been wanting to report on this......

[inacpapfog]

OK.......I've discovered something, by accident really, but I just have to share this with everyone here!
First, let me begin by saying that I consider myself to be pretty adapted to my machine and mask (M series auto/ Hybrid.) I sleep well, monitor my results weekly and rest just fine! Now, I do have a few sleep interuptions that I attributed to my sciatica "acting up" every couple of days or so. No big deal, i just reposition and quickly fall back asleep.
Well here's the discovery!!! I was gifted with a satin Eye Mask at a spa party. I had placed it in my bedside table, thinking I''ll try it with a daytime nap sometime. On a whim, while I was preparing to go to bed one night, I put this eye mask on and went to sleep. I didn't wake up until the next morning! Hummmmm......... coinsedince? Maybe! I kept testing this sleeping arrangement for the next month and guess what?- No wake ups at all, not even my sciatica arrousals!!!!!!!! I can only figure that, for me, I must have been having some light stimulating arrousals from the clock radio, hall night light, LED on TV, or ??????????. I just know that sleeping with that eye mask AND my cpap has been the best thing since the heated hose! LOL
Maybe it might help someone else!

[Mikosiko]

Funny coincidence.... I did the same 3 days ago because the normal air-flow of my mask was bothering my eyes... and it worked perfectly!!... I was ready to PM to Padacheck with the suggestion for her start making some eyes covers like the airplanes ones ... maybe that help some people that has been reporting problems with their eyes too

Miko

[inacpapfog]

Good Point!!!!
I know that there have been times ,when changing positions through the night, my mask may get a tiny air leak near my eyes, so maybe this mask is blocking that !
I check my leaks each night on my machine and they are always within limits, so the leaks must be small! But, even a small leak could cause an arrousal!

[kteague]

I've always felt that small lights don't affect my sleep. Never consciously bothered by them. The room I sleep in has 4 computers (and another coming) along with my cpap. Considering my chronic frequent awakenings, guess it's long overdue that I put that to the test. Gonna try a pair of those eye covers, and while I'm at it wear the earplugs in the drawer, and see if I can sleep longer stints.

[MichelleFL]

That is excellent and I am so glad your finally getting a good night's rest! Thanks for sharing that tip..

[inacpapfog]

kteaque, I too would have bet the farm that those little lights had no effect on my sleep whatsoever! Give it a try and see what happens! I would love to know if others have the great results that i have had!

[gsbuck]

There was a news program a few months ago that reported about how even the lights from your smoke alarm could affect your sleep. Could probably Google the sugject and find out more. I cover the cpap lights with a small black hand towel and it helps a lot. The eye mask idea is a really good one tho, think I will try it tonight, too.

[BeanMeScot]

I've used a mask to sleep for the last 15 or so years. I use http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B000A7VRU0 these because they are thin and lightweight. I can wear them all summer. I was afraid I wouldn't be able to use one with my CPAP but it works fine with my Swift LT.

It's actually shocking how bright those blue lights are on the M Series with A Flex. I'm surprised people can sleep with it. Of course, I can't see anything.

[echo]

for what it's worth, here's a great post by JNK on using ear plugs for the same reason, and with similar results: viewtopic.php?f=1&t=33474&p=284723#p284723

btw jnk if you're reading this - that was tough to find back! boy you have been a busy poster Keep it up!!

[Shellie_p]

Not to suprising, my BF wears a mask every night cause of his computer in the room and my CPAP and its blue lights, now to me the room is plenty dark enough for sleep and I actually prefer aa tiny bit of light. Sometimes he will get up in the middle of the night and the monitor ALWAYS seems to wake me, its either that or the keyboard sounds not sure. But pulling the sheet up usually works for those times. But those are rare.

But I do keep a mask of my own in my CPAP respitronics bag for travel and most especially for hospital stays. Recently spent 19 days in the hospital and my mask was the only way I got any rest at all.

I wish I had had earplugs also. I will remedy that and carry earplugs in my CPAP bag also now. Since the hospital I was in used a building wide intercom to announce codes and even had daily prayers and other messages broadcast throughout the day and yes at night but only emergency codes at night. Which was kind of pointless to me.. I was on the third floor and didn't need announced that a code had happened on the 5th floor at 4 am in the morning. Being a heart hospital we had enough codes of our own on my floor!! The hallways were quiet enough otherwise, the rooms seemed to keep out 90% of the noise, but the intercom made up for it. Not to even mention its impossible to make the room totally dark. As they had nightlights built into the walls that never turn off. =/

Now if only we can find a mask that stays forever cool to the touch. My BF's mask is a heavy one, leather (Imatation i assume) With a very plush soft furry like material meant to be against the face but he wears it backwards, he liked the cool feel against his skin. But after a few minutes it warms up of course. Gel masks do the same thing, body temprature warms them up after a few minutes and refrigerating them makes them to cold or frozen is no good either.

Oh the things we do to get a nights sleep!!! LOL!

[NightWorkDaySleep]

I have worked nights for almost 10 years now, and about 2 years ago I broke down and purchased blackout curtains thinking it would "solve" my sleep issue obviously I have apnea so it didn't but wow the sleep I did get was better in the dark, I added a mask during this past summer when light was still seeping in and I agree it's amazing the difference! I just getting used to CPAP but I continue to use my EYE mask every day!

[preemiern]

It's 1:44 AM here in Minnesota, and I am on my way out to the 24 hour Walgreen's that is right down the road from me to go find me an eye mask...don't know why I hadn't thought of that one before. I used to wear one all the time when I worked nights and had to sleep during the day!! I can just picture this...my CPAP mask, my mouth taped shut, and now an eye mask. if my grandbabies ever walked in on me when i'm sleeping, I'm sure they will end up on a talk show some day talking about how they were traumatized when they saw their gramma sleeping...LOL!!

[Snoredog]

Did you lift up the mask to see if the BRIGHT BLUE LED's were still working?

[inacpapfog]

Just wondering if anyone else has tried an eye mask with good results?

[birdshell]

While traveling in my Sweet Adeline days, we would have several people in one hotel room. Earplugs and eye masks were a really big help to my sleep. When traveling, we were always so busy and every moment awake and alert counted. Sleeping in a strange room by oneself can be bad enough; I have learned to always bring earplugs along.

My eye mask (a favorite) was picked up at a TJMaxx. I love my breathable polar fleece so much that I had to try a fleece sleep mask once I found it. It has a tag that says Lewis N Clark. Upon looking for that name, here is a link to them on Amazon: http://www.amazon.com/Lewis-N-Clark-Com ... B0007TBZT4

The silky eye masks never stayed in place and did not seem to block the light. This model has thicker, adjustable elastic and a clip to secure it. IOW, the mask does not have to be slipped on over the head. It also has an additional flap of fleece at the cheek which probably sounds weird, but definitely helps to block the light.

Additionally, with my aversion to sweating (since I do so much of it anyway) the polar fleece material is a real bonus. I have worn it for naps during the summer and found it comfortable, but that was in air conditioning. Without the a/c, it may be a touch warm. It still works well during the spring, fall, and winter for me. And, it washes like a dream; I do allow it to air dry as with most polar fleece items.

Of course, now that I have my trusty CPAP--I don't have to carry the earplugs for my roommates. (They almost always woke up wearing them even if I they had protested vigorously that they wouldn't be necessary.)

Karen.
Whose CPAP machine has teensy-tinsy very dim lights