new to CPAP & trouble adapting II

[taraz579]

Hi all. My name's Tara & I posted once before, about having trouble adapting to my cpap machine. I created the username crazin_82 to match an email address, but it wouldn't correctly activate my account, thus I've made a new account with this username. Here is a link to the previous post...(incase you have time)

viewtopic.php?t=9451&highlight=cpap

ANyways, I did finally get a Rx from the neurologist for sleeping meds and I've been using them to sleep. So, I find that I do sleep for a good 6-7 hours straight and I am able to fall asleep with the mask. HOWEVER, during this time period, I unknowningly remove the mask & drape it over the cpap machine on my nightstand and then sleep until my alarm goes or I'm woken. I suppose this means I am not used to the mask enough & in my subconscious I want it off so I take it off.

Other than wearing the mask as much as possible, are there any other suggestions anybody can give me? What masks have you found to be the most comfortable? I am using the mirage nasal pillows. I used a typical nasal mask for the sleep study and slept horribly (which I hear is normal).

I do wear the mask when I can...but I work nite shift FT, attend nursing school FT along with clinicals running up to 12 hours a day and commuting an hour each way for school, my spare time is extremely limited...so I've not been able to wear the mask much while watching TV, reading, etc.

I do appreaciate all the suggestions thus far and would immensely appreciate any additional advice or comments. Thanks for reading!!!
tara

[krousseau]

Take a few minutes before going to sleep and tell yourself-"i am comfortable keeping this mask on all night"

Do not say I will try to keep the mask on all night-go to sleep with the firm intention of having a comfortable night with the mask on-no thought of just trying-that allows the subconscious to take it off "in your sleep".

Do it every night regardless of results

View it as making a friend-not as engaging in a battle with the mask & PAP

[brasshopper]

There are CPAP machines that can be set to sound an alarm when you take the mask off (or there is a long term massive leak) - is the machine still running or has it been turned off in the morning?

Maybe an alarm would help? If you are waking up enough to turn the machine off, maybe you need to discuss this as something like sleepwalking - some sleep meds have been in the news as having these effects.

But the rest of this is that I've heard of people (not in this forum) doing this. One person said that it was the effort of exhalation that got the mask off in the middle of the night - he just got tired pushing), and that a C-Flex helped. YMMV.

[krousseau]

Enter your equipment in your profile so you can get more specific info here.

[Linda3032]

Yes, please enter your equipment info on the lower portion of your profile. You can list your pressure in additional info or comments.

As Brass said, many people remove their masks because they feel like they are not getting enough air. If you have an Auto machine, it might be set "wide open", meaning 4 to 20. 4 is too low to supply enough air to be comfortable. So, that could be one problem.

Another is that your mask is hurting you, so you take it off. Try to adjust your straps so they are not too tight. Use ointment under/in your nose to help protect the tender skin. And some find a "panty hose" strap helps to hold the nasal pillows closer to their nose so it doesn't move around as much. Others use the "fishing line" trick to get a snugger fit.

You can search this forum for either of those tips.