options for a stomach sleeper?! (first post)

[iPlayFlonkerton]

hi. i'm victoria. apollyloggies, this post is going to be long.

a little background info: i'm 22, and i was recently "officially" diagnosed with sleep apnea. (it had been suspected for years, since i was around 12, but i didn't do an actual sleep study until a few months ago.) i used to snore as a kid/teen, but once i had my tonsils and adenoids taken out, the snoring (mostly) went away. however, when i did a sleep study a few months ago, it was discovered that i have central sleep apnea. during the time i was asleep, i stopped breathing 23 times, and a few times, my O2 sats dropped to the mid-80s. goody.

anyway, i got my CPAP machine a little less than a month ago. i'm currently using the Opus 360 nasal pillow https://www.cpap.com/productpage/fisher ... -Mask.html, with the respironics REMaster machine.

and i freakin' hate the nasal pillow.

i sleep on my stomach/side (kind of halfway between my stomach and my side), with my face kind of smooshed into the pillow, but i also move around A LOT before i fall asleep, and i do a fair bit of moving while asleep as well. (although the sleep tech theorized that it's due to the whole, you know, "not breathing" thing... )

because of the position i sleep in, the nasal pillow and the headgear are giving me major problems. i've read other customer reviews raving on about how the opus 360 is great for side sleepers... well, not this side sleeper! when i get halfway between my stomach and side, the pillow/mattress pushes the nasal pillow to the side. i'm also finding that in order to prevent leaks, i have to have the straps pretty tight, which causes pressure points on my face, and also puts a lot of pressure on my septum. i also have REALLY sensitive skin, so pretty much anywhere the straps touch, i develop a rash.

i got the machine and mask almost a month ago, and i have yet to go a whole night with it. first off, it takes me over an hour to fall asleep because it's so damn uncomfortable, and as i toss and turn to get in a comfortable position, the tubing gets tangled, the nasal pillow gets pushed to the side, etc. etc. ad nauseum. the air pressure isn't an issue... it's set at 8, so it doesn't bother me.

once i DO fall asleep, i wake up an hour or 2 later because my face is irritated, and my septum hurts, and i just wind up ripping the damn thing off my face. i'm SO FRUSTRATED!

the supplier i use has a policy where you can try a certain mask or pillow for up to 30 days, and you can keep trying different ones (for up to 30 days each time) until you find one you like. (praise jebus my insurance is completely covering all of this...) i have an appointment for friday to try a new one, but i figure i should actually have an idea of what model to try, instead of going in there half-cocked (that's what she said.)

SO! are any of you here side/stomach sleepers? if so, which device works the best for you? i tried the nasal mask during the sleep study, but in the morning, the skin that the mask touched had developed a rash.

i need help, 'cause i'm getting cranky here!

thanks so much!

[plr66]

Well I'm sure there will be a lot of suggestions here, but I have found the Swift LT to be amazing. I use Karen's Padacheek covers on the two straps (so comfy, and rarely have any marks on my face!!), find no need for the headgear to be tight, and can sleep on my side and semi on stomach as you describe, with no problem. Leak rates are pretty impressive--aways well under the acceptable level). I just recently invested in a PaPillow, and that little gem has allowed me to sleep without fully waking up every time I roll from side to side. I used to have to punch up the edge of my pillow so the mask vent wouldn't be covered up--but this pillow is shaped perfectly for either sleeping position. I had pretty raw nares for the first couple of weeks with nasal pillows, but that resolved as the skin toughened up. Occasionally I'll use a dab of Aloe lotion like Aveeno on the base of my nose if it feels a little tender, but rarely anymore. Hang in there!

[GumbyCT]

You won't be able to belly sleep with a full-face or nasal mask. So the ONLY choice will be nasal pillows and by far THE best choice, hands down is -

http://www.aeiomed.com/products/headrest.php

The Movie - http://www.aeiomed.com/video_product_in ... adrest.php

Use a little Lasinoh on your nares to help the seal. The Headrest has NO straps to irritate you or your face.
With the Headrest you can sleep face down or on your side with NO problem. You put it on/off like a hat. The exhaust vents straight up.

Close your eyes and say "OK I'm gonna try the Headrest". But to do that you will have to write everything down cuz your RT will say s/he never heard of it and therefore it can't be any good. Make sure to write down the web site to A-e-i-o-med.com

Close your eyes again and say "OK I'm gonna try the Headrest".

Good Luck,
GumbyCT

[JayC]

Try the ResMed Swift LT.... comes with 3 sizes of nasal pillows. Try the different sizes.... They sell a version with all 3 size pillows in the same package....

I sleep on my side...as well as that "in-between" you mention......

I did ok with a ConfortGel (?), but got a headache during study where the comfort gel mask sat on my nosebridge/sinuses. The LT totally avoids that....

I've been on the hose since July 2008, and the LT is still working for me, thankfully. Very often with ZERO leaks!!

All the best

J
(I would guess I have had desats/apnea since puberty.....I'm in my late 40s......... glad you are getting early help with this rather than losing much vitality and opportunity as has happened to many of us long untreated folk....)

[RiverDave]

Well, I was going to offer a suggestion, but then I saw "HOOK'EM".... just kidding.

