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Take it off!
I for the life of me can't stop taking my mask off. It's 12am and I'm asleep- I sit up in mid sleep and rip that bad boy off like it's hotter than coals and throw it on the floor, just to wake up at 4am sad. No, I don't know I'm doing it. Yes the wife yells, in a caring and supportive manner, at me for it. Any thoughts or Ideas? I'm a 16 setting right now, no ramp, humidity 2, c-flex on 3, half-face mask.
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Replies to This Discussion
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Permalink Reply by Mike on
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There's a new technology that Fisher & Paykel came out with called SensAwake -- developed by Dr. David Rapoport at NYU. It "senses" when you're about to wake up and pull off the mask, and then lowers the pressure on the machine so that you won't do it. I'd recommend asking for a F&P machine with SensAwake -- supposedly it works very well to solve that problem. By the way, I have no interest in promoting F&P products (don't even use any myself) -- I'm just aware of this technology and think it might help you.
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Permalink Reply by Banyon on
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Mike,
I was excited about SensAwake when it was first introduced and have watched the various sleep apnea forums for user's experiences. I have been unable to find any users saying the SensAwake feature has done anything beneficial for them. If you have any links to actual users good experiences with SensAwake, I would appreciate seeing them.
Forums tend to be populated with people that have various problems with CPAP. Sometimes I wonder what would happen to these forums if someone invented a CPAP device that made it easy and 100% effective. Maybe everyone that tried one would sleep great the first night, get up and have a fully active great day, totally change their lifestyle, and forget about the forums without coming back to tell us the good news? :):)
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Permalink Reply by Mary Z on
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How long have you been on CPAP? This is pretty common. Maybe your doctor can prescribe a mile sedative or sleeping pill for a short while. Just keep trying to go a little longer each night.
Are you getting too hot, or feeling like you need more air? An adjustment in your pressure may be in order. 16 is getting up there in pressure, maybe use ramp and then start over after a few minutes break when you take the mask off. Like I said it's a common problem. How are you feeling energy wise the next day?
Good Luck,
Mary Z.
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Permalink Reply by RockRpsgt on
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I often wonder about the forums myself banyon. We also see quite a few repetitive personalities on each forum. Most people just pass through.
Banyon said:Mike,
I was excited about SensAwake when it was first introduced and have watched the various sleep apnea forums for user's experiences. I have been unable to find any users saying the SensAwake feature has done anything beneficial for them. If you have any links to actual users good experiences with SensAwake, I would appreciate seeing them.
Forums tend to be populated with people that have various problems with CPAP. Sometimes I wonder what would happen to these forums if someone invented a CPAP device that made it easy and 100% effective. Maybe everyone that tried one would sleep great the first night, get up and have a fully active great day, totally change their lifestyle, and forget about the forums without coming back to tell us the good news? :):)
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Rock, maybe some people get the answers they need and go on with their CPAP. Maybe they don't get the answers they need, or don't get easy answers. CPAP requires commitment and dedication each and every night. The willingness to keep trying different things, be it masks, DMEs, docs, until you bring it all together so it works for you. Sometimes we need to spend money out of pocket to try a new mask, or buy a pad-a-cheek, or hose cover. Lots of times we don't like the advice we get- go on a diet, wear the mask during the day, just stick with it, so it's easier to just put the machine in the closet. I'd like to think that most people get help with their problems, or just support knowing they're not the only one out there struggling and then go on using their CPAP nightly because they feel better. Lots of people aren't interested in getting reports or watching numbers daily. Some of us are geeks and CPAP has made such a difference in our lives we live and breathe it. We don't fall asleep driving or at our desks, we wake up feeling good, we're excited with new technology and knowing who invented CPAP. It's made a definable, quantifiable positive difference in our lives.
Still, I'd like to believe people just need to vent and get a little support because it's not easy and they're frustrated. Maybe their lives are overwhelming.
I'm glad y'all are here for me.
Rock Hinkle said:I often wonder about the forums myself banyon. We also see quite a few repetitive personalities on each forum. Most people just pass through.
