side sleeper advice

MrsSideways · Post by **MrsSideways** » Thu May 19, 2005 2:01 pm

Hi all,
I'm new to the cpap & forum. I need advice on how to side sleep with this thing...I have tried 2 different nasal masks (Breeze & Adam circuit) but find my tossing, turny, side sleeping ways seem to shift the headgear causing my air pillows to get loose. I can't get to sleep with it...maybe I have too much long hair and it makes the head gear slide around. I've read the cpap.com advice about sleeping at the end of my memory foam pillow and will try that. Has anyone tried the Infinity HC481 with megamicro gear? It looks like the smallest head gear...I wonder if it would work with my big hair and side sleeping ways.

rabbitstoo · Post by **rabbitstoo** » Thu May 19, 2005 2:54 pm

I too sleep on my side and change position a lot and have long hair. I have found that when I put my hair in a pony tail fairly high on my head that it fits between the straps of the Swift (nasal pillows) headgear and helps to keep the headgear in place. I tried all different configurations and combinations of securing my hair differently and not securing it and found that this works best for me. It is a hassle mostly because it is yet another lifestyle change I had to make to be able to use the CPAP (I either have to wash my hair every morning to get rid of the pony tail line or I have to wear it in a pony tail or clip instead of down like I was used to). I guess I have to view this as a minor irritation because the benefits of using the CPAP far outweigh the adjustments I have had to make.

I have been 100% compliant for 5 weeks (as of yesterday) and I first tried a nasal mask (had allergic reaction), the Breeze nasal pillows (caused irritation around my nose) and finally the Swift. It took me almost two weeks after getting the Swift to get the adjustments to where I was as comfortable as possible and able to wear the headgear all night, every night. I use cotton pads (like I use on my face for removing makeup) under the straps of the Swift that are on my cheeks because otherwise I have marks in the morning from laying on one side of my face or the other. This was a simple fix. I bought a contour foam pillow and a regular foam pillow (from Walmart, on the advice of someone else on the forum) and have found that with the contour foam pillow on the bottom and the regular foam pillow on top that it is just the right combination for me, my face and my shoulders. I sleep comfortably all night now but it took a lot of adjustments of the straps and trying different bed pillows (not the nasal pillows) and different combinations of bed pillows, but I finally arrived at what I feel is best for me. Since I found the Swift to be the most comfortable for my face and nose, I had to make my adjustments around that to improve on the comfort the best I could. If I have to wear this monstrosity every night for the rest of my life (which apparently I am) I am going to do whatever I have to do to make it as tolerable as possible.

I am totally committed to the CPAP treatment for my moderate sleep apnea because I took care of my mother for over 4 years after she was bedridden because of strokes which more than likely were caused from undiagnosed sleep apnea. I certainly don't want someone to have to take care of me when I am elderly and disabled or to have my later years be miserable because of all the health problems caused by sleep apnea.

I guess the point I am trying to make in this roundabout way (especially since I am not familiar with the mask you are using) is that you have to keep trying different adjustments (to the type of mask, to the straps, to the hair, to the pillows) until you find what works best for you. That is my advice, for what it is worth.

Rabbitstoo = Susan

JimH · Post by **JimH** » Thu May 19, 2005 9:58 pm

MrsSideways, trying keeping your head on the very edge of the pillow so that the mask does not make contact with pillow. Once I did that, it stopped shifting and stopped leaking.

rested gal · Post by **rested gal** » Thu May 19, 2005 10:35 pm

MrsSideways, I'd have the same problem with Breeze headgear shifting, if I didn't put the straps down even lower than the bottom "rung" of the track in front. Here's a picture I retouched to show where I place the Breeze straps, running them over the front of the hose instead of attached to the track in front:

Also, I rigged up a hook on the wall above the head of my bed. Hung a stretchy fabric covered ponytail scrunchy on the hook. I run the main air hose through the scrunchy. Keeping the main air hose above your head keeps the weight of the hose from pulling the headgear or tugging at your nose. Also keeps the hose out of your way for easy toss and turn sleeping. Like being a fish on the end of a slack line.

The Breeze is one of my longtime favorites for side sleeping.

HoseNose · Post by **HoseNose** » Fri May 20, 2005 12:36 am

MrsSideways

I am a back and side sleeper, and my approach is a little different. Of the three mask I have, Aura, Swift, and Activa, I find the most stable is the Activa. If worn loosely the ActiveCell cushion is like a suspension ballon between the seal against your face and the mask frame. I find that while on my side the mask can be pressed up against the pillow and I still have no leaks. With the other mask even the movement of my head against the mask straps can cause a shift of the nasal pillows causing leakage.

The trick with the Activa is to wear the mask loose so the cushion can inflate or expand and allow the frame to float. After all that, I think the Swift is still the more comfortable of them all, it is just not as leak proof as the Activa.

