keeping mask on

[ckrams]

I have been struggling with cpap for over 2 years now. I have given up several times, but I am trying again to get used to it. I like the mask I have and I am usually able to fall asleep with it on, but I almost always wake up about an hour later with the mask on the floor. My pressure setting is 11, but I have tried different settings with the same result. I think if I had someone watching me and making me keep it on I could but on my own I take it off everytime. I would appreciate any help anyone can offer.

[gasp]

I have been struggling with cpap for over 2 years now. I have given up several times, but I am trying again to get used to it. I like the mask I have and I am usually able to fall asleep with it on, but I almost always wake up about an hour later with the mask on the floor. My pressure setting is 11, but I have tried different settings with the same result. I think if I had someone watching me and making me keep it on I could but on my own I take it off everytime. I would appreciate any help anyone can offer.

Tongue in cheek here - if I could sleep so hard as to not know when I was taking my mask off, I'd be happy woman indeed : )

OK, seriously now, I hate to recommend methods that would awaken you, but it's better to have your mask on for the entire sleep than to have it on the floor. Have you tried using hair barrettes to pin it to your hair - might hurt to pull it off that way and wake you up, or better yet train you to not pull it and your hair off : 0

[kteague]

I did that for several months. Once I was finally able to get some real sleep, I crashed so hard I was oblivious to the world - just couldn't sustain it. I think the more rested I became, the less of a zombie I was, and less prone to doing things in my sleep, or maybe that just coincided with getting familiar with the equipment.

Early on I tried everything from bandaids across the face straps of my Swift mask, hairclips, tying a headscarf over my headgear that tied under my chin, you name it.

My first approach was to go to sleep chanting "I will keep my mask on". Didn't work for me. Having read years ago that when asleep the brain learns to ignore sounds and sensations that aren't a danger, I reversed my approach. Every time I woke to the mask off, I became a drama queen, acting out being horrified that my mask was off. Again, it may have just been the timing, but I soon quit taking it off in my sleep.

[marleyy]

I have a similar problem. I do tolerate the mask well (nasal pillows), and don't take it off during the night. But lately I have been waking up frequently because the mask has come loose from my nostrils and I have to adjust it. The back strap tends to slide up my head, making the mask loose. I have my hair in a ponytail in attempt to keep the mask put, but it ends up sliding halfway up my head anyway.

marlene

[echo]

I have a similar problem. I do tolerate the mask well (nasal pillows), and don't take it off during the night. But lately I have been waking up frequently because the mask has come loose from my nostrils and I have to adjust it. The back strap tends to slide up my head, making the mask loose. I have my hair in a ponytail in attempt to keep the mask put, but it ends up sliding halfway up my head anyway.

you need the pantyhose solution!
there are many "fixes" which include using pantyhose to secure the cpap into place so it doesn't slide around. Do a search on pantyhose and you'll come up with a ton of hits! now if i could just keep my bookmarks organized I'd send you the mother of all links directly, but i don't, so i won't. Maybe RG will come to the rescue with her page ó links. Yeah: so do a search for pantyhose and put the author as "restedgal"

[echo]

I have been struggling with cpap for over 2 years now. I have given up several times, but I am trying again to get used to it. I like the mask I have and I am usually able to fall asleep with it on, but I almost always wake up about an hour later with the mask on the floor. My pressure setting is 11, but I have tried different settings with the same result. I think if I had someone watching me and making me keep it on I could but on my own I take it off everytime. I would appreciate any help anyone can offer.

Quite a few people have reported that Pur-Sleep actually helps them keep the mask on all night. SleepGuy (creator of pur-sleep, not to be confused with the dental device) had a trial running for PUr-sleep for midnight mask removal, but I don't know the status of that. Try PM'ng him or check out the website: http://www.pur-sleep.com/
Pur-sleep is scented oils that you put near the air intake of the CPAP and the scent lasts all night. Many people SWEAR by it!!