Banyon said:
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Permalink Reply by Mark on
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Thank you, this is the only way to get questions answered, my clinic is ignoring me (i need more $$$ to continue) I am still waiting to hear if I'm narcoleptic or not. I've been on CPAP for 4 weeks now, my poor wife is trying so hard to wake me to put the thing on, but that's like trying to wake the dead. I feel more exhausted now I ever have and before i went to the Dr.'s my arms and legs would be asleep when i woke (from a oops, sorry mam, I did not mean to fall asleep standing and throw my Starbucks at you..). Now the arm/leg thing is worse and my sleepiness comes and goes, I can't wrap my head around it. I fall asleep 12 times at work on average, many times while standing or talking with someone. No matter how hard i try there are no car rides i remember because I'm asleep. I'm missing my kid's first achievements because I'm asleep. I was a talented problem solver, fixing anything, but now I'm good for falling asleep holding tools. Sorry for rambling, I'm just frustrated, 25 years old and sleeping my life away. One good report though- my wife said my snoring is "not as loud" as before. I went from, hey Texas we hear this rumbling coming from you in California- you have earthquakes too?, to the apartment across the street yelling "Gee whiz - shut that kid up already".
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Mark,
Since starting CPAP have you noticed dry mouth? You have a high pressure (16 cm) and are using a nasal mask. This is often a recipe for mouthbreathing or leaking air out of the mouth. This can negate the effectiveness of the CPAP therapy. Ask your wife if she notices mouthbreathing or air leaking out of your mouth.
Also, what is the exact model of the machine you are using?
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REMstarPro M series, and nope- no mouth leakage that we know of so far. And no dry mouth, but it dose rain around once every two weeks. - oh, and I'm snoring with my mouth shut...i did not know that it was possible.
Banyon said:Mark,
Since starting CPAP have you noticed dry mouth? You have a high pressure (16 cm) and are using a nasal mask. This is often a recipe for mouthbreathing or leaking air out of the mouth. This can negate the effectiveness of the CPAP therapy. Ask your wife if she notices mouthbreathing or air leaking out of your mouth. Also, what is the exact model of the machine you are using?
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I believe that machine records only hours used and does not give you any useful data about your therapy. What are the chances you get another machine that reports data on the effectiveness of the therapy (apneas, hypopneas, flow limitations, snores, mask leak, pressure, etc.)?
If your therapy is currently effective, you may get used to wearing the mask all night as time goes on. However, without data, you don't know whether the therapy is effective in the short time you are wearing the mask. If the therapy is ineffective, it could be contributing to the reflex action of taking the mask off.
Another thing you might want to discuss with your doctor is switching to BiPAP. It is often recommended when pressure requirements are 14 cm or higher. This would also be an opportunity to get a data-capable machine.
Rock H, would you post something about the type of machines you recommend at pressure of 16?
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Permalink Reply by D. W. Conn on
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How long have you been doing removing the mask now?
I was doing the same thing for about 3 months. it just can take some practice.
The mask can get hot. I make sure the Temp in my bedroom is 68 degrees or lower. I also have to have a fan blowing on my face. This took out some of the discomfort. Now if I tkae off the mask or knock the hose loose I wake up ASAP and just put it all back on or yikes even back together.
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Permalink Reply by Judy on
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As long as that Respironics is a Pro, it is fully data capable. The Respironics just aren't all the great about the amount of data they provide via the LED screen. And they are a bit trickier to access that data. Hopefully someone here can explain how to access the LED screen data. I remember you have to unplug, plug back in and some form of button push or pushes and listening for a beep or some such.
Don your mask and turn your PAP on during the day or early evening some place other than your bedroom. Read a book or magazine, work a jigsaw or crossword puzzle, watch TV, whatever, just so long as it is something other than laying there concentrating on "I've got to get to sleep". You just want to get used to having that mask on your face, feeling that pressure and getting comfortable with it w/o the "need to get to sleep".
When you DO wake up during the night and find you've taken your mask off, PUT IT BACK ON, turn your PAP back on and go back to sleep wearing it. NEVER attempt to sleep w/o PAP and mask.
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