All Night long?

Newbie question, maybe.

Last night was my second night with a machine. Both nights, after 4-6 hours, something like that, I'd wake up feeling slightly better than usual, take off the mask, and then end up falling asleep again a while later. I wouldn't say they were all the same sleep SESSION, because I might check emails, etc. between. How normal is this, and should I just make myself leave it on and go back to sleep? I wonder if the waking is just me not being used to getting so much quality sleep or if it's something else.

What have your experiences been on this subject?

Thanks!

I'm sure there are better answers out there, but since we are both so new, I'll just tell you what my week was like. I started CPAP monday night - I was very restless all night, but slept a few hours, woke up, stayed in bed with the mask on and slept a little more. Tuesday was horrible - the full face mask was driving me crazy, leaking, burping, squeeking so not much more good sleep, probably less than Monday. Wednesday, I started panicking way before bed time and again - very fitful night. Thursday went back to DME because the panic was unreal about that Full Face Mask. New mask, nasal pillows and I had a good night thursday - still got up a few times to use the bathroom, but I'm working on years of that habit, so I figure it's going to take some time to break. Friday night was even better - I think I only woke up twice, but I was up from 2 to after 3 am, because my brain wouldn't stop mulling a problem over, but I did stay in bed with the mask on and eventually fell back alseep. Last night was 100 percent better - only got up once! ONCE! I think you'll see improvements a little bit at a time, just keep with it. I don't know if you'd be better off staying in bed when you wake up, than getting up and doing something - I know when I do that it's very hard for me to get back to sleep without taking CPAP into account.

SpectreWriter wrote:should I just make myself leave it on and go back to sleep?

Yes...make an effort to make it a rule if you are in bed and there is any chance you will fall asleep...put the mask on.

Every time you allow yourself to sleep without the mask and machine your body undergoes the stress of sleep apnea events.
That stress isn't good for your heart or anything else.
The airway is only held open when you use the mask and machine. There is no real hold over effect unfortunately.

BTW...this includes naps too.

When you are new to this therapy I know that we all cheat...heck I sometimes cheat with a nap on the couch but when first starting therapy it's real easy to develop a bad habit of cheating...try to avoid it if you can.
Cheating is bad for you. Bad habits are really easy to make and really hard to break so try to avoid making them if you can.

Good sleep hygene says to avoid light during sleep time. The light from an email screen is not good. It tells your internal clock it is time to be awake. Reading email requires your brain to be alert, not what you want if you are trying to sleep.