CPAP newbie-I remove my mask in the night......

marlasnoreless · Post by **marlasnoreless** » Mon Dec 03, 2007 7:40 am

I have been getting acquainted with CPAP machine, mask etc etc for about two weeks now. I feel better overall health wise but I am finding I will wake up after about 3 hours of being a "Hose head", with my mask feeling uncomfortable either to tight on my face or claustrophobic so I will take it off. I inevitably fall back to sleep without being on CPAP and start snoring. Hubby usually pokes me and sometimes I will reconnect and sometimes not. I guess my question is how long does it take to really become use to the mask and the machine? Any suggestions? I have a 4 hour minimum of nightly usage to maintain my insurance purchasing the equipment for me after three months of use. I am compliant now but if I keep taking the mask off I may not be. Thanks for any and all tips

mindy · Post by **mindy** » Mon Dec 03, 2007 9:41 am

Welcome!

I'm just sending you a quick response so you won't have to wait too long but others with more knowledge than I will also respond over the course of the day.

I can tell you that what you're experiencing is not unusual. Some people adjust almost immediately and for others it takes a long time. Since you are finding you can't keep your mask on, it might be a fitting issue. Masks are the most difficult to get "right".

There are lots of threads on this forum about that but I don't have them at my fingertips - others do!

For example, if the headgear straps are too tight, you may not be getting the best therapy. Some people feel uncomfortable with their mask on and do better if they wear the mask sitting up for awhile to get used to how it feels.

In any case, you'll get lots of help here!

Mindy

Craig-Tx · Post by **Craig-Tx** » Mon Dec 03, 2007 12:45 pm

Don't just worry about meeting a 4 hour minimum for insurance reasons. That may be the minimum there, but I would say it's probably not effective treatment.

It's good that you are seeking advice. There are a lot of people who can / will help here.

First I will say that it does take time to adjust to strapping something to your head every night... It took me a while, and still a year later, I might on occasion wake up to find the mask sitting on the bed beside me.

Other than trying different masks / adjusting fitting, etc. there are some things you can try that do help:

believe it or not, this helped me:
Everytime you put your mask on, look at your clock and repeat to your self three times:
"I will NOT take off my mask until I get up at x:xx am."
Then every morning, do not remove your mask until you have looked at your clock and made sure it was time to remove your mask.

Good luck, and keep at it. It will get easier.

Gerald · Post by **Gerald** » Mon Dec 03, 2007 1:31 pm

Marla....

I've been on the hose for over a year....and I never took it off in the middle of the night.

And why not, might you ask?

Because my sub-conscious has agreed that I have to use the hose...or I'll die very early.

I believe it will help if you let us know "why" you are using CPAP. What do you expect to gain by using a CPAP machine? Why are you putting up with the "hose-hassle" every night?

If you tell us, you have to tell your sub-conscious at the same time....and I believe your sub-conscious is the part of the brain that is "in-charge" while were sleeping.

I'm convinced that if my sub-conscious wasn't in favor of my use of CPAP therapy, there's no way I'd put up with it all night. I'm betting that your conscious mind is in disagreement with your sub-conscious. I believe they BOTH have to agree....or therapy is short-circuited.

Look the dragon in the eye......and don't flinch as you admit to yourself that you won't make it....if you don't get enough O2 along with restful sleep....every night.

Gerald

socknitster · Post by **socknitster** » Mon Dec 03, 2007 3:08 pm

I did the same thing. Don't worry, it takes time. Be patient with yourself! It gets easier. If you have the funds or opportunity try other masks to see if you can find one that you find more comfortable. Ask your DME how many you are allowed "off the bat." Sometimes you are allowed as many as 3 or even unlimited in the introductory period.

Everyone is different. I think I took my mask off in the night (most of the time not remembering when or why--this is very common) for about a month.