Dan01 · Post by **Dan01** » Fri May 20, 2005 10:47 pm

JimH wrote:MrsSideways, trying keeping your head on the very edge of the pillow so that the mask does not make contact with pillow. Once I did that, it stopped shifting and stopped leaking.

That is my problem also. I barely touch the pillow and I lose seal and have to monkey with it. I guess it is better than stopping breathing all night, but it does disturb my sleep several times a night. I would like to sleep on my back but fear chocking.

IWannaSleep · Post by **IWannaSleep** » Sat May 21, 2005 12:29 am

[quote="Dan01...I would like to sleep on my back but fear chocking.[/quote]

Dan where did your fear of choking get it's genesis? Many people sleep on their backs without choking, I am one of them. Of course I sleep on either of my sides without choking also. Do you also worry that if you sleep on your stomach you will suffocate yourself in your pillow?

ron

Dan01 · Post by **Dan01** » Sat May 21, 2005 12:42 am

IWannaSleep wrote:[quote="Dan01...I would like to sleep on my back but fear chocking.

Dan where did your fear of choking get it's genesis? Many people sleep on their backs without choking, I am one of them. Of course I sleep on either of my sides without choking also. Do you also worry that if you sleep on your stomach you will suffocate yourself in your pillow?

ron[/quote]

I have had three episodes of choking in the past four years. I have awaken unable to breathe for at least 30 seconds. My wife called 9-11 one of these times. Talk about an obstuction - and the doctor considers me a mild case of OSA????

Anyway, he says I have a very large tongue and tonsils, combined with a small airway. My fear is that gravity will relax the tongue plugging the airway. I remember reading something like that during my research after these episodes.

Since then I have realized it may just be the windpipe closing up. Until I find out for sure, I like sleeping on my side.

Dan01 · Post by **Dan01** » Sat May 21, 2005 12:44 am

BTW, those episodes scared the heck out of me. It convinced me to do something about it (my OSA).

rock and roll · Post by **rock and roll** » Sat May 21, 2005 8:20 am

One thing you might do to help as I am a rock and roller at night as well is to get a good visco memory foam pillow, a good one now that will let the gear just sink in and remove the pressure points. Works great, I can sleep in any interface after doing this.

ozij · Post by **ozij** » Sat May 21, 2005 8:38 am

RG:
I enjoy the Breeze, but it seems that no matter what I do, it digs into the area just around and beneath my nostrils (outside). Do (did) you have anything similar? With the way I set it up, putting the straps lower down makes it dig in worse. I tried pulling out the metal a bit today - will see if it helps.
O.
P.S. I just saw your deconstructed Aura - took my breath away. You are one adventurous courageous lab rat!

rested gal · Post by **rested gal** » Sat May 21, 2005 5:45 pm

You are one adventurous courageous lab rat!

LOL, ozij, it's called being a desperate lab rat. Desperate for a mask that suits me in every way...and my chopped down Aura does - for me.

Most of the time the Breeze (my previous favorite and now close-second) didn't dig into my nostrils, but occasionally it would. So, I know what you mean about that kind of discomfort. I've heard of some people bending the metal spine (as you've tried) to get a little different angle. Seems I've even read of some of them carefully heating the plastic to bend it outward too, but I don't recall how they heated it. I think I also read of a woman placing a sponge somewhere (at her forehead, perhaps) to make the whole thing sit farther out in front.

If the Breeze allowed a greater adjustment of the tilt of the shell that holds the pillows, that might solve some of it, but unfortunately it has just a small degree of adjustment there.

Oh, what we could suggest to the mask makers if they'd just let us in on the early development before they've sunk too much money in to go back and re-do some of their designs! They all talk a good game about how they get patients' input. Input of cash, maybe. heheh.

DCTom · Post by **DCTom** » Sat May 21, 2005 7:46 pm

I sleep on my side and stomach with the Activa. No problems at all. I love that mask except my eyes get puffy in the mornings when I wake up. I have not figured if it's related to the mask or not. I've tried lots of masks and none compete with the Activa.

ozij · Post by **ozij** » Sat May 21, 2005 11:08 pm

The complexities of masks - and the help of forums...
My hair is not long - and I sleep on my side, using memory foam U shaped pillow. Having the hose hang down from the wall helps a lot - and the breeze is practically endlessly tweakable. Yesterday I pulled out the metal spine very very gently - a suggestion I read here - and that helped against its digging in near my nostrils. And then I discovered why RG recommended large pillows. The mediums, which had never leaked or let me down in 6 weeks were now further away from my nose, and too small. I had large ones - so I switched.

Having so many things to tweak on the breeze can be annoying - but makes it very customizable. Let us know what helped you, MrsSideways.
O.

rbv24 · Post by **rbv24** » Mon May 23, 2005 10:22 am

OZIJ,

Where did you find a U shaped memory foam pillow?

Thanks,

Rob

side sleeper advice

side sleeper advice

Side Sleeper Advice

Activa