I take my mask off IN MY SLEEP!!!

Gromma wrote: I am HAPPY!!! Thanks to Mister_Hose also posted as "guest"
I looked at the clock, touched my mask, told myself that I couldn't take
the mask off before 6:00 a..m. and I slept till 3:15 a.m. and looked at
the clock and said to myself, it's not 6:00 a.m. and I can't take off my
mask so I went back to sleep until 6:00 a.m. YAY!!!

Thank you!!! Merci!!!

I'm going to do just that again tonight and for a few nights more, then
I'll try it without but if I need to do it every night I certainly will. I never
got one leak, so maybe it was because I was messing with the mask.

I'm really grateful I found this place and people that know what they are
talking about and people that do the same things I do so I don't have to
feel like I'm the only one... Thanks great people!!!!

Bev in Nova Scotia

Wonderful! I'm very glad that it's helping you! It's certainly helped others... I've heard other successful replies just like yours. Now, "pay it forward", as they say. Tell others with the same problem about this technique! This problem is one of the biggest hurdles to CPAP compliance, and if we can spread the word about this remedy, we can do a world of good!

It's odd that you remembered the incident(s) though. Obviously you'll remember the "training" (you're fully awake for it!) but ordinarily you have *no* memories of the nighttime "resisted-removing-the-mask" events happening. The whole process is usually carried out at some level below full consciousness and full wakefulness, with no memories later. The fact that you remember the time 3:15AM indicates that you were very close to full wakefulness that particular time. This is no problem though, the point is, it worked. What's even cooler is that you VERY likely had several additional occurrences of this during the night that you did NOT remember. It might've happened many times during the night, with the "programming" performing beautifully, but you were only awake enough to remember one of them (3:15AM).

Also note that it can take quite awhile of doing this bedtime self-chat for the "training" to "stick", so stay with it. I did it every night before bed for several months, then I was able to stop completely, with the problem not returning.

Congratulations! Keep us updated!

I am having problems with taking my mask off at night subsconsciously too! I will try taping the mask to my face and telling myself 3 x that I can't take the mask off and that if I need to take it off I have to look at the clock first and not take it off before the time I am supposed to wake up. It sounds so simple and I know the mind is capable of many things including being programmed. Thanks for the great advice! I'll let you know how it went!

laurapencils,

Please let us know how it goes! Thanks!

I find that i also take my mask off. I slept soundly before i was given my machine. I didnt change any of my eating habits, nor sleep position. I still walked 4 to 6 miles at work, and was very mellow and happy. I am a bigger guy, and the walking was helping me lose weight. Had dropped almost 10 lbs. Since using my bipap machine, i have put on all the weight i lost, and then some. My nose is in a constant state of pain, however if i loosen the mask anymore there will not be any seal at all. (Already have a ton of leaks. The quality of my sleep has gone down. So much so that i have been very short and cross with everyone. Im tired all the time. I fall asleep at work, when i didnt before this machine. The days i wake up and the mask is off, i feel like i actually slept. If im lucky enough to get 4 hours with the mask, I still sleep an additional 6 to 8 without it to just feel like I even slept. The body rejects what it doesnt need. I believe this machine is killing me. My dr refuses to listen to me and is a major jerk when i try and tell him whats going on.

tommy_1998_97 wrote:I find that i also take my mask off. I slept soundly before i was given my machine. I didnt change any of my eating habits, nor sleep position. I still walked 4 to 6 miles at work, and was very mellow and happy. I am a bigger guy, and the walking was helping me lose weight. Had dropped almost 10 lbs. Since using my bipap machine, i have put on all the weight i lost, and then some. My nose is in a constant state of pain, however if i loosen the mask anymore there will not be any seal at all. (Already have a ton of leaks. The quality of my sleep has gone down. So much so that i have been very short and cross with everyone. Im tired all the time. I fall asleep at work, when i didnt before this machine. The days i wake up and the mask is off, i feel like i actually slept. If im lucky enough to get 4 hours with the mask, I still sleep an additional 6 to 8 without it to just feel like I even slept. The body rejects what it doesnt need. I believe this machine is killing me. My dr refuses to listen to me and is a major jerk when i try and tell him whats going on.

Hi Tommy,

You might want to start your own thread since you responded to an old post and it might not get much attention. When you start your own thread, you can use the link in my signature to fill out your equipment profile so members can better respond to your post. Also, include the pressure your machine is set for.

Thanks!

49er

Also, how long you have been using the cpap?
The "learning curve" varies, and you may still be in your "apprenticeship".

This is an old thread but... for other mask removers (there's always a lot): Last year someone was in the same circumstance, even when they taped onto their face. For such a drastic case I told them to use a little tape from their straps to their hair - a few spots along the sides and back. Also to use NexCare multipore tape which is really sticky. They reported that it worked fine for them because it hurt somewhat to pull it off suddenly. They said it took a couple of weeks to get out of the habit. It's a PITA to get the tape off your hair the next morning but hopefully you won't have to do it for very long before you train yourself not to pull off your mask. A few dabs of mineral oil worked into your hair will soften up the tape prior to removal.

If someone's absolutely bald then I really can't suggest a solution other than lots of tape that's hard to pull off!

Sir NoddinOff wrote:This is an old thread but... for other mask removers (there's always a lot): Last year someone was in the same circumstance, even when they taped onto their face. For such a drastic case I told them to use a little tape from their straps to their hair - a few spots along the sides and back. Also to use NexCare multipore tape which is really sticky. They reported that it worked fine for them because it hurt somewhat to pull it off suddenly. They said it took a couple of weeks to get out of the habit. It's a PITA to get the tape off your hair the next morning but hopefully you won't have to do it for very long before you train yourself not to pull off your mask. A few dabs of mineral oil worked into your hair will soften up the tape prior to removal.

If someone's absolutely bald then I really can't suggest a solution other than lots of tape that's hard to pull off!

Hi SNO,

These are good suggestions but as FYI, Tommy, who updated this old thread, said his nose is in constant pain which I am assuming may be why he is removing the mask prematurely. It sounds like he needs to find one that isn't so painful or get an accessory that would protect the area. That is why we need to know what he is currently wearing.

49er

If tommy is using a full face or nasal cushion type mask, perhaps he needs to follow the "Taming the Quattro" instructions.
Tightening the straps too much causes creases in the cushion, removing all hope of a comfortable fit.
This also rings true of nasal pillows. Patience is needed to learn to do the "mask dance".
It is hardest to do this if you wait until you are so exhausted you only have the energy to fall into bed.
If applicable, Tommy may benefit from a mask liner, like Pad a Cheek,
or using the machine while awake, (TV, etc) in order to desensitize himself to therapy.