taking mask off in my sleep now

[pandatx]

so weird...I'm waking up hearing the air blowing and find the mask on my pillow. This is really different than waking up and "ripping it off". This is definitely in my sleep (I have a history parasomnia (?)...walking in my sleep). It happened the past 2 nights. Last night twice. I will look at my data to see how long I actually had it off for, but not sure how to fix doing that. Has anyone else experienced this?

[zoocrewphoto]

so weird...I'm waking up hearing the air blowing and find the mask on my pillow. This is really different than waking up and "ripping it off". This is definitely in my sleep (I have a history parasomnia (?)...walking in my sleep). It happened the past 2 nights. Last night twice. I will look at my data to see how long I actually had it off for, but not sure how to fix doing that. Has anyone else experienced this?

It seems to be a common thing. I take my mask off too. Sometimes I remember clearly when and why I did it. Sometimes, I vaguely remember doing it, but not what why. And other times, I am completely surprised that it is not on. No idea when or why it came off. I also push the button to turn off the machine, every time.

[DannyPh]

I have Never taken my Mask off in my sleep in the six years I have been on Cpap and I contribute this to having the Right Mind Set from the Beginning. I told myself this is a needed thing and you have to convince the MInd that the Mask is your friend. The ming works in strange ways.

[zoocrewphoto]

I have Never taken my Mask off in my sleep in the six years I have been on Cpap and I contribute this to having the Right Mind Set from the Beginning. I told myself this is a needed thing and you have to convince the MInd that the Mask is your friend. The ming works in strange ways.

Some of the times that I remember what happened, I drooled, causing a leak in the seal. I have to take the mask off to dry off the mask. But I am stupid and sleepy in the middle of the night, so I fall asleep before I get it back on. I suspect that some of the times I don't remember removing it, there was something similar where I intended to fix something and just didn't stay awake long enough to finish the job.

I wouldn't say it is just mindset.

As another example, I clearly remember having an asthma attack one night and using my inhaler. It didn't help. I used it again. Still didn't help. I woke up the next morning and discovered that my inhaler was in my backpack. I never used it. I must have dreamt that I used it.

I have also turned off alarms without remembering. And years ago, I was known for being able to do computer tasks while asleep. My parents could wake me up, ask me to help them with the computer, and I would have no memory of it the next day. So, it is quite possible that an event can happen during deep sleep, and we are just too groggy to think clearly or remember what happened.

[DiverCTHunter]

And here I thought it was just me reverting to a newbie issue. Huh, live and learn

[khauser]

I have Never taken my Mask off in my sleep in the six years I have been on Cpap and I contribute this to having the Right Mind Set from the Beginning. I told myself this is a needed thing and you have to convince the MInd that the Mask is your friend. The ming works in strange ways.

Danny,
As usual, these things are not a "one for all" solution. You may be the master of your mind, but not everyone is. There are NUMEROUS reasons one might find themselves awake with no mask on when they went to sleep with it on. Most are because they were awakened enough to address a "problem" but not enough to remember it.

Amy and all who have this issue: I suggest videotaping yourself! You'll hopefully learn something about what makes you remove the mask. If you think about it enough you MIGHT even be alert enough to tell the camera what you're doing...

[Pugsy]

I have done it myself. Removed the mask and not remember it. Never has been something that I have done often though.
Random occurrences I just blame the aliens experimenting again. They get the blame for lots of stuff. It's never my fault...it's always the aliens or their little friends the gremlins.

If it becomes a habit..then its a problem but once in a while...hey, it sometimes just happens.
If you end up doing it often and it appears to trying to become a bad habit then we need to do something. Bad habits are easy to make and hard to break.
With all you have going on right now I am not going to suggest doing something else to upset your sleep anymore than it is already.
Let's worry about the mask removal when asleep IF it seems to be leaning towards becoming a bad habit.
One time doesn't make it a habit....every night for a week...then we get to talk about stopping a bad habit from possibly occurring.

[pandatx]

I did the same thing i n college when I had an 8 am Art class. I kept missing it...oversleeping...because my alarm didn't go off even though I was absolutely sure I set it. So I moved the clock across the room so I couldn't just roll over and turn it off. One night my roomate was pulling an all nighter, studying, and she saw me get up, walk across the room, turn it off and get back in bed without ever waking up. After she told me that I never did it again. Sleepwalking is really weird.

