Removing Mask in Sleep

[Miedvied]

Hi all,

I've been using my CPAP machine for ~1.5 years now, on a daily basis: been doing my best to keep powering through. However, I've got an issue: when I wake up, the mask is always off.

At first, I thought that perhaps I was moving about in my sleep and knocking it off. When I went in for a second sleep study, though (since my symptoms weren't improving, I wanted to see if perhaps the apnea had worsened), the tech found that I was taking the mask off in my sleep.

I never had a conscious memory of removing the mask prior or since then, but that night he'd constantly come in to get me to put it back on. That was also the first time I had a choking sensation/panic attack: when I *couldn't* remove the mask (because he kept reminding me to take it off) I felt like I was suffocating.

At the time I was using a mask that covered my nose, and had experimented with nostrils-only. In both cases I felt like the machine was overpowering my ability to exhale. I've since moved onto a mask that covers nose and mouth both, since that seems to reduce the pressure that made me feel like I was suffocating. However, I still wake every morning with the mask off.

Has anyone had similar experiences? Is there anything I can do about it? I've tried everything I can think of short of sleeping with handcuffs on, to no avail.

[sarasmyly]

I have a problem with taking my mask off during the middle of the night as well. I go to sleep with the mask on, but wake up with it off... and I never remember taking it off. I hope you can find someone to help you, because I want help too! lol

[redbear]

I know it's not the same, I'm a new CPAP user and so far I haven't. But I can share that I sure have thrown my retainer across the room several times during my sleep...

[a1albert]

I recieved my machine on 6/18/09 and the first week I was fine then I started removing my mask at night. The gal down at the service center where I got mine told me to turn up the heat on my humidifier and I would stop pulling it off at night. I now have the humidifier on 2 1/2 and I have not pulled it off sense, will it work for you I don't know but it did for me

Albert

[mattman]

For me it just took using it for a week or two until I stopped. If you haven't been using your CPAP for 2-3 weeks I'd say just give it some time. It takes (most of us) a while to get used to sleeping with these things!

[BlackSpinner]

Try putting mittens or socks over your hands - tape them on so that it hurts to take them off.
You are not really suffocating, it is an anxiety thing. The first few weeks your bodies desire for air and sleep over powers your minds "panic" at having something on your face. After you have recovered some of your sleep debt your mind get control back and starts the anxiety attacks. You only feel like you are suffocating because that is what your sleeping mind is sure that is happening and it is going to save you from yourself no matter what. This attitude has kept you alive since the OSA started.
Your unconscious mind is like an abused dog, it needs to learn to trust you again. Wear the mask while watching tv, give yous self affirmations to say as you fall asleep "I breathe easily with the mask. I safely sleep deeply with this mask" Instead of counting sleep say these kinds of things (in the positive, present tense in your mother tongue) If you wake up with the feeling , remove the mask, take a few deep breathes and put it back on and repeat your mantra until you fall asleep again.

[Miedvied]

In response to the last two posters,

As I said in my initial post, I've been using it daily for about a year and a half. This isn't a "new to the whole experience," problem. I'll try the gloves and the taping, and I've been thinking of using a chin strap as well.

[gasp]

The Respironics A-Flex helped me be able to exhale naturally. Are you using a data capable machine and if so do you know if the therapy you are receiving is working? I say this because I'm wondering if your machine isn't controlling events and you're ripping your mask off ironically to breath. This may not be so since you mentioned you also did this during a sleep study. Hummm.

[MEGA]

This is interesting... I woke up this morning and realized that I didn't have my mask on. I was wondering what the heck happened LOL I had taken it off and still don't recall doing so