Anyone have tips for sleeping absolutely prone?

[nikkwong]

Hi guys,

I am curious as to see if anyone has any advice on how to go through the night sleeping absolutely prone; with the goal of keeping my face parallel to the ground. I am willing to move my mattress around, cut holes, do interesting things with pillows, etc. I've tried sleeping on a massage table with my face through the face hole, but it was pretty uncomfortable.

Basically, I have had several sleep endoscopies, surgeries, etc; I'm waiting to have a floppy epiglottis ablated/cut, as it causes me to choke in REM, and it tends to collapse even more dramatically with CPAP usage (the CPAP basically blows it straight onto the larynx). My last endoscopy revealed that the prone position exposes a clear airway, but I've had trouble figuring out how to stay in this position through the duration of the night.

I've had some interesting ideas with tying myself to the bed, etc.. but would rather solicit advice here to see if anyone has any better ideas.

Thank you!

——

Nikk Wong
https://www.getfractals.com

[palerider]

Hi guys,

I am curious as to see if anyone has any advice on how to go through the night sleeping absolutely prone; with the goal of keeping my face parallel to the ground. I am willing to move my mattress around, cut holes, do interesting things with pillows, etc. I've tried sleeping on a massage table with my face through the face hole, but it was pretty uncomfortable.

I was going to say "massage table". Or, do like Julie, and take a kitchen knife to a foam mattress. (clever idea, that).

[nikkwong]

Hi guys,

I am curious as to see if anyone has any advice on how to go through the night sleeping absolutely prone; with the goal of keeping my face parallel to the ground. I am willing to move my mattress around, cut holes, do interesting things with pillows, etc. I've tried sleeping on a massage table with my face through the face hole, but it was pretty uncomfortable.

I was going to say "massage table". Or, do like Julie, and take a kitchen knife to a foam mattress. (clever idea, that).

Thanks for the response. Even with the kitchen knife, i imagine I'm going to be inclined to roll over onto my side, as it's just more comfortable. Who's Julia, and how can I contact her?

[Julie]

I sleep alone ('cept for my cat) and so can get away with this - I cut a 3" wide, 4" deep and 1' long 'trench' in my memory foam mattress starting at the head and going towards the foot, with an electric knife, and rounded top edges with scissors. I have a FF mask and when sleeping on my front with my head turned right, the mask dips into the trench diagonally or more vertically, avoiding a very sore neck in the a.m. I've also cut and fiddled with sheets to accommodate things, but have been sleeping like this for years, and so far so good. Important to mention is that my particular mask's vent holes are higher on the mask than most (which are usually at the elbow), so foam or sheet don't block holes but probably would for other masks.

[zonker]

Hi guys,

I am curious as to see if anyone has any advice on how to go through the night sleeping absolutely prone; with the goal of keeping my face parallel to the ground. I am willing to move my mattress around, cut holes, do interesting things with pillows, etc. I've tried sleeping on a massage table with my face through the face hole, but it was pretty uncomfortable.

not EXACTLY what you are looking for, but-

http://www.uarsrelief.com/sleeppositions.html

[Grace~~~]

Hi guys,

I am curious as to see if anyone has any advice on how to go through the night sleeping absolutely prone; with the goal of keeping my face parallel to the ground. I am willing to move my mattress around, cut holes, do interesting things with pillows, etc. I've tried sleeping on a massage table with my face through the face hole, but it was pretty uncomfortable.

not EXACTLY what you are looking for, but-

http://www.uarsrelief.com/sleeppositions.html

It's true, Zonker, the question becomes "degrees" of prone and ~~~what's prone to *you*?

