Side Sleeper Questions

[anelson]

I'm new to CPAPing with just under two weeks on the machine (part time.) I am a side sleeper and cannot sleep on my back because of resulting back pain. I usually turn over as my shoulder gets sore. I have a full face mask (Ultra Mirage) and I cannot get it to stay sealed. The problems happen when I turn over. I have tried sleeping on the edge of the pillow and that does not seem to let me sleep without leaks either

I'm going in tomorrow to my DME to see what I can do either about the mask I have or switching to a new mask type. I have noticed that with the CPAP on I breath through my nose.

Is it feasible to consider a nasal pillow system with a chinstrap?
How resistant to leakage are nasal gel masks with turning over?
Has anyone used one of those star shaped pillows with a FFMask?

I follow this procedure for adjusting the mask:
Sitting up pull on the mask with last night's settings and insert the last clip
Adjust staps on bottom to loosest position with no leaks facing forward
Turn head full right and full left and tighten lower straps until no leaks

This is usually good for between 1.5 and 2.5 hours without leaks. Usually after I have turned over once or twice leaks start. Redoing the mask adjustment procedure does not help.

Is it possible my face is changing shape?

I have been wiping out the mask and my face with CPAP wipes to take care of dirt or oil problems but it does not seem to help.

I'm really frustrated with all of this rigmarole.

Is 12 days with mask long enough to learn the ropes of getting it adjusted correctly?

Am I doing something blatantly wrong?
Sigh.

Alllan

[Guest]

I'm a side sleeper. I WAS a 24/7 mouthbreather until I got on the hose. Now I can breathe 24/7 out of my nose. Go figure.

I use and recommend the Nasal Aire II mask, and the cpap.com version of the Deluxe Chinstrap. I morphed them together, so I only have the chinstrap, no extra headgear.

You can see pix of what I did, and read more about the NAII here:

viewtopic/t23207/Babettes-Nasal-Aire-II-Tip-Sheet.html

Hope this helps!!!
Babette

[ozij]

<snip>

I'm going in tomorrow to my DME to see what I can do either about the mask I have or switching to a new mask type. I have noticed that with the CPAP on I breath through my nose.

Consider a change of your head pillow too. A number of people were very satisfied by "Target's Shapable".

Hose routing (hanging from above) can also make a difference.

Is it feasible to consider a nasal pillow system with a chinstrap?

Yes.

I follow this procedure for adjusting the mask:
Sitting up pull on the mask with last night's settings and insert the last clip

All mask fitting should always be done lying down.

Is 12 days with mask long enough to learn the ropes of getting it adjusted correctly?

Well... for most of us the answer is no....

Am I doing something blatantly wrong?

Full face masks are notoriously difficult to seal - and you may be trying to use one that is not very good for the shape of face you have. That said - putting on the mask and fitting it sitting down is probably making things worse.

Sigh.

That's OK, Alllan - we've all been there, and many of us had a long, difficult start. We know how you feel.

O,

_________________

CPAPopedia Keywords Contained In This Post (Click For Definition): mirage, nasal pillow, CPAP, DME

[Claire]

Not blatantly wrong at all--just getting accustomed to a new way of sleeping. And it takes time!

Do you breathe through your mouth because of stuffiness or habit? For some of us, stuffiness has been alleviated by nasal rinses or sprays so that we can use nasal pillows or a nasal mask. Or some people just have their jaws fall open while they sleep (I'm one of them). I use a chin strap; it seems to give my jaw the hint. Some people here tape their mouths.

It's definitely worth giving other masks a try. I had the experience of hating the Opus 360 (nasal pillows) and giving up on it after the first week. The sidestraps hurt and my jaw dropped open so my mouth felt like flannel left out to dry. After three months with a nasal mask, I went back to the Opus 360 and love it. I use fleece lining on the straps and the chin strap as I mentioned above. It took time to get used to the fact that I was going to sleep with something on my face, get the hose rigged up so it wasn't winding around my neck, and learning about adaptation techniques from others on this forum.

Best of luck!

[pjwalman]

If you want to PM me your email address, I will be happy to send you a free pattern of my PillowPal. It's just a little pillow to throw on top of your favorite regular one that gives clearance for your mask. It's very simple, easy to whip up if you know someone that sews even a little.

Good luck! I know the battle, and it's definitely frustrating!!

Peggy

[beegee]

If you'd like to try a nasal mask, the Activa is very good for side sleepers. The cushion of this mask has a built-in "pleat" or small bellows-like fold, which seems to absorb impacts caused by moving around on the pillow, so the seal is not lost and leaks do not occur. However, you do need to take steps to avoid mouth breathing. I find that a combination of mouth taping and a chin strap keeps the air going down my throat and not out of my mouth. Because I use two aids to keep the mouth shut, neither needs to be very tight. And of course, the Activa is famous for sealing really well with ridiculously loose headgear.

Good luck with it Allan. You may have to try quite a few masks before you find the one that is best for you.

Beegee

[Guest]

If you've only tried full face masks, how was it determined that you were a mouth breather? everyone of us was a mouth breather until we got setup w/ our mask.

research, then get a Headrest. without argument, it's the best for side and stomach sleepers BY FAR.