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I have a dear friend that has recently been diagnosed with SA. He is a BIG time stomach sleeper.

What are his options besides surgery?

Thanks for all of your help

Tell your friend that stomach sleeping is possible on CPAP.

The biggest trick is to hang the mask off the side of the pillow so it does not get knocked away from your face as you sleep.

I am a stomach sleeper and I sleep just fine with my mask. I have no problem sleeping and getting great therapy on my stomach.

Tell him to join us on the forum and he will get all the support we can give him.

Karen

I some times sleep on my stomac I use a umff mask and just turn my head to the left and hang my mask off the edge of the pillow, it works fine for me

CPAP.

* I could stomach sleep with both the Breeze and the Headrest/Twilight NP /Aura - and did in the beginning.

* Based on my own experience, and some non-scientific reading (anecdotal evidence) - I think "big time" stomach sleeping may be an unconcious response to sleep apnea. I used to be a side sleeper, became a stomach sleeper - and after 2.5 years on cpap, I am very much a side sleeper again - a happy one. Sleeping on my stomach gave me a sense of security - which I apparently have naturally with my cpap on.

He should try cpap with a mask that lets you stomach sleep, and if necessary, add a pappillow.

O.

I too am a stomach sleeper. I also use a full face mask. I kind of hang my face off of the side of the pillow but I also use another pillow kind of under my shoulder and along the left side of my body. That supports my head/face better. Just be sure you do not block the air holes.

Thanks so much for all the fast responses. You guys are the bestest!!

If you use the Aura whatever it is called mask, you can put your face right in the pillow, no problem.

Works for me.

Before being diagnosed, I used to sleep on my stomach. Couldn't get to sleep any other way. I also think this is self treatment for apnea. I guess my question is, if you could stay on your stomach, why would you need CPAP?


JeffH

I always used to stomach sleep, but before XPAP I had to sidesleep, Now I use the Comfort Gel, and am able to stomach sleep, but as the nite progresses i'm in all positions. I use my arm under the pillow to support my head or turn my head. It feels good to have the option again. Jim

JeffH wrote:Before being diagnosed, I used to sleep on my stomach. Couldn't get to sleep any other way. I also think this is self treatment for apnea. I guess my question is, if you could stay on your stomach, why would you need CPAP?


JeffH

Because on your stomach you may getting less apneas than in any other position - but you're probably still getting way too many!!!

O.

Im kinda a wierd stomach sleeper in that i like my face pointing straight down into the pillow.

My mask really prevents me from sleeping like this, so frequently i will wake up in the morning having balled my hands up into fists and put my forehead on my fists, one on each side of the forehead support on my mask.

I can sleep on my stomach with any of the masks I tried. I don't use a pillow when I'm on my tummy, just tuck an arm or hand where it's needed.

Brenda

I stomach sleep all the time also. I have a memory foam pillow under a regular fiber-fill medium soft pillow. My forehead is about the only thing on the pillow when I sleep on my stomach, one arm up under the pillow, the other down the side I am facing, mask "dangling" over the edge.

You can save some $$$ and just use an old towel rolled up and tied with ribbon/string, instead of buying a foam pillow.

If apnea happens when your tongue falls back in your throat, how can you have apneas on your stomach? I don't get it.

JeffH wrote:If apnea happens when your tongue falls back in your throat, how can you have apneas on your stomach? I don't get it.

Tongue relaxing back into the throat may be the major culprit for most OSA sufferers, but there are surely ways other soft tissues in the upper airway can relax into a collapsed state, too. Every which way, so to speak.