Aerophagia tug of war

[RonS]

Pugsy, thanks as always. It is possible I was on my back at that time. Though I fall asleep on my side, I tend to wake up on my back more often than not. I'll have to keep working on staying on my side.

A silly question, but have you tried sleeping on your side with a big fat (body length if possible) pillow anchored behind you to prevent you from rolling onto your back? (If you push it out of the way, putting it under a sheet that you're on top of might help.) Or sleeping with your back against the wall (if you can set your bed in that way)?

Back 30 years ago that wasn't necessary for me as we had a king bed but my wife made sure that 90% of the bed was on "her side" and she was draped all over me and to turn over required me to perform a procedure similar to flipping a pancake... haha oy, those were the days.

[oneillseanm]

A silly question, but have you tried sleeping on your side with a big fat (body length if possible) pillow anchored behind you to prevent you from rolling onto your back? (If you push it out of the way, putting it under a sheet that you're on top of might help.) Or sleeping with your back against the wall (if you can set your bed in that way)?

Good recommendation. I have in the past, though I only use a regular pillow to prop myself up now. It's a funny story. For a year prior to my apnea diagnosis, my partner had been getting terrible sleep. The body jerking my apnea generated caused her sleepless nights. So I moved to the sofa to help her get normal sleep. I was on the sofa (with CPAP) for about six months. Ironically, I got far better sleep there (according to the SleepyHead data and the way I felt) than I've gotten on the bed since I moved back. I think it's all because I could sleep on my side with my back firmly up against the back of the sofa. It's good to be back in a real bed in a real bedroom, but I frequently have nights when I miss being out there on the sofa. It just worked. Maybe that's an indication I need to find a similar prop-up solution.

[RonS]

I think it's all because I could sleep on my side with my back firmly up against the back of the sofa. It's good to be back in a real bed in a real bedroom, but I frequently have nights when I miss being out there on the sofa. It just worked. Maybe that's an indication I need to find a similar prop-up solution.

Have you had a chance to give it a whirl? Any luck?

[babybear]

Hello

I just wanted to pass on what worked for me in regards to the aerophagia as I had terrible time with it in the begining( 8 months with cpap.) Additionally, I have learned how to lower my AHI without raising my pressure
( 4min/12 max). First, I promise you it will get better as your body adjusts. Try using a full face mask if you can as covering my mouth seemed to equalize the pressure and it made a big difference for me.
( I used the dreamwear full face mask). I wore it for 2 months, than went back to the Dreamwear nasal cushion thank goodness and did not have any more issues. I believe my body finally adjusted through time while I was wearing the full face mask and when I went back to the nasal cushion, I was fine. Also, during the 2 month period, I wore a cervical collar and learned to lay straight on my side. Additionally, I would cheat and press the ramp setting (4) if I woke up gassy. On a side note I had a terrible time with being dizzy included with the aerophgia and I turned my EPR setting off and the dizziness went away. When I turned it back on my dizziness returned so of course i switched it off and what a relief to not be dizzy anymore! After 6 months of cpap use,I forgot my cervical collar during a vacation and learned I did not need it for lowering my events. My guess is I learned how to keep my chin from tucking while I as asleep. Lastly, as for lowering my AHI, these are ways I learned mostly by accident how to lower my AHI with raising my pressure like the doctor wanted to do.

1. I use the cpap pillow called Endurimed large cpap pillow with big cutouts and I actually lay my head in the cutout. It tilts my head slightly forward so my tongue tends to stay forward and as a side benefit, my face does not get as many marks. Also, the bottom of the cutout holds my chin up so that might be another reason I don't need the cervical collar anymore.

2. Using nasal pillows made a difference. I believe I am getting a more direct air flow that opens up my airway. I do not like wearing them but it made a big enough difference.

3. Sleeping in a cool room made a huge difference. I love being warm while I sleep however I love having a much lower AHI count. Also, I have an autopap and my 90% pressure went from 7.5 to 5.5.

After using all of these tactics, my AHI went from an average of 3 to almost always below 1 and most time 0.3-0.6 and feeling so much better. I believe if some of these things work for someone else, even if they have a higher AHI, any time you can lower your events it has to be a good thing.

I am not saying all or any of these suggestions will work for everyone however they have worked for me and made a huge difference in my sleep quality and the amount of sleep I now get ( 8 hours form 5 or 6 ).
I am so much healthier and happier and i want to help others in any way i can. I wish you luck!

[babybear]

I forgot to mention I use a queen size memory pillow that keeps me laying on my side.

[flightco]

Had to smile at the cpap police. Fortunately I read on this forum for about 3 weeks before I got my Cpap. I waited a couple days to make any changes, then made what I felt I needed. The DME called me the next day and asked if I had made changes. I said yes and they asked how; I told her "the same way you do." She told me that was against the law and a prescription was required for the change. I told her that she needed a prescription to change it but I did not but that if she could refer me to the law she is talking about I would take it under consideration. She said in a huff, I will be reporting this to your doctor immediately. I thanked her for her time and hung up

When I saw my sleep doc for my 30 day follow up he was looking at the reports (I had printed off a copy from sleepyhead and gave to him) he asked me how the higher pressures were working out and I told him I thought they were working and showed him on the graph where my AHI had dropped. He agreed and said with a smile, you might want to raise the top number from 13 to 14 and see how that does for you. That was the last thing I have ever heard about making my own adjustments.

[Bookit]

Had to smile at the cpap police. ... That was the last thing I have ever heard about making my own adjustments.

Great story flightco! Thanks for sharing.