The waterbed is a great place to stomach sleep. Full wave, bag of water style.
~~~but there's still a compromise.


Julie is my hero though! That's a woman who does not cotton to compromise!

Here's an AWESOME ARTICLE about waterbeds ~~~
https://www.nytimes.com/2018/12/06/styl ... under.html

Good Luck OP, NIKKWONG.
I hope you will share your success in finding 'un-compromised' prone sleep!

[nikkwong]

I sleep alone ('cept for my cat) and so can get away with this - I cut a 3" wide, 4" deep and 1' long 'trench' in my memory foam mattress starting at the head and going towards the foot, with an electric knife, and rounded top edges with scissors. I have a FF mask and when sleeping on my front with my head turned right, the mask dips into the trench diagonally or more vertically, avoiding a very sore neck in the a.m. I've also cut and fiddled with sheets to accommodate things, but have been sleeping like this for years, and so far so good. Important to mention is that my particular mask's vent holes are higher on the mask than most (which are usually at the elbow), so foam or sheet don't block holes but probably would for other masks.

This is awesome! How do you stop yourself from turning onto your side or supline?

[nikkwong]

Hi guys,

I am curious as to see if anyone has any advice on how to go through the night sleeping absolutely prone; with the goal of keeping my face parallel to the ground. I am willing to move my mattress around, cut holes, do interesting things with pillows, etc. I've tried sleeping on a massage table with my face through the face hole, but it was pretty uncomfortable.

not EXACTLY what you are looking for, but-

http://www.uarsrelief.com/sleeppositions.html

It's true, Zonker, the question becomes "degrees" of prone and ~~~what's prone to *you*?

The waterbed is a great place to stomach sleep. Full wave, bag of water style.
~~~but there's still a compromise.


Julie is my hero though! That's a woman who does not cotton to compromise!

Here's an AWESOME ARTICLE about waterbeds ~~~
https://www.nytimes.com/2018/12/06/styl ... under.html

Good Luck OP, NIKKWONG.
I hope you will share your success in finding 'un-compromised' prone sleep!

Thank ya~! Basically, I want gravity to pull my epiglottis towards the ground... so, the further down I can keep my head, the better. Having my face parallel to the ground would be ideal, but it's hard to breathe, and it's hard to stay in a position like that all night. I've fiddled with travel pillows and such, but I always end up on my side or supline. I don't think I could cut holes in a water mattress.. haha

[Julie]

I have no urge to turn over... tho' occasionally in the a.m. I'll do it to loosen up when awake before getting up. Also the trench's sides help hold the mask in place... think massage table (only not as narrow an opening).

[zonker]

The waterbed is a great place to stomach sleep. Full wave, bag of water style.
~~~but there's still a compromise.


Julie is my hero though! That's a woman who does not cotton to compromise!

Here's an AWESOME ARTICLE about waterbeds ~~~
https://www.nytimes.com/2018/12/06/styl ... under.html

Good Luck OP, NIKKWONG.
I hope you will share your success in finding 'un-compromised' prone sleep!

<sigh> many years ago, we had a waterbed. (not that long ago, not in any hippy fashion!) at first, i hated the damned thing. but i grew to love it! it sprang a leak which was enough for wife person to throw it out and replace with box spring type of bed. i had a very tough time adjusting back.

i miss that waterbed!

[Grace~~~]

Thank ya~! Basically, I want gravity to pull my epiglottis towards the ground... so, the further down I can keep my head, the better. Having my face parallel to the ground would be ideal, but it's hard to breathe, and it's hard to stay in a position like that all night. I've fiddled with travel pillows and such, but I always end up on my side or supline. I don't think I could cut holes in a water mattress.. haha

Cutting holes in the waterbed would probably not be a good idea.

I just wondered if you've ever tried to sleep on an old fashioned waterbed? Some of the pillow positions and other ideas that "almost work" in other beds might work better with the water bed.

I've never personally focused on my epiglottis but but you can definitely do many things on a waterbed that you can't come close to accomplishing on other beds.

Can you actually feel when your epiglottis in dangling in the right position?

If so, how does it feel on an inversion table?

[Amishboy51]

Just in case the OP is still following the thread, did you see this older post about the Falcon (or partial swastika) sleeping position?


viewtopic.php?f=1&t=36738&st=0&sk=t&sd= ... a&start=15

[zonker]

looks like OP hasn't been in since feb 24.

[chunkyfrog]

My cpap lets me sleep in any position that doesn't hurt--until it does,
Then I shift position.

[tyrone747]

Does sleeping prone make aerophagia more likely? I just imagine it puts more pressure on your stomach.