Pulling mask off while sleeping

[Brobbi]

I started my xpap journey in Feb. And I feel like overall I've done fairly well with it. Some nights are harder than most but I'm working through and I'm being diligent about wearing the mask, etc. However I seem to go in spurts of pulling the mask off/turning the machine off in my sleep without realizing until my alarm goes off in the AM. Its not on a nightly basis...some times 2-3 nights in a row and then I'll be fine for a while and I start doing it again. Any one have any ideas on how to stop myself from doing it?

[Mnementh]

The method I'm currently trying is to turn on the leak alarm, though I don't know if the machine you have listed has a leak alarm. I've ordered a 10 foot hose to move the CPAP out of reach so I can't turn it off without getting out of bed. Till it gets here I've moved in onto the floor in an attempt to at least make me look for it to turn it off. It has helped in that I wear it longer, and have worn it all night a few times. (That is a major improvement for me, as in the past I'd take it off as soon as I fell asleep!)

It didn't work last night, though. I woke up this morning to find I'd taken the mask off after two hours (according to the usage data) and turned the machine off again, and have no memory of doing so. The machine was also not where I'd put it, but was closer to the bed, indicating i may have used the hose to drag it closer so I could turn it off.

[Wolfhound668]

My first attempt at cpap a few years ago I had a real problem of taking my mask off and not knowing it until morning. More mornings then not I'd wake to find the mask on the floor and no memory of taking it off. I never found a solution and eventually returned the cpap and went the uppp route. Back in those days my unit didn't have a leak alarm or anything like that. I've been back on cpap for two weeks today and so far (fingers crossed) I've been tolerating it pretty well. I've (only half-jokingly) told my wife that if I start taking it off again she has my permission to handcuff my hands behind my back.

[DreamOn]

Sorry that I don't have a solution for you, but if you're taking any medications for sleep (or other problems) you may want to discuss with your doctor whether they could be contributing to the problem. Ambien and similar meds come to mind, but there are others.

[Gerald]

Brobbi....

Here's a possible answer: I think it has to do with your sub-conscious....it isn't sold on the project yet.

Here's what I mean: I think we shift to a 2nd brain when we are asleep. This gives our primary (conscious) brain time to do "maintenance" and refresh itself. The sub-conscious takes over...to run our systems while we're asleep....run our dreams....and give us just enough awareness for protection while we're unconscious.

If you aren't totally sold on the idea of CPAP therapy.....if you aren't completely sold on its benefits....your sub-conscious will use that as its excuse to take off the mask and stop that "uncomfortable therapy" in the middle of the night. Your conscious mind is "offline" and has no memory of what's happened in the night.

The only way to get past this problem is to prove to yourself....absolutely and positively....that you need therapy. If you'll get yourself a recording oximeter and generate reports showing that you aren't getting enough O2 while you're asleep, you can convince your sub-conscious that you're gonna die if you don't succeed at keeping that mask on all night.

You've got to convince your sub-conscious brain...that your conscious brain "has it right" and that therapy is vital.

Gerald

[Brobbi]

Brobbi....

Here's a possible answer: I think it has to do with your sub-conscious....it isn't sold on the project yet.

Here's what I mean: I think we shift to a 2nd brain when we are asleep. This gives our primary (conscious) brain time to do "maintenance" and refresh itself. The sub-conscious takes over...to run our systems while we're asleep....run our dreams....and give us just enough awareness for protection while we're unconscious.

If you aren't totally sold on the idea of CPAP therapy.....if you aren't completely sold on its benefits....your sub-conscious will use that as its excuse to take off the mask and stop that "uncomfortable therapy" in the middle of the night. Your conscious mind is "offline" and has no memory of what's happened in the night.

The only way to get past this problem is to prove to yourself....absolutely and positively....that you need therapy. If you'll get yourself a recording oximeter and generate reports showing that you aren't getting enough O2 while you're asleep, you can convince your sub-conscious that you're gonna die if you don't succeed at keeping that mask on all night.

You've got to convince your sub-conscious brain...that your conscious brain "has it right" and that therapy is vital.

Gerald

Gerald I think you're correct. I had a big reminder yesterday of just 1 of the reasons why this therapy is truly a life saver for me. I just need to get my mind in the right place again about it rather than being so careless about it.

I do have the leak alarm on my system but I've never heard it. So not sure if that's because I turn the system off before removing the mask like I do when I'm awake or its broke.

[SleepyT]

Brobbi....

