than I could, but if you search the forums for that, you should find lots of info about it.

I'm having the same issue you are. I'm a relatively new CPAP user, on my second mask, and I seem to be taking it off just about every night with no memory of having done so. I haven't tried tape, but I have clipped the straps to my heir and in the morning I find the clips neatly set on the nightstand table. It's amazing what one can do without fully waking up!

I don't have any answers for you but FWIW, you are not alone.

[Portlandguy]

The thing is, I am NOT a new user. I've been sleeping with a CPAP since January of 2015 and have used these two masks the whole time. Before I started removing the Nuance Pro, I'd spent months sleeping with it more or less happily for at least half the night. Now I've switched the the Wisp again, in a desperate attempt to get a good night's sleep and for the last few days I've managed to keep that on for a good few hours without ripping it off, but I know that my pattern is that I'll use the one mask for a time and then will suddenly find it very annoying and have to switch, so if I can't tolerate the Wisp after a time, I'll have to go back to the Nuance Pro.

Is there a method for troubleshooting what's going on?

I don't know anything about sleep software. What is it? What does it run on?

I've been having the same problem. All was going well for a while. Now I rip it of in the night at some point. I also found out my wife was adjusting it on me when it got extra loud (probably a mask leak). I asked her to try and wake me, but not to yank the mask as it's attached to my face!