Newbie and a side sleeper

[cclement]

Greetings all,

I just got my "official" diagnosis of apnea about 4 weeks ago and thought I should introduce myself to the board. I just finished my first trial night with a CPAP this week at the sleep center. Unfortunately, I'm a side sleeper and the mask I used would leak when I turned on to my side - so the kept coming in and tightening it down to my head. Now I understand that the mask I had there was not necessarily what I would buy for myself, but I would love to hear any recommendations from you all about masks that work well for those of us who sleep on our sides. I do end up breathing out of my nose and mouth, so I not that just a nasal mask isn't going to work.

I'm looking forward to hear form you all.

Cheers,
C

[brazospearl]

Welcome to the forum! We're glad you're here. Read all you can, learn all you can, and make the best decisions for YOU. I'm a side sleeper and have had excellent results with the Hybrid mask. I also use a small buckwheat hull pillow, as it appears that one trick for successful nights as a side-winder hose head is being able to sort of hang the side of your face off the pillow. Does that make sense? The buckwheat pillow on top of a regular pillow does the trick for me.

It's good that you already realize that you're a mouth breather. One way to deal with that is with a full face mask. Other people have successfully managed to develop a mouth taping routine and use nasal masks. Find what works for you, and let us know how things go!

[slaaplekker]

I'm new too. Just had my first night at home with my machine. I too am a mouth breather and a side sleeper but the RT at the DME talked me in to a nose only mask. He is a CPAP user as well as the owner of the DME and he also is a mouth breather. I tried a full face mask at the titration study and really didn't like it but I was resigned to using a full face mask and the Dr. ordered one for me. But I tried this one at the DME - EasyLife Nasal CPAP mask since that was the one he uses. He showed my how it worked on him and it felt so much softer and sealed really nice. I had just a couple of leaks wake me up as I turned from side to side last night. The smaller mask seems very light.

Now the interesting thing is that I was really worried about opening my mouth at night. That did happen once or twice and sleeping with my mouth shut doesn't seem quite right, especially since I have terrible allergies but somehow I didn't get congested and it seemed like there was a bit of vacuum that made it easier to keep my mouth closed. I may still need to try some tape or a strap or something along those lines but I'm not switching to a full face unless I have to.

I was totally skeptical that a nasal only mask would work for me. I will let you know how it goes over the next few days.

regards
John

[terrydk]

I am a side sleeper as well and have had good luck with the Forma FF mask. The most important issue with side sleepers and FF masks is you need a pillow that does not push on your mask, hose or hose connection and there are a variety of pillows out there intended to help that. I have good luck with a very firm pillow and then I fold it in half so it ends up taller and square in shape. That way when I switch sides my mask & hose hangs over the side and doesn't contact the pillow.

[ichitumi]

I am a switch sleeper and thought I was a mouth breather. I sleep most comfortably on my side, but also sleep well on my back sometimes.

I figured out that I was only a mouth breather because I'm not getting enough air through my nose only when I'm asleep.

They let me use a Responics Mirage II during my tiltration and it worked well. From research, I decided on using a Responics LT nasal pillow mask. The hose comes up from the middle and you only have a small kind of flexible tab on the side of your cheek. Very lightweight. I really like it ... but after so many years of sleep depreviation, I became a very accomplished "sleeper". I can pretty much sleep anywhere, anytime ...

Welcome to the forum and I hope you get your equipment soon.

[Guest]

Welcome
I am a relative "newby" also, have had my gear just over a month. Am also a side sleeper and mouth breather. I have a Resmed Quattro full face mask and love it.
I also took my memory foam pillow and cut a big "C' out of each end and that allows my mask to hang over nicely, I also hang my hose from the headboard of my bed to keep from getting tangled up in it. I have allergies, but I no longer breathe through my mouth as much, the cpap has helped with that. Please stay a side sleeper as sleeping on your back can cause further apneas. Read all that you can on this site, education will be your best friend in the next few weeks.
Again welcome and good luck.
Nan