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+--- Thread: How to prevent yourself from unconsciously taking off the mask? (/Thread-How-to-prevent-yourself-from-unconsciously-taking-off-the-mask)
How to prevent yourself from unconsciously taking off the mask? - NoddingHacker - 04-28-2020
I tend to get very few hours of therpay (2.5 - 6) cause I take off the mask during sleep. I don't do it by choice - just like how we might go to sleep with a blanket and wake up to find it at the floor. I find I get my best sleep when I use the mask the most.
My Dr suggested it may be due to discomfort, and that I should try to experiment with different mask types like a full mask ( I use nasal). I use a Lowensiten primsaSmart for reference.
RE: How to prevent yourself from unconsciously taking off the mask? - Big Guy - 04-28-2020
I'm currently using a ResMed AirFit F20 or F30. Both serve me well, but I do find the F30 to be more comfortable and less intimidating.
Initially, the F30 was great. Then, I had a period that it wasn't functioning as well as it had been. I went back to using the F20 for a while.
I returned to the F30 and am once again happy with it's performance. I can't speak to removing my mask while sleeping. From the very 1st night of SA Therapy, it went as well as I think it could have.
Others have suggested that wearing your mask around your house during the day or evening, prior to bed might help in the acclimation process.
The thought of having to use a CPAP is indeed, very strange. At least for me it was. Once doing it, it wasn't all that bad.
RE: How to prevent yourself from unconsciously taking off the mask? - SarcasticDave94 - 04-28-2020
It's possible the pressure settings are a bit low due to the description. I used to rip my mask off due to air starvation. I had to bump the pressure up.
RE: How to prevent yourself from unconsciously taking off the mask? - OpalRose - 04-28-2020
Agree with Dave. If your using a minimum pressure of 4cm, this could possibly cause you to feel what we call
"air starved." Even turning it up to 5cm could make a word of difference.
It also may be discomfort with your mask in general, maybe not a good fit.
RE: How to prevent yourself from unconsciously taking off the mask? - NoddingHacker - 04-28-2020
(04-28-2020, 12:53 PM)Big Guy Wrote: I'm currently using a ResMed AirFit F20 or F30. Both serve me well, but I do find the F30 to be more comfortable and less intimidating.
Initially, the F30 was great. Then, I had a period that it wasn't functioning as well as it had been. I went back to using the F20 for a while.
I returned to the F30 and am once again happy with it's performance. I can't speak to removing my mask while sleeping. From the very 1st night of SA Therapy, it went as well as I think it could have.
Others have suggested that wearing your mask around your house during the day or evening, prior to bed might help in the acclimation process.
The thought of having to use a CPAP is indeed, very strange. At least for me it was. Once doing it, it wasn't all that bad.
I thought once you have your first streak of consistent success in falling asleep with the CPAP, you are technically used to it?
(04-28-2020, 02:16 PM)SarcasticDave94 Wrote: It's possible the pressure settings are a bit low due to the description. I used to rip my mask off due to air starvation. I had to bump the pressure up.
Did you do it unconsciously though? How did you know it was air starvation?
(04-28-2020, 02:24 PM)OpalRose Wrote: Agree with Dave. If your using a minimum pressure of 4cm, this could possibly cause you to feel what we call
"air starved." Even turning it up to 5cm could make a word of difference.
It also may be discomfort with your mask in general, maybe not a good fit.
I have asked my Dr and he assumes the 4cm is only the initial pressure. I use the word "assumes" since you can't find anything on Lowenstein devices on the web. The manuals are terrible, and the technician that gave me the machine is very unhelpful. I once asked him if my machine has auto-titiration, and he said there is no such thing as auto titration in cpap.
How you might judge what is a good fit on a mask and what isn't?
RE: How to prevent yourself from unconsciously taking off the mask? - Hydrangea - 04-29-2020
(04-28-2020, 02:16 PM)SarcasticDave94 Wrote: It's possible the pressure settings are a bit low due to the description. I used to rip my mask off due to air starvation. I had to bump the pressure up.
This was my first thought, too.
I experienced the same problem when my pressure was at my prescribed pressure of 5. Once I raised my pressure to 6, I stopped having that problem.
It was in my sleep that I was pulling off my mask. I'd wake up later (in the morning), and see it tossed to the side. Because I stopped doing it once I raised the pressure, I have to assume that I'd been pulling it off as a sort of instinct in the night due to an intolerance for such a low pressure.
RE: How to prevent yourself from unconsciously taking off the mask? - ardenum - 04-29-2020
Once you are on the right pressure, im afraid its a matter of time unfortunately, to get to used to it. I stopped pulling of the mask at year 3.
RE: How to prevent yourself from unconsciously taking off the mask? - SarcasticDave94 - 04-29-2020
On "how did I know" regarding mask being ripped off: when I edited or bumped up my EPAP Min pressure on my ASV, I didn't breathe through the narrow straw and mask ripping off status improved.
RE: How to prevent yourself from unconsciously taking off the mask? - OpalRose - 04-29-2020
(04-28-2020, 10:50 PM)NoddingHacker Wrote:(04-28-2020, 02:24 PM)OpalRose Wrote: Agree with Dave. If your using a minimum pressure of 4cm, this could possibly cause you to feel what we call
"air starved." Even turning it up to 5cm could make a word of difference.
It also may be discomfort with your mask in general, maybe not a good fit.
I have asked my Dr and he assumes the 4cm is only the initial pressure. I use the word "assumes" since you can't find anything on Lowenstein devices on the web. The manuals are terrible, and the technician that gave me the machine is very unhelpful. I once asked him if my machine has auto-titiration, and he said there is no such thing as auto titration in cpap.
How you might judge what is a good fit on a mask and what isn't?
Your machine is not one that is widely used here, and I don't know much about it. You can, however find software here in The Private Files and Links Forum. It does make sense when your Doctor stated that 4cm is an initial pressure. It doesn't mean you should stay at that pressure. Looking at software data (and of course how you feel) is about the only way to tell what your optimal pressures should be.
Many here have suggested your raise your minimum pressure a bit. It may or may not make a difference in removing your mask, but it certainly wont hurt. You can always change it back.
You need to access the Clinicians menu to make changes.
Directions for accessing the Clinicians Menu:
Weinmann Prisma series with buttons: When in clock mode, press and hold the rightmost buttons (menu and ramp) for a few seconds until MENU CLIN appears. Then press the + (settings) button.
Weinmann Prisma series with touch screen: Press and hold the "info" icon for a few seconds, then choose "login" to enter setup.
Now as far as a good mask fit, you can determine that by your leak rate. Or how the mask feels in general.
Read the Mask Primer. This may help you.
http://www.apneaboard.com/wiki/index.php?title=Mask_Primer