I disagree that it is a "right mindset" thing and perhaps you didn't mean it to sound as judgmental as that did to me. My mindset IS right. I do believe the machine will help me and I am trying as hard as I possibly know how to make it work. Every night I go to bed intending that it will be the night I sleep through. So, you know, good for you that you never had a problem but a lot of us have had a different experience adjusting and I don't believe it is always a matter of "right mindset". That's a little patronizing.

khauser...once my husband taped me having an entire conversation with him in my sleep. It was hilarious to listen to it later.

[49er]

Well said Pandatx about having the right mindset. As I have jokingly said on this forum, if that is all it took, I would have adjusted to pap therapy in a week. Maybe we should use reverse psychology and have a rotten attitude.

You might have mentioned this before but could sinus issues be a factor in you taking off the mask? Because I recall you stating you had nasal surgery, I was wondering about this.

49er

I did the same thing i n college when I had an 8 am Art class. I kept missing it...oversleeping...because my alarm didn't go off even though I was absolutely sure I set it. So I moved the clock across the room so I couldn't just roll over and turn it off. One night my roomate was pulling an all nighter, studying, and she saw me get up, walk across the room, turn it off and get back in bed without ever waking up. After she told me that I never did it again. Sleepwalking is really weird.

I disagree that it is a "right mindset" thing and perhaps you didn't mean it to sound as judgmental as that did to me. My mindset IS right. I do believe the machine will help me and I am trying as hard as I possibly know how to make it work. Every night I go to bed intending that it will be the night I sleep through. So, you know, good for you that you never had a problem but a lot of us have had a different experience adjusting and I don't believe it is always a matter of "right mindset". That's a little patronizing.

khauser...once my husband taped me having an entire conversation with him in my sleep. It was hilarious to listen to it later.

[pandatx]

49er...wish I knew how to make the "heart" icon, lol. Maybe tonight I should go to be thinking "I hate CPAP. It will never work for me".

Yes, I've always had sinus issues and I did have surgery just 2 years ago but have seen my ENT regularly since then and she thinks things look great. Now, let me also say that I think she might be an idiot and I am currently looking for a new ENT

[49er]

49er...wish I knew how to make the "heart" icon, lol. Maybe tonight I should go to be thinking "I hate CPAP. It will never work for me".

Yes, I've always had sinus issues and I did have surgery just 2 years ago but have seen my ENT regularly since then and she thinks things look great. Now, let me also say that I think she might be an idiot and I am currently looking for a new ENT

I feel your pain big time.

I saw an ENT highly recommended who without doing any tests wanted to do surgery. This was before she realized I didn't have health insurance and then was pretty much done with me even though I started crying in her office.

LOL at your negative proclamation. I think I will start uttering those phrases just to see what happens.

49er

[Drowsy Dancer]

...wish I knew how to make the "heart" icon, lol.

The Internet convention, although it might not produce a "real" heart on this board, is a "less than" sign ( < ) and a 3. (The heart is sideways).

<3 <3 <3

XOXO,

DD

[pandatx]

Ah...I do know the "international internet heart symbol". Will use that from now on <3.

49er...yeah, I've cried at the doctor's too. At my last appt with the Endo I made a remark about her having seen me cry and my husband's reply was "Amy, you can't throw a rock and not hit someone who hasn't seen you cry at one time or another. We've ALL seen you cry". Lol. Yeah. I cry easily. Happy tears. Sad tears. Frustrated. Angry. You got an emotion, I got tears for it. My husband just brings over the tissue box before the Academy Awards show even starts, lol.

[carbonman]

so weird.... Has anyone else experienced this?

I'm helping a friend at work w/this.
Sleep w/mittens or socks on your hands.
If you, as he did, takes the mittens/socks off,
tape them on. It took 3 nights of this
and his brain gave up.
No more mask removal.

[DreamStalker]

Or skip the mittens altogether and go straight for the duct tape ... duct tape your hands together ... or to your feet, get creative.

And of course you can always duct tape the mask to your face.