Jen

marlasnoreless · Post by **marlasnoreless** » Mon Dec 03, 2007 5:59 pm

Hi I use CPAP because I have gained weight, snore loudly and wake up frequently during the night after snoring loudly. My hubby will testify to snoring loudly. My sleep study revealed I do not get enough REM sleep. I start to snore the loudest when I am in REM. I then rouse many times fragmenting my REM and never getting more then a minute or two of REM in 90 minutes. Most days I feel exhausted by noon and need a nap by 3 PM to make it to 9 PM. I feel like a little old lady and I'm middle aged. I have exercised, dieted etc etc off and on for 10 years and my weight stubbornly kept climbing. I know I need more REM to fully reset myself and energize me for the next day. Since starting CPAP if I needed to go to the bathroom in the night I started out disconnecting my hose at the top of my head gear and left my mask on while going to the bathroom. I would always pull hair out of the top of my head doing that kind of a disconnect. Ouch!!!I started to just take mask off and then would not put it back on. I am using saline nose spray before bed and trying not to over due liquids after dinner. My humidifier is between one and two. Above two I get rain out even with the tube covered. I will be asking my DME provider how many masks I can try while being a newbie. Thanks for all the advice!!!

mindy · Post by **mindy** » Mon Dec 03, 2007 6:29 pm

Marla,

I gather you're using a nasal mask. Have you tried Ayr gel or KY liquid or jelly? Some of us put that around and just inside the nares and let it sit for a few minutes to get sticky before putting in nasal pillows. That helps seal and also seems to reduce the soreness.

Mindy

bluegrassfan · Post by **bluegrassfan** » Mon Dec 03, 2007 7:26 pm

Eventually you will learn to adjust it during the night so it works, but it takes a while not to panic...did me anyway. Just hang in there and consider every nite you stay on it a success. It's not perfect, but it works most of the time. good luck..bob

JZ · Post by JZ » Mon Dec 03, 2007 8:48 pm

mariasnoreless,

I agree with the advice from others about trying various masks to find the best fit for you.

On your rainout problems, be sure to click on socknitster's link on rainout at the bottom of her message. Be sure that your cpap machine is positioned lower than your mattress. Also, a number of people on this forum have purchased the Aussie Heated Hose and say it eliminates rainout. Here is a link to the company that sells them:

http://www.sleepzone.com.au/

No promises -- but many of us have found that once our sleep apnea is under control, the need to go to the bathroom during the night diminishes. I used to get up usually twice a night. Now, I may have to make a bathroom trip in the night once or twice a month. This is a great side benefit to cpap therapy.

Welcome to the forum and good luck. Stick with it and let us know how you are doing.

Janna

ozij · Post by **ozij** » Mon Dec 03, 2007 10:20 pm

[quote="marlasnoreless"]Hi I use CPAP because I have gained weight, snore loudly and wake up frequently during the night after snoring loudly. My hubby will testify to snoring loudly. My sleep study revealed I do not get enough REM sleep. I start to snore the loudest when I am in REM. I then rouse many times fragmenting my REM and never getting more then a minute or two of REM in 90 minutes. Most days I feel exhausted by noon and need a nap by 3 PM to make it to 9 PM. I feel like a little old lady and I'm middle aged. I have exercised, dieted etc etc off and on for 10 years and my weight stubbornly kept climbing. I know I need more REM to fully reset myself and energize me for the next day. Since starting CPAP if I needed to go to the bathroom in the night I started out disconnecting my hose at the top of my head gear and left my mask on while going to the bathroom. I would always pull hair out of the top of my head doing that kind of a disconnect. Ouch!!!I started to just take mask off and then would not put it back on. I am using saline nose spray before bed and trying not to over due liquids after dinner. My humidifier is between one and two. Above two I get rain out even with the tube covered. I will be asking my DME provider how many masks I can try while being a newbie. Thanks for all the advice!!!

Guest · Post by **Guest** » Mon Dec 03, 2007 10:25 pm

I had 2 tools to keep my mask on
1- A mantra or pep talk to myself every night with my hand on my mask right before going to sleep
2- once I received a different machine I was able to set a leak alarm on it so that itd wake me up if I took it off - I have to say with 2 sleeping toddlers you move fast when somethings loud and after setting that alarm off for second time and scaring the bejesus out of myself I traumatized my subconsious enough to have never removed it since its been months

Gerald · Post by **Gerald** » Mon Dec 03, 2007 11:04 pm

Marla......

