Do you wear your mask all night? Philosophy 101?

[dllfo]

I have sleep apnea. I agree. I put my new Mirage Swift on my nose, turn
the Auto Bipap on and I am asleep immediately. Whereas I was always up
until 2-4am for the past few months. I AM convinced it works, and works well.

Here is my question for you: I have been on the machine just under a week.
If I wake up to answer natures call, see what the dog is barking at, etc.
I take the mask off, turn the machine off and so far, don't put it back on. I still sleep the rest of the night. REM sleep? I don't know. Until I get software and learn to read it I won't know a lot of things about my sleep patterns. The Good Lord blessed me with good sleep until recently. So I don't mean to complain, just curious about these great machines we have and how to interact with them. I have just enough Irish in me to be dangerous to my own health, plus I don't need to start off with bad habits.

If a third of you say you do the same thing, fine, I will probably see if it works for me and continue this way. If what I am doing is wrong, it is
time to change now.

Any inputs appreciated......

[Guest]

Hi there,
It is my understanding that you should not be sleeping without the mask/machine. I have been on the machine for 3 weeks and I have only slept w/out it once, and I could feel the difference. I have osa severely so the difference for me is extreme. But if you take if off halfway through every night, then you won't get used to using it and sleep through the night. When I get up, I unplug the hose and keep the mask on my face go do my thing and hook back up. It is good you are using it some, but if you still sleep without it, you are still getting apneas, having your oxygen decrease when sleeping, etc. So if you use the mask 4 hrs per night, and sleep without it the rest of the night, you are really only sleeping 4 hours per night. Good luck!!!!!

[path2others]

I am also new on the machine. I started last week. I am motivated to make this work so I view this as a life style change. I am not in a hurry and look at this first few weeks to fine tune my mask and nasal pillow and also find the most comfortable settings on my machine. When nature calls in the AM I have been too groggy to figure out how to put the mask back on so I get up. I can nap during the day and I have never worried about the quantity of sleep I get. (too many years of working midnights and swing shifts) I am looking for quality. My OSA is sever enough to cause Central's but they did not occur during the titration study.
I make sure I nap with APAP. I guess what I am trying to say I am aiming for always using the machine when I am asleep. I am looking for a steady change, like a sensible weight loss diet. The "fad diets" take the pounds in a hurry but you gain it back just as fast. This just my take on things. Take what you need and leave the rest.
(Thanks Guest, I never thought of leaving my mask on when I get up - that is just too simple.... )
_________________

CPAPopedia Keywords Contained In This Post (Click For Definition): nasal pillow, Titration, APAP

[Snoozin' Bluezzz]

If I intend to sleep, bedtime or nap, I hose up, all the time, everytime. I have been doing this for almost 4 months now. I intend to do this as long as I require an xPAP which will probably be for the rest of my life but...

SB

[Goofproof]

If you don't use the mask every hour you are trying to sleep you are only cheating yourself and your family of a better life. Using it more than four hours, makes you compliant as far as the Dr's go, but it means that the other time you spent is non-compliant. Most normal people need 7 to 8 hours of good sleep a night to recharge. Not using the machine every hour you plan to sleep doesn't make any sense, if you want to feel better.

I use it 8 to 9 hours a day, on a day that I only get 6 or 7, I start to feel tired again. It comes down to what you want out of life and how long you want to life, and the quality of life while we are here, XPAP treatment is a small price for me to pay. Jim

[Bonnie]

I think you'll find the majority of people who are really concerned about their health and are smart enough to know that even a short amount of time off the hose for the night or a nap is not a good idea. Why would you NOT want to re hook up? Knowing what I know now I would never sleep with out it.

[krousseau]

It is time to change-every time you sleep will eventually give you quality and quantity-sleep and life.

[chdurie2]

Are you trying to get away with something by not re-hooking after taking a "sleep break?" You're only kidding yourself. Like others, my mask goes on every time I intend to sleep--for the nite, in the middle of the nite, nap, whatever.

[Niteair]

CPAP treatment is NOT like taking a pill for some ailment, it only works while you use your equipment. When you disconnect and go back to sleep, you are Not getting any benefit. Make it work for you.

