What's the usual sleeping position for CPAP users?

General Discussion on any topic relating to CPAP and/or Sleep Apnea.
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OwlCreekObserver
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Re: What's the usual sleeping position for CPAP users?

Post by OwlCreekObserver » Tue May 05, 2009 3:36 pm

I always start out on my left side and then sometime during the night I alternate between that and my back. I can look at my report the next day and pretty much tell when I was on my back because that's where most of the events occur. Maybe I should strap a bowling ball to my back or somethin'.

OCO

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Plowboy
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Re: What's the usual sleeping position for CPAP users?

Post by Plowboy » Tue May 05, 2009 4:14 pm

I have been sleeping on my side since I started and dont have any nproblems with it personally.

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roster
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Re: What's the usual sleeping position for CPAP users?

Post by roster » Tue May 05, 2009 4:49 pm

For me:

Pressure requirements:

Back: 19 cm (Yow!)
Side: 8.5 cm
Tummy: 7.0 cm

So guess what. I sleep on my tummy with a technique developed by a PCP/patient and myself.
Rooster
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araminta
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Re: What's the usual sleeping position for CPAP users?

Post by araminta » Tue May 05, 2009 5:53 pm

pre-Sleep Apnea diagnosis, i always slept on my back.

post-diagnosis i was told that it was better to sleep on my side. so i tried to train myself, and my sweetie would tap on my shoulder if during the nite I was on my back. that was enough to get me to roll onto my side.

now with cpap, i started on my back. got great results. but now, after a few months, i find myself sleeping on my back and my results are worse -- need more pressure, and have a higher AHI.

go figure...

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roster
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Re: What's the usual sleeping position for CPAP users?

Post by roster » Tue May 05, 2009 6:03 pm

OwlCreekObserver wrote:I always start out on my left side and then sometime during the night I alternate between that and my back. I can look at my report the next day and pretty much tell when I was on my back because that's where most of the events occur. Maybe I should strap a bowling ball to my back or somethin'.

OCO
OCO, I used a small backpack (actually a Camelbak with an empty rigid 32-oz. bottle stuffed in it) for 15 months to prevent backsleeping. After 15 months I was trained enough to do away with the backpack.
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I have a vision that we will figure out an easy way to ensure that children develop wide, deep, healthy and attractive jaws and then obstructive sleep apnea becomes an obscure bit of history.https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0ycw4uaX ... re=related

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yorkiemum01
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Re: What's the usual sleeping position for CPAP users?

Post by yorkiemum01 » Tue May 05, 2009 6:38 pm

Pre-diagnosis...I was always a stomach sleeper.
Post-diagnosis.....a side sleeper. Manage OK with FF mask using the
Chiro-flow water pillow. Have never been able to sleep on my back as
long as I can remember.

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elader
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Re: What's the usual sleeping position for CPAP users?

Post by elader » Tue May 05, 2009 7:43 pm

pre-diagnosis - stomach
post - side with a hoser and a ff mask.

on my back, the mask leaks.
on my stomach it squashes my face.

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roster
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Re: What's the usual sleeping position for CPAP users?

Post by roster » Tue May 05, 2009 7:51 pm

elader wrote: ......on my stomach it squashes my face.
I figured out how to sleep on my tummy while wearing a Hyrbrid mask or a F&P 432. I will write this up and post it when I get some more time.
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Re: What's the usual sleeping position for CPAP users?

Post by Trinity101 » Tue May 05, 2009 9:19 pm

I sleep on my side (either one) or on my back. I have a Quattro, and do not seem to have a lot of leaks- when I start getting my info, I will know for sure. In my titration study, when I was supine,I had almost NO apneas with the Quattro, which was what I used forthat night-I had great numbers! I use a regular pillow-a foam one, very soft, that I can punch into the desired shape, and just sleep at the end of it. The mask slipping or hurting my face has never been an issue. Tonight will be my first night with my new headgear- the Strapparatus- but I wore it for quite a while this afternoon and evening, and it was very comfortable. It did not bother my ears at all.
~joan

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Re: What's the usual sleeping position for CPAP users?

Post by j p engler » Wed Dec 07, 2011 12:44 pm

It took me some time to get used to my cpap machine and mask but the problem was that darn hose keep waking me up when I changed my sleeping position, until I came up with the solution. A wall mounted hose control system. All that have used this simple item love the benefits it provides

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deerslayer
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Re: What's the usual sleeping position for CPAP users?

Post by deerslayer » Wed Dec 07, 2011 3:45 pm

with these old bones, like i'm on a spit.

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archangle
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Re: What's the usual sleeping position for CPAP users?

Post by archangle » Wed Dec 07, 2011 4:04 pm

Hint: Grabbing a body pillow between your knees and hugging it with your arms may help you stay in one position on your side. A buckwheat hull pillow may help with the mask.

I can sleep without CPAP on my side in the bed, but I usually sleep in my recliner due to back problems.

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Re: What's the usual sleeping position for CPAP users?

Post by cpaptex » Wed Dec 07, 2011 4:18 pm

I'm a sidewinder. By that, I mean that I go from one side to another side until I windup on the perfect side. It's was and continues to be a rare event for me to end up on my back. But it does happen. GERD is the reason that I avoid my back.
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Re: What's the usual sleeping position for CPAP users?

Post by Lizistired » Wed Dec 07, 2011 5:02 pm

cpaptex wrote:I'm a sidewinder. By that, I mean that I go from one side to another side until I windup on the perfect side. It's was and continues to be a rare event for me to end up on my back. But it does happen. GERD is the reason that I avoid my back.
I ddin't think I ever slept on my back until I hooked up a web cam. What a suprise!

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Re: What's the usual sleeping position for CPAP users?

Post by dnrperez » Wed Dec 07, 2011 8:10 pm

For me usually start on my right side curled up with the wife, and wake up on my left.

For any one interested when you sleep on your back you tend to have more obstructions due to the tongue muscle relaxing while sleeping which leads to snoring, and for me acute onset rib pain from being punched trying to get me to roll off my back..lol

Rich

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