side sleeping

General Discussion on any topic relating to CPAP and/or Sleep Apnea.
7michael3
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side sleeping

Post by 7michael3 » Mon Dec 15, 2014 5:48 pm

any tips for sleeping on the side without loosing seal and getting air in my eyes all night?
“I’m not a very good sleeper. But you know what? I’m willing to put in a few extra hours every day to get better. That’s just the kind of hard worker I am.” -Jarod Kintz

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RogerSC
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Re: side sleeping

Post by RogerSC » Mon Dec 15, 2014 6:01 pm

7michael3 wrote:any tips for sleeping on the side without loosing seal and getting air in my eyes all night?
Yes, I'd be looking at a pillow that allows you to hang the mask off the pillow like this one:

https://www.cpap.com/productpage/double ... -cpap.html

or a buckwheat hull pillow that you can shape as you need to not interfere with your mask. Buckwheat hull pillows are a little harder (my experience), so it depends on your own preference. Or a Tempurpedic side-sleeper pillow, they also allow you to hang your mask off the end of the pillow. For side sleeping, you're looking for a little higher pillow, which is what I like about the Papillow, it's high enough to give my head and neck good support when I'm sleeping on my side.

But getting a pillow that works for you if you're having problems like you mentioned is very helpful. May take some trial-and-error, but very worthwhile.

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SGearhart
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Re: side sleeping

Post by SGearhart » Mon Dec 15, 2014 6:02 pm

First, Welcome to the board!

I purchased a CPAP pillow that resembles a dog bone. It has a removable center section for thickness adjustment and almost square sides as opposed to a normal bed pillow that tapers down. I've found this pillow provides me with support and mask clearance while I'm on my side. I noticed your "air in the eyes" statement. Are you using a full face mask? Fro, my experience they can be a little more difficult to control with side sleeping. I switched to a nasal pillows mask and a chinstrap. I've found this combination to be more conducive to side sleep. I'm sure that this topic will have answers be as varied as mask preferences.

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Pugsy
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Re: side sleeping

Post by Pugsy » Mon Dec 15, 2014 6:23 pm

You will just have to experiment with various bed pillows to find something that doesn't put pressure on the mask.
Full face masks have more surface area to deal with but it can be done. There are people using full face masks and sleeping on their sides and even on their stomachs. So you have a little bit more of a challenge but not a challenge that is impossible to beat.

I use a nasal pillow mask so I can't offer much in specific ideas and even if I used a full face mask it wouldn't necessarily mean that what works well for me would work well for you. Bed pillow preference is probably more individualized than mask preference.
I prefer a buckwheat hull pillow
https://www.cpap.com/productpage/pur-sl ... illow.html
It allows me to move the hulls and make a little "nest" of sorts for my mask to rest in when I am on my side or stomach and not push on the mask too much.
As a side benefit...I also have an old arthritic neck and the hulls give good support for the proper alignment that I need for my neck.
Of course..usual disclaimer..YMMV...you may or may not like what I like.

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ChicagoGranny
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Re: side sleeping

Post by ChicagoGranny » Mon Dec 15, 2014 6:55 pm

7michael3 wrote:any tips for sleeping on the side without loosing seal and getting air in my eyes all night?

Why do you want and/or need to sleep on your side as opposed to, say, your back?

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palerider
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Re: side sleeping

Post by palerider » Mon Dec 15, 2014 6:59 pm

I just use a regular pillow and sleep on the edge of it, usually.

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ChicagoGranny
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Re: side sleeping

Post by ChicagoGranny » Mon Dec 15, 2014 7:16 pm

PailRider wrote:on the edge
I believe you live on the edge.

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palerider
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Re: side sleeping

Post by palerider » Mon Dec 15, 2014 7:41 pm

ChicagoGranny wrote:
PailRider wrote:on the edge
I believe you live on the edge.
you got that right!

sometimes I cut myself, sometimes I fall off.

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spmccord
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Re: side sleeping

Post by spmccord » Mon Dec 15, 2014 7:55 pm

palerider wrote:I just use a regular pillow and sleep on the edge of it, usually.
I do the same thing.

You just learn to sleep that way. I have very few leaks.

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RogerSC
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Re: side sleeping

Post by RogerSC » Wed Dec 17, 2014 3:06 am

spmccord wrote:
palerider wrote:I just use a regular pillow and sleep on the edge of it, usually.
I do the same thing.

You just learn to sleep that way. I have very few leaks.
I started out that way, too. Found that a pillow made for it made it easier for me. Each to their own *smile*.

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Re: side sleeping

Post by Guest » Wed Dec 17, 2014 3:53 am

ChicagoGranny wrote:
7michael3 wrote:any tips for sleeping on the side without loosing seal and getting air in my eyes all night?

Why do you want and/or need to sleep on your side as opposed to, say, your back?


Habit, of course

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CMM
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Re: side sleeping

Post by CMM » Wed Dec 17, 2014 5:58 am

I'm a side sleeper too and also had the wind in my eyes problem. I bought this buckwheat pillow from CPAP.com. It made a HUDGE difference. My mask doesn't move all over my face anymore. It takes a couple of nights to find the right amount of fill in the pillow. It's not soft like a down pillow, but it's honestly the most comfortable pillow I've ever owned- and I've tried just about everything.

https://www.cpap.com/productpage/pur-sl ... illow.html

Hope that helps. Good luck!

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englandsf
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Re: side sleeping

Post by englandsf » Wed Dec 17, 2014 6:53 am

In general nasal pillows are the most resistant to sideways movement caused by side sleeping. Good advice above but have you tried pillows? P10 is especially good IMHO.

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JimP
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Re: side sleeping

Post by JimP » Wed Dec 17, 2014 7:17 am

I had the same problem with the F10. I think it has to do with the plastic sides being more prone to being moved.

With the P10, I don't have this problem and am able to use regular pillows as long as I sleep on the edge of them. I might change over to another kind of pillow as using regular pillows makes me push them over to the wife's side of the bed.

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MagsterMile
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Re: side sleeping

Post by MagsterMile » Wed Dec 17, 2014 8:47 am

I to use the F10. I recently purchased a Serta Side Sleeper Extra Firm and it is working well for me so far. I'm draping the hose over the headboard since I'm worried it might get pushed into the pillow during restless sleep. Used a cpap max for several years. I want to make a change and am currently researching pillows so I'm holding off getting a new more expensive cpap max pillow for now. The Serta SS EF was very cheap at one of the discount retailers. A caution to consider with cpap pillows. You need to be aware that some cpap pillows may have too big of a rise for smaller individuals. The first cpap pillow I bought (can't remember the brand name) ended up being returned to an on-line retailer. My head was way too high and it was very uncomfortable. The cpap max allows you to remove one of the 1" high cushions from inside of it. It has 3 - 1" cushions so it makes it adjustable for the individual. I don't anticipate getting rid of all leaks while using a FFM so I basically learned to shift the pillow around sub-consciously while sleeping. Eventually, you just get used to it after awhile.

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