Apnea is worse when I sleep on my left side

When I try and sleep on my left side I keep waking up with my apnea with my heart racing despite wearing the cpap. When I'm on my back I wake up because the cpap has turned up usually to about 14 or 15 and I've ended up with a leak. The only way I get some good sleep is by sleeping on my right but lately my head has got really sore.I can't quite work out where but it hurts as soon as I lie down. But why can't I sleep on my left?

Please fill out your equipment profile - https://www.cpaptalk.com/ucp.php?i=prof ... pment_info

TMH152 wrote:When I'm on my back I wake up because the cpap has turned up usually to about 14 or 15

I was able to reduce the pressure needed when sleeping on my back by wearing a firm foam cervical collar. The collar keeps the neck in the best position for airway patency and also keeps the jaw from dropping.

Others on the forum also use the collars.

ChicagoGranny wrote:I like the DMI Universal Firm Foam Cervical Collars -
http://www.walmart.com/search/?query=DM ... %20Collars

The firm works better and lasts longer than the soft. There seems to be no loss in comfort with the firm over the soft.

The cells in the foam break down over time. One lasts me about four months.

Typically the 3-inch width fits a smaller person, and the 3.5-inch or 4.0-inch fits a larger person. Some may need to change the size up or down on the second order. The larger size you can wear, the more support to keep the jaw from dropping. Although I am a small person, the 4.0-inch collar works best for me.

Walmart ships free to your closest store for customer pickup.

- CG

Have you talked to a doctor? One who's tested and examined you for any of 1,000 conditions you might have? Unlike a bunch of strangers on the internet who know nothing whatever about you at all?

Then don't do it, you have two sides. Your heart is in a different location so is your Stomach (Acid Reflux) Jim

Wow Julie, is that not a bit harsh? I thought this was somewhere we could post for advice from other users, suggestions etc.
Jim, I don't usually do it but as I said in my post my head on my usual right side is sore right now.

I have already got plans to talk to the doctor about this, when I finally get there!

Thankyou Chicago Granny.

Well, you gave really no info at all to go by, and we're not mind readers... we want to help, but it's frustrating when there's nothing to work with.

I have found the same issue when I sleep on my left side. I use a nasal mask and my nasal passages become more restricted or clog when i'm on my left side.
On my right side I do much better and only one nasal passage clogs from time to time. The pressure from the Mask and my pillow pressed against my face can cause pain at times.
My shoulder gets to hurting a lot when on my right side.
I do best on my back as far as face pain and nasal passage clogging.

The best way to get good advice here is to give us data. How you feel is important, VERY important, but it is only part of the story. What PAP machine are you using? Different machines respond to events differently so this is important. Please add it to your profile. As is your Mask. So please add it too.

If you can please download Sleepyhead software (free). Then (very important) organize your charts as indicated, Some charts are more important than others. and take a screenshot
You need to get an account at IMGUR.COM and upload your screenshot there (another service is fine)
Then select the image and large thumbnail and copy the forum links to your post here
Details of how to are in my signature.

Can you tell us what times you are on which side? That may help us identify why you are having these left side issues and then we will be able to help. We may be able to spot flow limitation or other events related to your right side sleeping and suggest corrections other than the obvious one of don't do that. That said a body pillow may be helpful in your preventing yourself from right side sleeping.

Good luck in resolving this issue.

Have you asked your doctor about possible neck issues (which might explain your sore head... or not), or BP levels that can also affect headaches?

I've been having this trouble and for me, it seems to be all about the pillow. You need to make sure that the pillow is supporting your neck. When you wake up, try to pay attention - is your head tilted on your neck 'stalk' (for want of a better word). Even though you don't have pain (and you will eventually), your body knows that it's not all right. Now, for me, I get aerophagia which was my clue since nothing was showing up on Sleepyhead. I found myself waking on the left side with my head slightly tucked (and looking at various threads, that seems to be a cause for aerophagia). I did mention eventual pain - had that this morning. Couldn't turn my head to the left and while it's better now, I still don't have the full range.

Tonight I'm going to try my summer gel pillow (which is sculpted rather than fluffy) to see how that works. There are also pillows specifically designed for side sleeping. My problems all started when I had to throw out my favorite feather pillow a couple months ago. I hate change....

edited to add: in another thread, someone was asking about racing heart (maybe you?) and the suggestion was to reduce or eliminate the EPR and see if that improves the fast heartrate.