Hi!

Yes, it's actually very dangerous for you to stop using it. I had the EXACT same issues you're having so I'll share my experience in case it helps!

I was convinced I was waking up just as often with it on as I was without it, and at least without the CPAP I was comfortable :) So I told my doctor, "thanks but no thanks". He sent me back to the sleep doctor for a sleep study with my CPAP machine (my first study was done without a mask, just monitoring my normal sleep, and it was done in my home).

After the second sleep study, this time done in the clinic, I said "see? I can't sleep with it on!" The tech looked at me funny and said "you slept pretty well!" I just shook my head and said that their machines must not work well. When I went back in to see the sleep expert he had me sit down and review both sleep studies with him, first the one without the CPAP then the one with it. It was NIGHT AND DAY different! Without the CPAP I was dropping into sleep for just a few seconds then popping awake to breath. I was doing this allllll nigggggh long. I was aware of barely sleeping due to all the wires and junk on me, but and I know I zoned out, but I had no idea I was actually SLEEPING and I wasn't waking up because I was uncomfortable, I was waking up when my blood oxygen levels dropped too low.

Then we looked at my results wearing that freaking mask! I said, "I didn't sleep at all during the test." The doctor said, "Actually, you were in stage one sleep within fifteen minutes." WHAT??? no way, I was aware of the room, the blinking lights the sounds etc... so I push back and he pulls up video of me sleeping, and sure enough I'm in bed, restless (EEG shows I'm awake) then I quiet down and I drop into sleep on the EEG! He sat there forever going through my wake cycles with me where I fussed with the mask and tossed and turned, but mostly slept in stage one or two and a few times stages three and four. But what REALLY made an impression, was the part of the readout showing my blood oxygen levels. without the mask, I was dropping way down into cell death zones. Basically without my CPAP on, I'm starving my body of oxygen hundreds or thousands of times each night. When this happens it causes the most damage to the brain, kidneys, heart, and liver.

The take away is that It FEELS like you aren't sleeping with the stupid mask on, but you are actually getting MUCH more sleep with it on that you think you are. Even more importantly, the frustrating night in the lab with my CPAP, my blood oxygen levels NEVER DROPPED. NOT ONCE.

So please talk to your doctor(s), look at your results and I bet if you just gut it out, once you KNOW you're getting more and better sleep with the mask on regardless of how it seems, you're eventually get used to it and sleep fine.

I don't know about you, but I need every single brain cell I have!

I have the Whisper that just covers my nose.

Glad I saw this thread.  I am experiencing the same problem.  My wife keeps nudging me saying the mask is leaking and I have an extremely dry mouth when I wake up.  I will try and turn down the pressure a little at a time and see how that helps.

Thanks!

Mild sleep apnea here.  Did the sleep study.  Tried the mask (new from a friend...Never used) and the nose mask.  I hated both and couldn't sleep with them.  I then went with the mouthpiece.  It took awhile but I have gotten use to that.  If I can remember to put it in before I go to sleep.  It's in about 1/2 to 1/4 of the time...Depending on the night.  I don't want to wear it till I'm about to go to sleep.  Many times I fall asleep before I remember to put it in.  I've tried timers...And when I'm half asleep it will go off.  I'll put it in.  But here is the other problem, I fall asleep...The mouthpiece next to me...The timer goes off.  I wake up, put the mouthpiece in, then can't get back to sleep.

Again, just saying I couldn't handle (sleep) with the CPAP.  Had to go with the mouthpiece.  Brian

Renee- Thanks for replying. Do you think you gas is from your CPAP?