Only sleeping about 4-5 hours a night with my CPAP

I've been using my CPAP for two months now. My setting is fairly low (7). According to the readings on my machine, I've only been sleeping about 4-5 hours a night with the CPAP on. I wake up in the middle of the night, remove the mask, and turn off my machine. Most of the time I don't remember waking up and removing my mask. Is this "normal"? Is there an adjustment period when starting to use a CPAP?

I don't have a problem getting to sleep with the CPAP. I feel quite a bit better since I started using it; I just feel like I shouldn't still be waking up in the middle of the night.

Tammy,

I too am a new user (couple of months) and I, and alot of others, did the same thing. I would at some point in the night remove the mask and turn the machine off, and never remember doing it. My problem was trying to breath out against the pressure of the machine. I swapped out the Breas for a REMstar with C-Flex and that cured my problem. Just keep at it.

Tom

I think most people have gone through this.

1. You must be sleeping deeper.

2. You probably are having discomfort with the mask.

Pretty hard to change ONE, and number TWO is expensive to change.

I went the number two route, and have found that by changing masks whenever one becomes uncomfortable, and now I do better than 8 hrs, every night.

I've been on cpap for a little over a year, and sleep on average 6 hours without waking up. I have in the beginning taken off my mask during the night, but did that only twice.
You are still in the adjustment period, it takes a while to get used to all of the contraptions that we need to sleep with, with OSA.Hang in there.

Marie

This does seem like a common problem. My guess is that SOMETHING is not comfortable about your current setup. It may be fine when you go to sleep but somewhere along the line something is bugging you so you remove it.

The fact that the CPAP is working for you and that you're feeling better is great! And 6 hours of GOOD sleep is preferable to 8 hours of lousy sleep.

OK, so now you know it's working for you and all you have to do is fine tune it. Easier said than done. One trick I learned many many years ago when I was practicing lucid dreaming, was to set my intention before going to sleep. Say to yourself, "When I take the mask off tonight I need to wake up". You don't have to be real detailed, but if you can do this, when you wake up, try to determine why you're taking the mask off. Has it rubbed a sore spot? Is the headgear bothering you? Tangled in your hair? Could be lots of things but try to wake up enough to be aware of what's uncomfortable. May take a few tries before it works out this way, but it's great that A.) you know you're doing it, and B.) that the CPAP is giving you 6 good hours so that, C.) you're actually feeling better and you know it.

Keep at it.

tammy wrote:I've been using my CPAP for two months now. My setting is fairly low (7). According to the readings on my machine, I've only been sleeping about 4-5 hours a night with the CPAP on. I wake up in the middle of the night, remove the mask, and turn off my machine. Most of the time I don't remember waking up and removing my mask. Is this "normal"? Is there an adjustment period when starting to use a CPAP?

I don't have a problem getting to sleep with the CPAP. I feel quite a bit better since I started using it; I just feel like I shouldn't still be waking up in the middle of the night.

Tammy,
This is common. It does take a while for most to get use to CPAP. Just looked at the report my Dr. gave me from my first 3 or so months (started back in Aug 04).
Pressure 7
97 days total
26 days over 4 hours (mostly 4-5)
13 days under 4 hours
58 days I didn't even turn the machine on
It gradually got better with time and for the past 30 days or so (since I've had a mask that is comfortable and an AutoPAP) I'm averaging over 8 hours a night.
Don't get discouraged. You are doing way better that I was.
Esther
__

Thanks All...for the advice and words of encouragement.

Tammy,

I tried for 3 months before I finally slept all nite with my mask on. I always took it in my sleep. I have been on cpap since last March. I rarely take the mask off while asleep now. So keep on keeping on. It will get better. Good luck to you!!