The "production" of getting ready for bed

[the_nap_ster]

Hello all,

I just cut a million sheets of moleskin into appropriately sized bits for the bridge of my nose, and it got me thinking

There are a lot of bits and bobs involved for me now in getting ready for bed. The new, OSA-related parts include filling my humidifier tank, applying a fresh piece of moleskin if I'm wearing a FF mask (chin strap and/or tape if I'm wearing my Aloha), putting my hair in a low ponytail to anchor my mask, irrigating my sinuses with a neti squeeze bottle, wiping my skin down with a final toner to make sure everything is oil free, and finally... putting on my mask/turning on my machine and going to sleep.

This routine isn't that shocking for me since, in my pre-PAP days, I still had a ritual involving salt water and tiny bandaids over my piercings, in addition to the normal grooming stuff like tooth-brushing and face-washing. But now that I'm a PAPster, I do have to start the "getting ready" ritual about 15-30 min earlier. I could probably do it in less time if I had to, but rushing makes me more likely to forget steps!

So I'm curious. Do you do extra "getting ready for bed" stuff that you didn't do pre-OSA? Does it take additional time? Or do you just throw your mask on and jump into bed?

[Pugsy]

I try to top off the water earlier in the day so I won't forget. Any washing of the nasal pillows is done during the day and I put a fresh nasal pillow on (I rotate them) as part of cleaning routine. So at bedtime all I do is throw the mask on and jump in bed. I am fortunate that I don't need any chin straps or tape or anything along those lines. Wear my hair short so nothing to do there.
I keep telling people I am a lazy sort...no need to lie about it.
Brush my teeth, wash my face and put on my anti wrinkle cream and that is about it.

[ems]

And occasionally, I've forgotten the anti-wrinkle cream... I mean... who is gonna see the wrinkles through the mask?

[squid13]

It's turned into a regular Hollywood production.

[2 B Sleeping Soundly]

I try to get everything that it is possible to do done ahead of time (45 - 60 minutes) before the I go to bed. There is nothing worse for my sleep hygiene then being very sleepy but still having to do a bunch of things before you can go to bed. It always wakes me back up and takes me a little longer to get that nice sleepy feeling back. So with most everything done, when it is finally time to 'hit the sack' it is just some lip balm, my chin strap, connect the hose, and then mask-up and drift off into PAP land! Plus, by doing most of the nightly ritual ahead of time, I can relax a little before going to bed by watching a little TV or coming on our little forum and seeing what is up in the hose head world .

John

[chunkyfrog]

What wrinkles?

[2 B Sleeping Soundly]

chunkyfrog wrote:What wrinkles?

Remember, not everyone can have that nice moist frog skin and beautiful smooth green complexion... some people have to really work at it

John

[the_nap_ster]

Oh! This might be as good a place as any to ask this, so here goes:

For those of you who use wrinkle cream/moisturize/lip balm/etc, do you do anything special to make sure the product residue doesn't touch your mask? Should I worry about shortening the life of my mask by using moisturizers before bed? I've been avoiding them to err on the side of caution, but in a contest between my vanity and my pocketbook (keeping masks good for as long as possible), my vanity often wins.

Is this something I should just not worry about?

[Suzjohnson]

What wrinkles?

I think that's why I was upset over wearing a full face mask before I found liners - couldn't wear my cream. The Aloha mask has solved that problem though.

I usually clean my pillows and empty the water tank in the morning when I make the bed. Then re-fill the water tank late afternoon. Wash my face after dinner and brush teeth before going to bed. Hop into bed and read until my eyes are slamming shut then don the chinstrap, mask, hose (in bed), turn out the light. Actually sometimes I'm so sleepy I forget to turn off the light. Had to stop reading all masked up because I was waking up in the morning with the light blazing and glasses still on and ridiculously askew. Not what you would call a light sleeper.

Suz

[BlackSpinner]

Oh! This might be as good a place as any to ask this, so here goes:

For those of you who use wrinkle cream/moisturize/lip balm/etc, do you do anything special to make sure the product residue doesn't touch your mask? Should I worry about shortening the life of my mask by using moisturizers before bed? I've been avoiding them to err on the side of caution, but in a contest between my vanity and my pocketbook (keeping masks good for as long as possible), my vanity often wins.

Is this something I should just not worry about?

Use liners. Not that I use creams. But my skin doesn't always like the silicon.

As far a night time routines - I fill the humidifier. I do the usual night things, get into bed, read a while, put on lip chap and my mask.

[Janknitz]

You know your adaptation is complete when you realize you got into bed, slapped the mask on your face, and went to sleep. I think that was about 6 months in for me.

AlI do these days is blow my nose, check the water level, strap it on and sleep.

[Starlette]

It's turned into a regular Hollywood production.

Good thing I had an empty bladder when I read your post Squid, absolutely too funny! Unfortunately, VERY true!
Agreed, now it takes me about 30 minutes to get ready for bed. Pisses me off to no end that Hubbs just waltzes into the bedroom takes off his glasses and glides into bed for the night. Normally, he'll wait for my "production" to end, then I call him up to bed unless he's really tired.

@the_nap_ster - RE: Moisturizers. No matter what the mask of choice is for the night (atm it's Aloha), I've never worried about it. I've used Olay Night Moisturizer like forever. I'm not going to stop using it due to a mask. I've changed enough due to this disorder, I'll continue to use what makes me feel comfy and clean for bed. Not giving that up.

chunkyfrog wrote:What wrinkles?

Remember, not everyone can have that nice moist frog skin and beautiful smooth green complexion... some people have to really work at it

John

What John said

Starlette

[Kody]

This is the only part that annoys me a little. After 10 months finally getting it streamlined, but still kind of a hassle. I've broken the process into two stages, the morning and the evening parts.
When I first wake up turn off the machine, pull the hose off and remove the humidifier, wipe down mask and put it in a large plastic zip baggy too keep it somewhat dog hair free... Then pull the data card for viewing over a cup of coffee. Empty the humidifier and let dry all day. Night time refill the humidifier and put back in machine, shove data card back in, and reconnect hose.

lately I have been having trouble with the humidifier flapper part and I don't find out if it's working correctly until I mask up and turn it on. If it's screwing up, since the wife is already asleep, I have to become Macgyver in the dark. Shove a mini flashlight in my mouth pointed at the flapper and disconnect and reconnect. Usually I end up getting frustrated and swearing at it, so she wakes up anyway! Now I have been "testing" everything before hand in the light to avoid fumbling around in total darkness.

[CatButler]

I've joked with my wife about all the "gear" I have to put on and the order I put it on. Getting the humidity chamber ready, then reassembly the mask if I have taken it apart to clean it. I usually now wash my face at night because I feel the mask works better. Then I strap on a night time wrist brace I use for hand problems. Flatten out and arrange my pillow. God forbid I do things in the wrong order. I thought about a Zeo, but it would just be one more piece of gear to keep up with. There's no more I'm just tired and flop in bed

[JohnBFisher]

It used to be a production .. but I'll be honest .. after the first couple of years, I decided that I did not need to go through all the rigmarole .. I just get in bed, put on the mask and fall asleep. Why make life more complicated that it has to be? 22 or 23 years later that's all I do ... it works. It continues to work.