Here's a possible answer: I think it has to do with your sub-conscious....it isn't sold on the project yet.

Here's what I mean: I think we shift to a 2nd brain when we are asleep. This gives our primary (conscious) brain time to do "maintenance" and refresh itself. The sub-conscious takes over...to run our systems while we're asleep....run our dreams....and give us just enough awareness for protection while we're unconscious.

If you aren't totally sold on the idea of CPAP therapy.....if you aren't completely sold on its benefits....your sub-conscious will use that as its excuse to take off the mask and stop that "uncomfortable therapy" in the middle of the night. Your conscious mind is "offline" and has no memory of what's happened in the night.

The only way to get past this problem is to prove to yourself....absolutely and positively....that you need therapy. If you'll get yourself a recording oximeter and generate reports showing that you aren't getting enough O2 while you're asleep, you can convince your sub-conscious that you're gonna die if you don't succeed at keeping that mask on all night.

You've got to convince your sub-conscious brain...that your conscious brain "has it right" and that therapy is vital.

Gerald

I'm with Gerald on this one. Ditto!

[jishy]

I found I had taken my mask off before, probably 3 times now (Swift FX) and the headgear on that is pretty easy to get off your head. My partner said she caught me one night clutching the nasal pillows in my hand, machine still running. Usually this is when the pressure rises above 10.5 from a quick analysis.

Night two of the Mirage Quattro with it's massive headgear, and I haven't woken up with it off yet. I don't think I could actually unclip the bottom straps from the mask in my sleepy "2nd brain".

[hyperjma]

One thing my sleep analyst mentioned is that if you are taking it off in the middle of the night, you are possibly having Apneas and "suffocating" or feel like you are. Do you have a machine that adjusts your pressure as you sleep? I have found that if I fall asleep in bed, like if Dear Husband is reading or something, and don't put my mask on first... When he puts it on me, or wakes me up to put it on, then those are the nights that I take it off and don't remember it. Or wake up gasping and tearing the mask off my face. Possibly has something to do with the stage of sleep that I am in, with it not corresponding to the pressure of the machine.
Have you talked to a professional about this? Or your sleep therapist? Or taken your data card in to your Medical Supply Group to have it read? That might provide some insight.

<3 Jess

[junie]

I've been on cpap for a long time now and I still take my mask off, I've tried all kinds of masks, I even tried prescription sleeping pills.
so good luck to you, hope you find a way

[RonnieAdl]

I have been on the cpap for two years and I still pull the mask off in the middle of the night, but I use the machine every night because I am afraid not to.. I average about 2.5 hours per night which I know is not enough. I have changed masks three times. I now have a FFM which was working great until about he last couple weeks, then I started pulling it off too. I don't know what else to do but keep using the machine and just get as much benefit out of it as I can..

Cheers!

Ronnie

[Ronnieadl]

Brobbi....

Here's a possible answer: I think it has to do with your sub-conscious....it isn't sold on the project yet.

Here's what I mean: I think we shift to a 2nd brain when we are asleep. This gives our primary (conscious) brain time to do "maintenance" and refresh itself. The sub-conscious takes over...to run our systems while we're asleep....run our dreams....and give us just enough awareness for protection while we're unconscious.

If you aren't totally sold on the idea of CPAP therapy.....if you aren't completely sold on its benefits....your sub-conscious will use that as its excuse to take off the mask and stop that "uncomfortable therapy" in the middle of the night. Your conscious mind is "offline" and has no memory of what's happened in the night.

The only way to get past this problem is to prove to yourself....absolutely and positively....that you need therapy. If you'll get yourself a recording oximeter and generate reports showing that you aren't getting enough O2 while you're asleep, you can convince your sub-conscious that you're gonna die if you don't succeed at keeping that mask on all night.

You've got to convince your sub-conscious brain...that your conscious brain "has it right" and that therapy is vital.

Gerald

I have heard about the pulse oximeter before. Where do you find one? I would be interested in getting one to check my o2

Thanks!

Ronnie

[Gerald]

Ronnie......

I use the SPO-7500 from turnermedical.com. The software that comes with it is good....the oximeter itself is good.....and turnermedical is safe to do business with. No prescription required......highly recommended.

Gerald

[Uncle_Bob]

I think its something most of us do but then you just eventually end up not doing it.

I had a night where i had actually reached down and pulled the machines plug out from the socket during my sleep

[kevincoop]

check out my website at http://www.coopermedicalsupplies.com