What caused me to start using CPAP was blood pressure that was out of control. It was so bad in the middle of the night that I was afraid I was going to have a heart attack or a stroke. My systolic pressure was going above 200.

I learned that my having to get up and pee in the middle of the night was connected to my high blood pressure crisis.

Once I got used to CPAP, my blood pressure went down....and I no longer have to get up to pee in the middle of the night.

If you'll get a battery-powered blood pressure checking machine.....and check yourself in the middle of the night, I suspect the results will convince you that CPAP is a must for you.....just like it is for me.

Also......order some quick-disconnect fittings from cpap.com to make it easier for you to disconnect your mask.

Finally, be sure your CPAP machine is fully data capable.....and get the software necessary to monitor your own progress. Once you start checking yourself every morning by looking at a printout of what you experienced during the previous night, you'll be on the road to recovery.

Just make up your mind that you can do it.......and then "git 'er done".

There's a bunch of nice people on this forum who will help you.

Gerald

bdp522 · Post by **bdp522** » Tue Dec 04, 2007 7:12 am

Like others have said, you have to tell yourself that you WILL put the mask back on if you remove it while asleep. Then you have do it.
It also helps to wear the mask during the day, while awake. Reading or watching TV will help take your mind off the mask. This will help you become more comfortable with the mask sooner.
Be sure to adjust the mask while the machine is on and while you are laying in bed. Start with it all very loose and tighten a bit at a time. Be sure not to tighten too much. Every once in a while, reseat the mask. Pull it gently away from your face and slowly set it back into place. This can make the mask seal better in many cases.

You say you are compliant. Compliance for insurance may be 4 hours a night...I consider being compliant using the machine and mask everytime you sleep, for the whole time you are sleeping. Everytime you sleep without the mask you are doing damage and erasing much of the good that cpap does.
If you have specific things about the mask or machine (noise, pain, leaky spots, etc) post exactly what is happening and we can try to help. The more specific the description, the better the answers will be.

It does take time to adjust to all of this and it can be very hard at times to get this treatment working for you. You do need to keep trying. You should see at least little improvements(an extra hour or even 1/2 hour of sleep at a time). And keep posting! We care and want to help all we can. Keep letting us know what is or isn't working for you.

Brenda

marlasnoreless · Post by **marlasnoreless** » Wed Dec 05, 2007 7:26 am

I have maintained the mask on for the past two nights and I feel like a new woman!!!LOL. I do have nasal pillows and have KY'd myself to use them but I find them constantly needing adjustment if I go to sleep on my side. I prefer using a nasal mask that covers both nostrils and basically my nose. I will go searching for quick disconnect for the tube from the top of the mask so I don't hair pull everytime. The rain out situation has improved since I have tucked a length of the tube between my pillow and my head board. The machine sits slightly below my head on a night stand. When I sleep on my side I have a second memory foam pillow which doesn't seem to interfer with my mask. The past two nights I have not risen to go to the bathroom. I also stuff my ears with cotton balls to deaden the sound of the quiet machine next to my head. So no fluids after dinner seems ok, just need to make sure I drink more throughout the day. I am interested in how I can read my own data card. I take my data card to my sleep center which provided my equipment. I can see on my LED screen my 7 day average of nightly use and my 30 day average. I assume time stamps and snoring events are logged as well. My blood pressure has gotten worse over the last year. My sleep center seemed more concerned that my brain and heart never really relaxed during my sleep studies. Daytime narcolepsy seemed to be starting as well. So again thanks to all!!!!

mindy · Post by **mindy** » Wed Dec 05, 2007 7:48 am

Great going, Marla!

It's really important for your health to keep this up, especially with high blood pressure. As you have already discovered, we can feel much better during the day with this therapy. It may not be *every* single day but on average you will see improvement.

There is lots of info about data-capabable machines, software and interpreting results. The first thing is to fill in your equipment in your profile.

Best,
Mindy

CPAP newbie-I remove my mask in the night......

CPAP newbie-I remove my mask in the night......

Thanks all..lots of food for thought

Re: Thanks all..lots of food for thought

Thanks everyone for the advice and support....