I keep yanking my mask off!!!

paradigmer · Post by **paradigmer** » Mon Mar 31, 2008 4:15 pm

I started on CPAP approx 2 weeks ago. I have yet to sleep one night through with the mask on. Apparently, I am unconscioulsy ripping the mask off sometime during the night. I don't remember doing this.

Is this a normal phase to go through?

yorkiemum01 · Post by **yorkiemum01** » Mon Mar 31, 2008 4:18 pm

YES...its normal. I'm still a newbie myself, but can tell you it will
get better. One morning I finally woke with the mask on, about
3 weeks into it, and so far, rarely taking it off since that time. Maybe its just allowing our brain time to adapt to this foreign apparetice on our face. Hang in there.

Pineapple · Post by **Pineapple** » Tue Apr 01, 2008 8:59 am

paradigmer,

Is the "Mask Alert" feature turned "On" on your M series? It takes a few minitues to kick in, but when it does, the lights on the unit start flashing and it starts beeping. Perphaps this will wake you up enough that you will realize when you pull you mask off. Also make sure "Auto Off" is off.

If your turning the machine off before you take the mask off, I'm sorry I can't help you, I have this bully of a husband who swats me and tells me to put my mask back on, and I'm not giving him up:)

Beulah · Post by **Beulah** » Tue Apr 01, 2008 9:10 am

I'm a beginner too (two months now), but I went through that phase. For about two weeks I was waking up without my mask on with no memory of doing it. My husband said I sat straight up in bed, unhooked my mask, leaned over and turned off the machine, lay back down, and was asleep again. Fortunately I'm not doing that anymore. For a few days I also woke up with my mask on and the machine turned off. I didn't like that one at all.

Anyway, hopefully it's just a phase of getting used to having something strapped to your face and any day now you'll wake up with it on.

Paula

Sideswiper · Post by **Sideswiper** » Tue Apr 01, 2008 2:06 pm

I actually was very good with keeping my mask on the first week.

The next two weeks I've been waking up discovering I've taken off the mask. I'm pretty impressed with the times that I find I didn't even unclasp the full face mask.. I mean, I musta really clawed my way out. Also the one time that I disconnected the hose from both the machine and my mask...

I'm not that discouraged, I think I'll get better, but it sure it strange not to remember any of it.

Gerald · Post by **Gerald** » Tue Apr 01, 2008 7:06 pm

When you go to sleep at night, the conscious part of your brain gets some R&R while your sub-conscious takes over. Your sub-conscious runs the show when you're asleep.

Even though your conscious mind is in favor of CPAP, your sub-conscious hasn't yet "agreed" to the project.

Sit down and have a little talk with your sub-conscious. Let it know that if it doesn't allow the therapy to work, it won't be around much longer. Make it "a deal it can't refuse"............if it goes along with the project, both of you survive.

Gerald

trice54 · Post by **trice54** » Tue Apr 01, 2008 7:16 pm

I don;t take mine off unconsciously, but a number of times I have taken it off with full awareness (to take a sip of water or go to the bathroom, etc.), then I lay down and sort of forget to put it back on until I later wake up. Maybe I am still sort of asleep and that subconscious part of my brain is not trained to put it back on...?? Trice

Gerald · Post by **Gerald** » Tue Apr 01, 2008 7:43 pm

Trice..........

It's that "sort of forgot" action that tells me you let your sub-conscious take over. One has to be convinced all the way down to the toenails that sleeping without CPAP will shorten life.....or maybe even end it.

Have a "Talk" with your sub-conscious.

Gerald

TR · Post by TR » Tue Apr 01, 2008 11:50 pm

Pur-sleep.....try it. It works! Helps with the feeling the need to tear it off.......

bdp522 · Post by **bdp522** » Wed Apr 02, 2008 5:52 am

To help you get used to the mask;

Try using the mask while awake, read or watch TV(to help keep your mind off the mask). The more comfortable you are with the mask, the less likely you are to remove it.

Try using a bandaid or tape across one of the straps. The pain of ripping it off when you remove the mask may wake you enough to remind you to leave the mask on.

If you wake with the mask off, put it back on. Even if just for a few minutes. It might reinforce the idea that this is something you WILL do no matter what.

Brenda

Mask