I keep taking the mask off while asleep

Hi Folks,

New user here.. Recently obtained a Resmed S8 Escape II w/ a Mirage Quattro full fask mask.. First 21 days no problems.. must use the full face mask as am a mouth breather. Mask really doesn't bother me.. I can get used to most anything. Have turned off the ramp and not using the humidification.. Humidifier made me feel like I was suffocating. Last 4 consecutive nights I have taken the mask off during my sleep and have found it on the floor next to the bed.. machine still pumping out air. Now taking this off during my sleep must be a challenge as the velcro straps are pretty snug when I put it on; but I indeed took it off and don't remember doing it (did not wake) and the velcro straps are still in the snug position.. anything like this ever happened to any of you seasoned users?

Thanks so much,
Karen

Hello & Welcome, Karen! Glad you found this forum—SO much useful info and everyone here is so willing to help!

Yep, that's pretty typical. Many of us (me!) removed the mast during sleep when we first started, a natural reflex until you get used to wearing the mask. I think that stops happening for everyone eventually. Good luck!

"You are getting sleepy . . ."

Karen, I am new to CPAP started in November. I have found the longer I use it the less I take it off. Still I occasionally wake up to the mask not on my face. I have woke up a few times while taking it off and I find that adjusting myself in bed or getting a drink of water or something to change my thoughts helps and I go back to bed with the mask on.

I would have to be fully awake to remove my mask, because removing it requires pulling a knob out of a slot. I take it you have a nasal mask that can slide off easily?

I still remove my mask occasionally; when even more of a newbie than now, it was every night after only a couple hours....I upped my pressure from 7 to 8, and that seemed to help; was advised here, I forget by whom, that the mask removal might be related to not getting enough air. Seemed to work.

I've also turned off the "ramp" feature, which made no difference to me, either way.

Good luck!

Jason S. wrote:I would have to be fully awake to remove my mask, because removing it requires pulling a knob out of a slot. I take it you have a nasal mask that can slide off easily?

On the Quattro, you have to physically unclip the mask. So I have done this too, without fully being awake and finding it on the floor the next morning. This happened for a while, and I haven't done it in a long time.

The problem may be related to the mask, or it may be because the machine you have is not a very good one. It will blow air like the best of them, but it is a very basic machine with no data capability or comfort features. Part the reason you might be taking your mask off is that your machine has no exhalation relief. When you are asleep your subconcious mind might not like the restrictive feeling of breathing out against the pressure and tells you take your mask off, and the next thing you know its morning and you can't figure out what happened. Or, since you are not using humidity, your sinuses get dried out and again your subconcious mind kicks in and you take off the mask. Better machines have "mask off" alarms that can detect the airflow changes when you remove your mask and wake you up so you can at least put the mask back on.

This doesn't happen to everyone, but many do experiance it. In time you will adjust and adapt. A great many that have gone before you already have. One easy trick you can try is to tape the headgear to the skin on your face or neck so that if you pull it off in the night it will cause a pinch of pain, enough to wake you up in time to stop taking the mask off or put it back on. I would also try using at least passover humidity, (no heat but with the humidifier hooked up) or at least maybe some Ayr Gel in the nostril to prevent drying out.

If it were me and it were at all possible, I would try very hard to get a better machine. If you like the Resmeds you want at least an Elite, or even better the Elite II. In any case, good luck to you!

how are you in terms of the hose? are you getting tangled in it?

I use a Quattro, and found I could, evidently, pull the mask off without unclipping it and without waking. But that may not be usual, as I'm using AmbienCR and one reported side affect is doing things while "asleep" that aren't recalled later, at all.