I sleep in the same position you describe. I use a ResMed Quattro full face mask (Sorry Gumby). I'm able to keep my leak rate reasonably close to zero. You may have to give up the "smooshed" face part of you sleep routine. You may want to try to sort of hang your face off the edge of your pillow and see if that helps any - not sure it will if you are an active sleeper.

Good luck,

[yorkiemum01]

I certainly have empathy......but no real advice to offer.
I too, was a stomach sleeper since childhood, and was diagnosed with
severe OSA this year, which resulted in a full face Quattro, as also a chronic
mouth breather. Soon learned I could no longer sleep on my stomach, and
with months of tossing and turning, exhaustion won out and I've re-learned how
to sleep on my side. For myself, the best pillow recommendation was the
chiro-flow pillow, and dont think I would've made it without the Pad-a-cheek
and Pur-sleep products. Hang in there...keep your patience, it will get better.

[iPlayFlonkerton]

Use a little Lasinoh on your nares to help the seal.

i'm a vegan, so that won't be happening...

[kteague]

I'm with Gumby on the Headrest. If you end up with that one, check back on the forum if you need any helpful hints.

[GumbyCT]

Use a little Lasinoh on your nares to help the seal.

i'm a vegan, so that won't be happening...

No clue what that means. But hey I tried.

[yorkiemum01]

the product contains milk........vegans dont use dairy products at all.
I'm a vegetarian, so I do use dairy (milk, eggs, cheese), thats the difference.

[CorgiGirl]

You can stomach sleep with a full face mask...I do it every night! You can't have your face down into the pillow, but I never did that anyway. I sort of "hang my head" off the side of my pillow when I'm on my tummy. On my side, I kind of burrow into the pillow. I've been thinking about buying a Papillow but haven't done it yet.

I have been using the Fisher and Paykel 432, but I'm about to try the Resmed Quattro (just got it from my DME today). I'm crossing my fingers that it will work well. I like the 432, but I have to use the large and it "pokes" my eyes!

Hang in there. It takes most of us a while to get used to CPAP therapy. An entire month and 6 (or so) masks went by before I could sleep all night through. I believe Babette needed 6 weeks and 8 masks. Everybody's different, so it will take time to find the combo that works for you.

[GumbyCT]

I stand corrected, I too have slept face down with a FFM but it seems folks here would cry about marks on their face so I wouldn't suggest it. With a nasal mask even side sleeping seems to dislodge it. So go for it, let us know how you made out.

[NightWorkDaySleep]

Victoria I have found that Loosening the straps on my Opus ie NOT over tightening them made an enormous difference in comfort in my septum and cheeks when trying to sleep on my belly. I added a basic chin strap from my DME that does nothing to keep my mouth closed but does keep the looser straps from sliding around on my head as I roll and helps keep the pillows in place. I have a hybrid mask that I use occasionally as well but it is harder due to the size of it to get comfortable. Also letting the hose swing free instead of being attached to the top of my head or to one side or the other makes it easier to sleep on my belly and to roll around without pulling on the mask.

Making sure I had the correct size pillows in, I started with what the DME sugessted and they were too big and hurt all the time, putting some Ayr saline gell on them to help create a seal (it's vegan think...but here are the ingredients...Ayr Saline Gel: Methyl Gluceth 10, Propylene Glycol, Glycerin, Glyceryl Polymethacrylate, Triethanolamine, Aloe Barbadensis Leaf Juice (Aloe Vera Gel), PEG/PPG 18/18 Dimethicone, Carbomer, Poloxamer 184, Sodium Chloride, Xanthan Gum, Diazolidinyl Urea, Methylparaben, Propylparaben, Glycine Soja Oil (Soybean), Geraniuim Maculatum Oil, Tocopheryl Acetate, Blue 1) all help...also I would deffinitly recommend buying some pad a cheeks or making something simmilar, I was getting horrible cuts from the plastic on the opus and never have an issue now...hope that helps a little.

I personally am going to be trying the oracle oral mask https://www.cpap.com/productpage/fisher ... -mask.html and the Nasal Aire II Prong https://www.cpap.com/productpage/innome ... e-kit.html to see if either is more comfortable then the opus but I have issues with belly sleeping and cpap as well.

[iPlayFlonkerton]

You won't be able to belly sleep with a full-face or nasal mask. So the ONLY choice will be nasal pillows and by far THE best choice, hands down is -

http://www.aeiomed.com/products/headrest.php

i think i love you.

ok, i just took a look at the website.... and oh my goodness, this one is, dare i say it, almost attractive!

i mean, i still say that cpap and everything involved with it is about the least sexy thing EVER... but quite frankly, i'll take it instead of waking up with headaches every day.

and, you know, the risk of dying in my sleep...

[iPlayFlonkerton]

the product contains milk........vegans dont use dairy products at all.
I'm a vegetarian, so I do use dairy (milk, eggs, cheese), thats the difference.

actually, lansinoh doesn't contain milk... it's made of lanolin. lanolin is the oily/waxy substance secreted from the sebaceous glands of wool-bearing animals (most often sheep). it's what keeps sheep from getting "soggy" when they get wet. (heh... i just got a really funny visual of soggy sheep... )

its makeup is pretty similar to human ear wax.

*gag*