[SLEEPYCD]

dllfo,
Please do NOT sleep without your machine. When starting out, it is so tough, I know. It took me several months to learn all the tricks (I learned them from the great people on this sight!!!!) I used to have to get up to pee (sorry) alot in the night, that will change with good therapy. Also, when you don't get enough QUALITY sleep, Your body can't regenerate and your mind doesn't function as it should. I will be coming up on almost 1 year of therapy soon. As a 49 year old, I'm feeling about 38 right now (I plan on getting younger!!!). I make sure that I exercise, watch what I eat (do not DIET), try to include some humor in everday life, and make sure that I take care of MYSELF first and foremost!!! That may sound selfish, but it is very important!!!! Good Luck!!! Remember, we're all in this together....
Carolyn

[Amigo]

...If what I am doing is wrong, it is
time to change now.

Any inputs appreciated......

ALL night, every night. Anything less is detrimental to your health and shortening your life.

[ProfessorSleep]

Wow, do you need anyone else to chime in on this? I agree with all the posts about all night, every night, and day time for naps, too! One of the dangers of OSA is that people can be asymptomatic, meaning feel ok, but still be doing considerable damage to their bodies, especially the heart and vascular system. Feeling ok without is what gets people with hypertension in big trouble. They feel ok, so who needs meds? You feel ok, so who needs CPAP? All of us, because we've been diagnosed with a condition that can kill us or, worse perhaps, turn us into bedridden nobodies. 'Nuf said. Take care of yourself!

[Linda3032]

I started cpap because I snored horribly and disturbed my husband. (Ya, I have sleep apnea, but that's not why I was willing to start therapy).

At times, during the first year I cheated - when I slept by myself and was allowed to snore all I wanted to. I thought of it as a big treat to myself.

Ultimately it dawned on me that I didn't sleep good, my mouth got horribly dry, my throat felt like it had a ball of cotton in it, I didn't feel rested, I was grumpy ----- need I go on?

All night, every night. It's my second best friend.

[pipsywiggins]

I can apllaud profusely to everything said here, I do understand some of the dilemmas.
That is the reason for my reentry here, to find new tips, tricks of the trade to gain an upperhand in compliance.

I didn't take your words to mean that you were looking for a way to get out of putting the mask on. If you have a similar experience to mine, it is your every intention to put the mask back on. Somehow in the fog of late night, you fall back asleep before accomplishing it.

I have no idea when I get my sleep. It is four hours here,two there, etc. Never in the bed I might add. Despite taking medications, I seem to fall asleep at all the times I do not intend to fall asleep. Eating, sitting on the john, writing in a journal, even typing on the computer often results in a sting of unintelligent words, verifying that indeed I had fallen asleep again. Nighttime comes, and once in bed I will lay there for hours not able to fall asleep. I've recently realized that my CSA has developed into a ciracium rythym problem, but that's my problem.
When I do accomplish falling asleep with the mask, I find that I rip if off at some point during the night, so I envy you that you can remember and are cognicent enough to recognize the problem. I may have to start video taping myself.
At each visit that I try to describe my problems to the doctor they either 1. think i'm trying to get out of using it 2. think I need more meds to regulate me. I am more into behavior modification on a gradual basis, but haven't received any input from the doctors on that.
Since it has been established, I think your best bet is to figure out the best way to encourage yourself to keep the mask on. There have been great suggestions here, so I shall leave that up to the experts. Since I rip my mask off without my knowledge I fear my only solution is going to be duct tape. Thank goodness you don't have to go there, right?
Peg

[snoozie_suzy]

If I wake up to answer natures call, see what the dog is barking at, etc.
I take the mask off, turn the machine off and so far, don't put it back on. I still sleep the rest of the night.

I know in the beginning weeks of therapy, in January of this year, I would awaken, use the restroom, and then, being halfasleep, NOT put on my mask. But it was never a purposeful thing, it would be because I was a zombie. That stopped after a few weeks. If you are aware enough when you get back into bed try to be dilligent and put it back on. Its been 5 months for me now, and its kind of like years ago when I first started wearing a seat belt when I drove it didn't feel natural, but now when I step in a car its the first thing I do. I am scared to sleep without my cpap now.


Suzy