benefits of wearing the mask for only some of the night?

[springsteenfan75]

Hi all:

I have been getting closer to keeping my mask on the whole night. But I'm still not 100% there. My therapist actually suggested that it might be good motivation for me to keep trying if I were to be able to track down any studies and/or medical-journal research that showed that even a partial night with a mask was beneficial to those with severe obstructive chronic sleep apnea. Is anyone out there aware of clinical trials that conclusively show that REM sleep is achieved if someone wears a mask for only the first part of the night?

Thanks,
Ross

[Craig P]

I seriously doubt that you will find any study that says 1/2 prescribed therapy is beneficial. What makes you think that only breathing for half the night is going to going to work? While it makes you frustrated to wear the mask you need to work on wearing it for the whole night. As you have been diagnosed with severe OSA then you need the therapy more than someone else. If the mask you are wearing is the problem then you need to try another mask. Getting the right mask and controlling leaks should be your main goal. That will make it easier to get through the night.

Complete you profile and list your equipment. Then others can help you with additional information.

[dtsm]

REM usually occurs 3-5 times, each time lasting longer, with the longest phases in mid/late morning hours. If you go to bed around 10 or 11, you might REM around midnight, then 2, and then the really deep good REM is btw 3-7 am.

When I first started, the first 1-2 weeks couldn't fall asleep with the mask so just went to bed. Set alarm for 12:30 am, got up, did a quick bathroom run, slipped mask on and went back to sleep.

Other's put on relaxation music, pipe it through earphones and then sleep with that.

Keep in mind we're all here for the long haul. Having the mask and cpap for part of the night is better than nothing. Take your time, and it will eventually come.

Good luck

[DottyG]

Actually, I understand the OP perfectly (at least, I'm pretty sure I do!)

it's not that he's hoping to get away with a partial night with the mask - he's doing what he can to get to the 100%. and, wants to reach that goal. But, in the beginning, that's not always happening - there's so much to adjust to to reach perfection. So, he, at least, wants to know that what he's doing isn't totally wasted. That it's helping at least some.

I think I posted a thread at one point pretty much with the same question. And, if I remember correctly, I got the same types of response - why would you want to wear it only part time?! Well, like the OP, I didn't! I wanted to wear it all the time! I just wasn't there, yet.

OP, I don't have any studies for you. But, my DME did say that 4-6 hours was a good start. That that amount of time was helping me until I got to all night.

Good luck. And, know what you're asking isn't too unusual!

[kevincoop]

Well, Medicare considers that using the machine 4 hours per night for 70% of nights as being compliant. Using it a little is better than nothing. Keep it up and soon enough you will be wearing it all night.

[Nord]

I was diagnosed with Severe Sleep Apnea one and a half years before I acknowledged it. I didn't want to have a Sleep Disorder and I sure didn't want to wear a mask. Eventually I got used to the idea that I had to do something but I wasn't a happy camper.

When I first started therapy, some 2 years later, I was having some trouble with mask fitting and leaks. I was wearing for 6 to 7 hours per night. My RT suggested that I only wear it for 2 and a half hours per night so that the mask would work better.

I suggested my motivation was now good and I needed to be successful. I wanted to change sizing and fitting. I thought his motivation was to make the mask work that I wasn't comfortable with... I thought over everything that he had said and fired him the next day. I realized I couldn't depend on people telling me what was good... I needed to find out about everything I was doing.

I had to understand my diagnosis and take ownership of my therapy. I have never looked back and my new mask works for me, my new machine works for me and my RT is a Registered Nurse who helps me. So far... so good... Leaks near zero; AI is minimal and some nights Apneas are zero.

Bottom line is... when you understand your diagnosis and take ownership of your recovery... you've already taken your first step in the right direction. Your next step is to make progress at "your own" pace where you map out how successful you want to be. The next steps are all laid out for you.

Good luck on your journey...
Nord