Newbie: Pulling mask off in middle of the night

Hello everyone...thanks to the admins for making a site like this available...

I was diagnosed with Sleep Apnea in December 2004 and have been using a CPAP for a couple of weeks--December 30, 2004 was the first night. I have noticed some benefits from the machine already, primary is the end of my desire to come directly home after work and take a nap and I no longer get up several times during the night. I have noticed only one small drawback and that is feeling more tired upon waking up and having a tougher time hearing my alarm and getting up in the mornings, but I have been told by doctor and others I have met that use CPAP that this is not abnormal and should dissapate over the next few months--I guess it is from getting into a deeper sleep than I was before.

But the main thing that has taken some getting used to is keeping the mask on all night. I have awaken many times, at least once per night, to find myself having removed the mask in the middle of the night subconciously. Sometimes I am just holding it, sometimes it is laying above my head on the pillow (many times with the straps still all connected--some kind of Houdini trick I guess!!!), and sometimes I have neatly rolled it up and placed it beside the bed on the floor. I do not remember ever taking it off and have no idea how long it has been off. Some nights I wake up and put it back on and other nights I do not realize it is off until the morning.

Last night, Saturday, I was out late and did not go to bed until 4am. Because of the usage tracking on my CPAP machine (Remstar Pro CFLEX with heat/humid), I could tell that I only had the mask on for 1.5 hours last night. I woke at 11:30 am, so obviously I slept 6 hours without it and can really tell a huge difference in the way I feel today--washed out, dragging, and NO, I did not tie one on either--only had 3 beers the entire night, so I am not fighting off a hard night of drinking.

Looking at the usage tracking on the Remstar, I have been averaging 5 hours per night with the mask on, until last night's episode. Considering I usually get 6-7 hours dedicated to sleep each night, that means an hour or two on average have been without CPAP assistance. Probably not the worst thing in the world, but it would be really good to go the full night on the CPAP. As much better as I feel from the time on the machine, I have to believe I would be even better if I could stay "connected" the entire night. Plus, I am resolving to up my dedication to sleep to a full 8 hours, so I would hate to make that commitment yet only get a little more than half of it with CPAP assistance.

I am going to begin tracking my time on the machine nightly to get a more exact number of hours on the CPAP each night, rather than an average. Hopefully, this will allow me to identify the nights I am using it less and pulling off the mask more often and see if I can correlate those nights to something external that can be altered or corrected (i.e. caffeine, food, allergies, sex, alcohol, medication, time to bed vs. time getting up, etc.).

I guess, after this long diatribe, my question is whether others suffer from mask removal also. Does this only happen early on or is this a continual thing? Is it something with the mask (I doubt it, as it is much more comfortable than I could have imagined and I have had NO difficulty falling asleep)? I would love to hear from others who may experience or have experienced the same thing. Also, if anyone knows of old threads that address this, I would welcome being directed to those. Thanks in advance for any help.

Paul

Paul,

Sure liked reading about your experience.
I've been on this about two months. I remember my first nite vividly (or rather, the morning after). I woke up noticing a strange noise, only to suddenly realize it was my mask lying on the floor next to me. Oh, I got real upset, because I realized it had come off in the middle of the nite without me knowing, and I thought things had been a failure. But then it occurred to me that for the FIRST time in literally years, I woke up not having moved from the same position I'd gone to sleep in. That meant I'd slept clear through somehow, even though it was only about 4 or 5 hours. It was a major accomplishment, even with the mask somehow making it to the floor.

Hasn't happened again since, but I still struggle with dealing with the mask. I fall asleep fine, but when it reaches the highest pressure prescribed (17), that's when I have problems. But I think it's getting better, slowly, very slowly. But for now, that's enough for me.

I'd say give it some time and don't give up. See how you adjust. It's possible there might have to be some change (in mask or whatever), but it may just be getting used to it. I'm guilty of not making a full night of it and instead have only a 5 or 6 hour nite (less when considering the times I still do wake up). Reading your story, I know I've got to do better and lengthen my hours.

Good luck, and let us know how things progress.

Linda

Hi,
Taking the mask off without remebering in the morning has happened to me 3 times in the past 4 months. It has also gotten much better in the past couple of months.
I guess in my case that the mask had shifted and the leaks was making it uncomfortable to breath and then the instincts kick in to remove the obstacle.
I have learned to make the sleeping with CPAP more comfortable for myself. I also have concentrated on how I usually sleep without CPAP, and try to make it as close as possible with CPAP ( on my side down and my body arched). Also persistence is a major contributer to success with CPAP usage. I also think that you have the option (On Remstar) to have an alarm to wake you up if the mask is removed. You might want to try that.
Good luck

Hello

Yes I experinced that as a issue when I frist started CPAP therapy.....I decided if I wore my mask sometime during the day it may make it easier for me to avoid the vanishing mask sydrome. I made it habit to wear my nasal mask during my "afternoon napping" sessions as there are times here I need a pick me up in a form of a 20min-30 min afternoon snozzle [nap] during the day.

It made the tranistion in wearing the mask for more then 8hrs at time a little easier. As time passed by, I was more I was able to nap with the nasal mask. Eventually, the time it stayed on my nose grew longer, and longer. Eventaually , it became a part of my face at night. Gotta admit I too have times when it get uncomftable I remove the mask as well. But majority of waking up to find my "mask" is walking on my face is often caused by air leaks!!!

So I keep the straps mask up with tape, so it is hard for me to get out of my nasal mask is hard whist asleep as it can only be taken awake when I am fully awake. Or more likely, I am often aroused awake when trying pull the mask from my face, as it often wake me up as I am light sleeper! [SPrung! I am have caught myself trying get the mask off!]

It takes few mths to get used to the mask, it oftens depends on the sleeper themsleves. Some get used to quick and some are slow to get use to sleeping with a mask on thier snoz!!![nose]

Mask removal at night is either for 2 reasons. The first is that you still are a newbie and just haven't gotten used to the therapy yet, Hang in there, things will get better.

The second and more important resaon is that either the mouth is open or you have a leak happening and you're losing pressure which is allowing your airway to collaspe and an awakening arousal to occur. This will usually happen when you're asleep on your back when you have gravity working against you. Have a bed partner check to make sure your mask isn't leaking, or mouth is open. Another possible reason could be that your pressure needs to be slightly higher when you sleep on your back. Maybe in the lab during the titration, you had a rough first night with the mask and never was able to sleep in the supine position.

This is where the Auto-pap works very well.

Good luck and keep asking questions.
Bob