Why read or watch TV with mask on?

[Chilehead]

In mask descriptions and comments here, it seems some people read or watch TV with their mask on. I don't understand why this is done? If you are awake, is the mask really doing anything for you?

[49er]

In mask descriptions and comments here, it seems some people read or watch TV with their mask on. I don't understand why this is done? If you are awake, is the mask really doing anything for you?

Hi Chilehead,

The advice is given to people who are having trouble getting used to sleeping with the mask on. The reasoning is if you use it while you are awake, it will lead to better tolerance while sleeping with it. I think it is good advice for alot of people.

Unfortunately, that never worked for me as I have had no problems falling taking naps with it on. And when I used it while watching TV, I fell asleep. But sleeping with it at night has been a whole other story which is too long to get into.

49er

[WindCpap]

If try to read or watch TV with your mask on (in bed), and you fall asleep too quickly to finish the show or chapter, it is good sign that your body has accepted CPAP as a signal to sleep. Within a couple of weeks, I could no longer watch TV with my mask on.

[49er]

If try to read or watch TV with your mask on (in bed), and you fall asleep too quickly to finish the show or chapter, it is good sign that your body has accepted CPAP as a signal to sleep. Within a couple of weeks, I could no longer watch TV with my mask on.

Unfortunately, that hasn't been the case with me Windcap. Again, long story as I don't want to get off topic with this thread. This strategy works for alot of people and I don't want newbies to think my situation is par for the course.

49er

[yoshi]

I was told to do that in order to acclimatize to CPAP. (Un?)fortunately, I never made it that far. I noticed even in the DME office that the air pressure was super relaxing, like a deep refreshing yawn. Since day 1, when the mask goes on I am out before I can even think of watching TV or turning on my tablet to read. I'm sure others are different, and may need desensitizing... for me, the mask tells my brain/body that it's lights out time. So in my own opinion, yes you do get some benefit with the air on while you are awake... like 5-10 minutes of relaxation.

[mariejeanne]

Yep! Mine does the same for me. We are lucky.

[Captain_Midnight]

Reasonable question, and good replies above.

I do crossword puzzles in bed until I'm too zonked to continue (we're talking maybe ten minutes, here). The interesting part is that when I reach for my xpappian contraption, I always yawn, sometimes twice. It's truly Pavlovian, and once on the dream machine, I'm only good for a minute or so before I'm totally out.

.

[chunkyfrog]

While untreated, some of us fall asleep without warning, like in front of the TV.
Even while newly treated. It's good to be masked up when that happens.
A non-cpap nap can be devastating for me.

[Janknitz]

On weekends I like to sit up in my bed and watch a little tv. I invariably fall asleep. So I mask up, because 9 times out of 10, it happens and it's very unpleasant if I fall asleep without my CPAP.

[deerhound]

I am a mouth breather and I watched a lot of football to learn how to use nasal pillows without mouth leaks. I am much happier now that I don't use a full face mask and I sleep much better. Now if I can just shut off that internal alarm clock that wakes me at 6AM every morning.

[R1200ST]

As a new user the sleep tech advised me to use my mask / machine a couple hours a night while awake, to become desensitized to the feeling of having the mask on. This was a FFM and my nose would not take it due to itching. Moves to the nose pillows and it was an easy transition, the first night of use was my first night of full sleep.

So depends on the person in my opinion. Good advise though for a completely new user. My wife kind of freaked out about it , seeing me there with that mask on. But she was also desensitized after a couple days.

She is claustrophobic so she was having some sympathy issues.

[KMYonts]

I always read for a bit before going to sleep so I wear my mask while I am reading. If I have to put it on when I stop reading it would wake me up too much and I would have trouble falling asleep. Now I just take my glasses off, put my Kindle down, and go to sleep.

[Janknitz]

Oh, and when I first wake I often leave the mask ON. I think it's hoping that I will fall back to sleep, but also I LOVE the way I feel when I wake up with CPAP. Peaceful, calm, cool air gently coming through the mask, I can breathe better than I do all day when the allergens aren't filtered for me. I try to hold on to that feeling as long as possible, but I will often start reading while I lie there with my mask on.