Just an Introduction...

another_charlie · Post by **another_charlie** » Fri Jul 28, 2006 10:54 am

Hi Folks...

My name's Charlie. 38 year old who has been diagnosed with moderate OSA for about 2 years now. However, I haven't really had a "steady" (or what I'd consider successful) treatment yet.

I was diagnosed right before we moved from AZ to FL (i had a machine for about a week before we moved...didn't really use it as I couldn't get used to it and the whole moving thing was a big priority at the time).

Got to FL, and took a while to settle in. Got set up with a new sleep study, and eventually got a new machine and full mask. Was not able to make it thru a full nite with the mask (most of the time I didn't even remember taking it off, but I never woke up in the AM with it still on).

Out of frustration, scheduled surgery. UPPP, turbinat reduction, and septoplasty. For what it's worth, it's as painful and miserable of a process as you've all likely been told about. I knew it was going to be painful and knew it had a less than stellar chance of success, but I wanted to roll the dice to see if I could untether myself from the need for a machine/mask. This was early April 2006.

Recently had a new sleep study and found that the surgery was not successful (altho I was told that there may still be some healing to do).

A few weeks ago I got the swift nasal pillow mask, thinking it would be less obtrusive than the previous mask (previous was an Activa). Well, it's certainly less obtrusive, but I'm a stomach sleeper and...well, the Swift just doesn't seem to accomodate that :\ But I do really like it for being less obtrusive than the Activa, so I'm trying hard to get used to sleeping on my back or side.

Bottom line is that even with the Swift, I have yet to make it thru to morning with still wearing the mask. The nights that I remember ripping it off, I rip it off and roll over onto my stomach, which feels sooooo good to do (the rolling over onto my stomach, not the ripping off of the mask).

So that's my story in not-so-much of a nutshell.

I've only just now found this site and plan to peruse the forums and see if I can't find some helpful info (I'm quite sure I'm not the first one to experience trouble getting used to the mask and/or sleeping in a new position).

But I wanted to take the time to say Hi and introduce myself first.

Thanks for listening (if you've made it this far)

Charlie

ps...in the interest of being thorough, my machine is a CPAP (not sure what make/model offhand...quick google suggests its'a REMstar plus with humidifier) with a pressure setting of 9.

I've not had any issues of discomfort with the Swift itself...just the fact that I'm not comfortable sleeping on my back/side.

roster · Post by **roster** » Fri Jul 28, 2006 11:08 am

Welcome Charlie,

I sleep mostly on my back plus about an hour per night on one side. For years I have enjoyed, just before the alarm clock sounds, rolling onto my stomach, stretching our my lats and spine and getting thirty minutes of sleep. Yep, my Swift pillows won't allow this and I really miss it.

My personal recommendation for back or side sleeping is a 4-inch wedge pillow with a memory foam contour pillow on top of the wedge.

Good luck,

rooster

Moogy · Post by **Moogy** » Fri Jul 28, 2006 4:29 pm

You might experiment with hanging the bottom of your face off of the pillow when you are stomach-sleeping. Of course you would want to try this when you are awake, to try to find the exact position and the type of pillow that will allow this. Depends on your exact position and your type of pillow, but sometimes there is a way that is not obvious in the middle of the night....

Moogy

Linda3032 · Post by **Linda3032** » Fri Jul 28, 2006 4:44 pm

Charlie, the Headrest (Aura is the old name) will let you sleep on your stomach. And the nasal pillows are as soft or softer than the Swift. The exhale ports are higher on the interface than most other interfaces (about brow level), therefore, you can't block the ports by laying on them.

You might give it a try. Click on the name below (in blue) and it will take you to cpap.com to see the picture and info about it.

gerry · Post by **gerry** » Sat Jul 29, 2006 2:19 pm

I was a stomach sleeper for most of my 69 years, until 5 months ago when I finally agreed to a sleep study and was diagnosed with OSA. I too use a Swift mask and like the simplicity. It is possible to train yourself to become a back and side sleeper. For the first 2 to 3 months I awoke without the mask, not recalling having removed it. It took about 4 months of lying on my back until I fell asleep. I now get a full nights sleep on most nights, and awake on my side with the mask intact. Give it a chance. Good luck.

