CPAP Mask Off When Woke Up

[mceffi]

Hi all,

I am having this problem as per topic.

This happens every time and I am not sure when did I get rid off my mask while I am sleeping.

What is the cause and the solutions for this problem?

Please help.

[mesenteria]

As a person diagnosed with apnea, you are also diagnosed concurrently with sleep disorder.  That is to say, if you have apnea, you don't sleep well, or properly.  You spend a lot of time being aroused from deep sleep, or wanting to get down to those levels, but are forced to deal with choking, hypopneas, desaturations of 02, and so on. You are constantly trying to alleviate or to mitigate the circumstances that cause you to be partially awakened.  Whether you turn over, sit up and belch, go to the bathroom half-asleep, or feel the unfamiliar item on your face, you take steps to 'correct' the fault.  In your case, you have added clearing your face of the unwanted intrusion to better sleep.  At least, that's what your subconscious mind tells you to do about the mask.

I will defer to others who have dealt with their own experience with nocturnal mask removal about how to deal with it.

If you haven't already done so, please consider using the OSCAR software and providing us with a few days' worth of data. Your machine should have a slot of an SD card, and it probably has a card, or you can purchase one for a few dollars. I have that machine, and mine was supplied with a card installed. It definitely has the slot. We want the data because it may be that your apnea has a strong central apnea component that is 'treatment emergent', meaning it has become salient only since commencing PAP therapy.

[DeepBreathing]

Mesentaria, mceffi has a BMC machine which (AFAIK) isn't supported by Oscar. Is that what you had, and were you able to use it with Oscar?

[Plmnb]

mceffi,

HI!  This is one of the BIGGEST reasons I gave up on PAP therapy 7 years ago.  EVERY single morning I would wake up with the dang mask on the floor beside my bed with no recollection of how it got there.

After surgeries and mask changes, it still happened.  

Fast forward to this time around on PAP therapy, even with starting out with unsuccessful CPAP this has not happened.  I'm not sure if it is the advancements in the past 7 years with masks or the settings on the machines.  So I am thinking it is either the particular mask you are using or your settings, or both.

Is this your first foray into the world of PAP treatment?  Have you already tried numerous masks?  Have you already tweaked your settings?

I am very, very new here but I am sure the more knowledgeable members will have many questions and provide answers for you.  Be sure to install OSCAR if you can, they won't be able to help you very much without the data from the software.

Good luck, am interested in your hunt for the answer.

Plmnb

[OpalRose]

DeepBreathing, mesenteria,
The BMC is listed as not supported.  Is the OSCAR team working on this?  

http://www.apneaboard.com/wiki/index.php...d_machines

As to taking your mask off, there could be any number of reasons. The most likely culprit is an ill fitting mask.

See the Mask Primer link in my signature line below.

[SarcasticDave94]

When I was starting out on CPAP therapy, the 2 biggest causes for me removing the mask were incorrect mask adjustment and too little air from a wrong setting.

I had to learn that a mask that's tight enough to hurt is wrong. I had to learn how to adjust the straps correctly. If it still failed, either too tight or leaks, I had to change to another mask. I also had to look at the data, get the clinician manual to learn how to adjust my pressure settings, and get it to where it was needed for best results.

[SleepyTexasGirl]

Personally, I'd think that when I find a mask really uncomfortable when I first put it on, I'm much more likely to take it off. I'm also more likely to take it off if it is easy to do so unconsciously - with a mask that is only held on by an elastic strap, I could just push it off. I'd rather have something that requires me to unstrap one or more things and can't be pushed off easily. The bonus is that it would also be harder to dislodge accidentally.

[sheepless]

masks come off because they're uncomfortable &/or leak, pressure settings are not optimized or the person is on the wrong machine. post your oscar charts & folks will help with the machine issues. all you can do with masks is keep trying until you find one that's not uncomfortable & doesn't leak much. in the meantime while they sound silly, there are ways to make it more difficult to remove the mask, like wearing mittens or taping the mask to your face so you feel it coming off.

[mesenteria]

Mesentaria, mceffi has a BMC machine which (AFAIK) isn't supported by Oscar. Is that what you had, and were you able to use it with Oscar?

Hmmm...when I posted, I could have sworn I saw that the OP stated it was an Elite...don't know how.*  But, to be sure, and to stand corrected, it is not the same machine I have, and I accept that it does NOT have data capability.  My apologies to the OP.

*Late night skulking, probably mixed up tombstone data between two posters.  Sorry.