Help! I rip off my mask while asleep!

[JUDY597]

Can someone help me?
I rip off my mask while I'm sleeping! So I only wear it for about an hour.
Does anyone have any ideas on how to prevent this?
Thank you,
Sharon

[49er]

Can someone help me?
I rip off my mask while I'm sleeping! So I only wear it for about an hour.
Does anyone have any ideas on how to prevent this?
Thank you,
Sharon

Hi Sharon,

Before I forget, can you please fill out your equipment profile using the link in my signature so members can better tailor their responses to your situation?

Anyway, it depends on what the reason is. It might be due to mask discomfort which would mean trying another mask or two. Your pressure could also be set incorrectly as many newcomers are given an open range of 4-20 which leads to feelings of suffocation on the machine due to the low starting pressure. Do you know what it is by any chance and what type of machine do you have? Hopefully, it is a data capable one that will enable you to access sleepyhead, a free software.

Best of luck.

49er

[blownaway]

Try to stay alert and take note of what is happening at the time of rip off. Give it some time because only you can find the reason why. Just staying aware of the problem will likely lead you to the answer.

For me it was big mask leaks that resulted in high pressures that made me feel like choking on air. Once I stopped the leaks, pressures came down and the problem ceased.

[Julie]

She's asleep when it happens - not alert, so that won't work, but I suggest taping straps to her face, which would (hopefully) waken her when she tries to take it off (while sleeping), and she'd be able to re-seat it without completely waking up... just enough to continue sleeping more comfortably again. It's very common to have it happen and it usually goes away over time.

[wildboar]

I'm guessing you're probably using a full face mask and it gets bumped out of place and starts leaking terribly and react to that by ripping it off without even knowing it. I used to do that all the time. Find a new mask or fix the leak on the one you have.

[otrpu]

Judy597,
Last time I did that I was dreaming that I couldn't breathe. When I tore it off I broke it in several places. Decided to try a nasal pillow w/mouth seal Hybrid. I selected the RespCARE Hybrid FFM. Three sizes of pillows and a much smaller mouth seal area. Might want to take alook at it.

Cheers,
otrpu

[LSAT]

I'm guessing you're probably using a full face mask and it gets bumped out of place and starts leaking terribly and react to that by ripping it off without even knowing it. I used to do that all the time. Find a new mask or fix the leak on the one you have.

And you can tell this because...........?

[LSAT]

Can someone help me?
I rip off my mask while I'm sleeping! So I only wear it for about an hour.
Does anyone have any ideas on how to prevent this?
Thank you,
Sharon

Sharon...Regardless of what type of mask you have, try sitting with the mask on in the evening while watching TV. Do it for a few nights without the machine on and then do it for a few nights with the machine. Most people find that doing this helps when you wear it in bed. Please register and fill in the
name of your machine and mask. If there is a specific problem with the mask,..... pain, leaks, fit etc....please elaborate.

[wildboar]

I'm guessing you're probably using a full face mask and it gets bumped out of place and starts leaking terribly and react to that by ripping it off without even knowing it. I used to do that all the time. Find a new mask or fix the leak on the one you have.

And you can tell this because...........?

Cause they are annoying as fuuk when they start leaking around the edges and you pull them off in your sleep.

[Dingdongdiddlydoo]

ME TOO!
it's a terrible struggle to meet compliance...now it's been 3 months, plus I don't get enough sleep..argh I tried everything except tying my hands up. I even use a pretty heavy duty neoprene chinstrap..and talk to my respitory therapist. I have to overcome this as my oxygen saturation is Ssssoooo low Sometimes 70% .. I may be in that whenever I tear it off. Oh the mornings I forced myself to try to sleep 2 more hours were many.nor do I feel energized or healthier, nor have I lost a pound..in fact gained..I just joined site.. And will look at your responses,- let's check in in the future.

[chunkyfrog]

To prevent this behavior, you need to awakened. Right away!
Taping the straps to your face is a great suggestion.
The tape needs to be good and sticky, so you FEEL it when you peel it!
Failing that, get a little HAIR under it!
Behavioral modification sometimes needs a little PAIN!

[Hopefullady]

I find this interesting because I did the same thing. I'm 3 days in. Did not use it the last two nights because I was afraid of the darned thing. Sat with it today while watching TV and there were LOTS of leaks, but the machine didn't register them. Says mask was 100%.

I agree with trying to be conscious of what wakes us, but that takes a little bit of time, and with CPAP we still need to look at data.

I was to by RT I was awoken by a a breathing obstruction and the fact that my breathing was getting more shallow (I was 1.5 hours into sleep).

Also I'm understanding that being on my back makes the machine have to work harder.

[Cannuck 1]

You can do a simple test to check if mask is plugged or damaged.
Disconnect mask hose from cpap - dawn on mask as normal and take a breath trough your mouth and plug mask hose with one of your fingers and exhale threw your nose.
If you feel a lot of resistence it needs some care or replacing, I was reading about the p10 is prone to plugging over time because of fine exhaust meshing they used.(usally a cleaning is needed like other posters have mentioned)

[Julie]

"dawn on mask"

What does this mean?

[LSAT]

I find this interesting because I did the same thing. I'm 3 days in. Did not use it the last two nights because I was afraid of the darned thing. Sat with it today while watching TV and there were LOTS of leaks, but the machine didn't register them. Says mask was 100%.

I agree with trying to be conscious of what wakes us, but that takes a little bit of time, and with CPAP we still need to look at data.

I was to by RT I was awoken by a a breathing obstruction and the fact that my breathing was getting more shallow (I was 1.5 hours into sleep).

Also I'm understanding that being on my back makes the machine have to work harder.

Machine only registers large leaks..the ones you had while awake were insignificant.