RedThunder94 · Post by **RedThunder94** » Sat Jul 29, 2006 2:44 pm

i use the comfortfull 2 nightly with the activa being my back up for when i feel like battling mouth leaks towards the early am, i use a velcro elastic strap as a middle strap on the cf2 and have found that it allows me to side and stomach sleep without any major leaks, according to encore pro i have a large leak rate of 0.0%, so i would assume it works, all i do is turn my head to the side and rest it either on my arm or on my pillow and it works beautifully. maybe someone can resurrect my old thread with pics so you can get the idea. and i'm mostly a back sleeper but it is comforting to know i have the option to turn over if i feel like it, lol.

LDuyer · Post by **LDuyer** » Sat Jul 29, 2006 3:55 pm

As to the taking the mask off during your sleep, gosh so many of us experience this.

My only suggestion to you is to try and not skip a night. Not only are you dealing with trying to sleep in new positions, but your brain is rebelling at this new foreign object on your head. Going to bed with it on every night, even if it comes off, is better than skipping. It trains your brain faster. And it can take awhile. I was taking it off in my sleep too at first. Then it got less and less often until it stopped altogether, and yes it was a few months later. I'm sure it varies with everyone.

I'm sure some stomach sleepers will give you good ideas. It can be done, I'm told. And it must be a pain to try and retrain yourself to sleep in another position. So good luck.

Linda

rested gal · Post by **rested gal** » Sat Jul 29, 2006 4:00 pm

Linda3032 wrote:Charlie, the Headrest (Aura is the old name) will let you sleep on your stomach. And the nasal pillows are as soft or softer than the Swift. The exhale ports are higher on the interface than most other interfaces (about brow level), therefore, you can't block the ports by laying on them.

Charlie, I agree with Linda. Aeiomed's "Headrest" with nasal seal is the very best mask, imho, for sleeping in ANY position...including tummy sleeping. The softness of the nasal pillows part, along with the virtually unblockable exhaust vent, makes comfortable stomach sleeping possible with that mask.

Guest · Post by **Guest** » Sat Jul 29, 2006 7:33 pm

Hi Folks:

wow...i appreciate all the responses. it's a bit to take in

Linda: that mask (the Headrest) does look like its setup would certainly allow for stomach sleeping. i may give that a try if all else fails.

but first I think I'm going to give the sleeping on the back a few more chances. Tomorrow I'm probably going to head out and pick up the wedge pillow and memory foam pillow that rooster mentioned. I think back sleeping would be better if I can do it (i've had back problems and been told that sleeping on my back would be better for my back than sleeping on my stomach).

It's just frustrating, as this (the cpap machine) was supposed to make everything better...but right now I feel like I can't sleep with it...and, well, without it I have apneas.

I also appreciate the other Linda's suggestion about not skipping a night. I've certainly skipped a few nights, rationalizing that I need to get some kind of sleep, and will go back to the mask in the next night or two. From here on in, even if I don't wake up with it, I'll certainly be going to bed with it on.

Also comforting to hear that "so many of us experience this" (the taking off the mask and not remembering it). If nothing else, it shows me that it's not an insurmountable obstacle.

thanks again for the responses. I'll be lurking and chiming in if I've got something worthwhile to contribute. And will definitely post a progress report in the near future.

thanks,
Charlie

another_charlie · Post by **another_charlie** » Sun Jul 30, 2006 9:48 am

weird...i thought i was logged in when i posted the message above.

ah well

elliejose · Post by **elliejose** » Sun Jul 30, 2006 10:35 am

Welcome, another_charlie!

Just keep on keeping on and eventually you will be able to sleep all night with the mask on. It was about three and a half months before I was able to sleep all night with mask on. But eventually it will happen. Don't give up. I did that once and lived to regret it. Good luck to you and keep us posted.