Anybody supplemented their CPAP with positional therapy and had success?

[Benicetoothers]

Hi,

As I posted in an earlier post, I had septoplasty for a severely deviated nasal septum, with turbinate reduction. I can now use a nasal mask for the first time in my life and its wonderful.

While recovering from the surgery, my surgeon had me off CPAP completely for a little over three weeks. In the post discharge instructions, it said to sleep in a inclined chair or bed in the mean time. In all my years of using CPAP, I did not know that sleeping inclined can help sleep apnea.

Luckily, I have another member of my family who has one of these foam beds that inclines with a remote. Its a SEALY foam bed. I slept in it for the first ten days of my post surgery recovery with it inclined a fair amount. After that ten days, I went back to my regular bed which is flat. I noticed a big difference in how I felt and slept.

On my regular bed (flat) off of APAP, I noticed the following symptoms came back in spades:

1) early morning, very bad vascular headaches on the back of my head upon awakening
2) started waking up frequently during the night again and having to go to the bathroom a fair amount
3) More fatigue and feeling confused and more irritable during the daytime.

When I was released to go back on APAP recently, the bad vascular headaches disappeared and the frequent waking with frequent urinating at night got back under control. And I also felt less fatigued and less confused and less irritable again.

But Im intrigued by this positional therapy thing and thinking of buying an inclined bed to supplement my APAP. Ive been looking at beds, foam Tempurpedics, SEALys and a few others. Are there any other good brands of bed for positional therapy? I saw CPAP.com used to sell something called a Ghostbed but they are no longer available thru CPAP.com. Anyone have any firsthand experience with incline beds for positional therapy for adjunctive therapy of OSA?

BTW, I am diagnosed with just mild OSA. No sleep doctor ever mentioned positional therapy to me before. I'd heard of it before, just never actually looked into it until recently.

Sincerely,

Rick

[Julie]

Hi - You have a (detailed) PM - it's long = but read Part 2 first or it won't make sense (sorry, had to cut and paste).

[Benicetoothers]

Thank you. I read the posts. I already sleep on my side, have for much of my life. Before CPAP, I used to sleep on my stomach a lot. I obviously stopped doing that when I went on CPAP in 2008. But I still sleep on my side a lot. Sometimes I wake up on my back, but more often on my side.

Recently, I found when sleeping on the Sealy bed in an incline position, I'd still sleep on my side but I woke up and felt better during the day despite wearing no CPAP gear.

Im thinking of combining my APAP with a new incline bed to lower pressures. If it takes half a point off my pressures, IMO it would be worth it.

The thing I cant get over is that no sleep doctor ever mentioned positional therapy to me. Im thinking its because sleep doctors dont make their money by selling incline beds they make their money putting people on CPAP/BiPAP and APAP machines and referring them to weight loss programs.

Ive also started paying attention to Tempurpedic mattress advertisements on TV and they are making beds specifically to reduce snoring. I always ignored those TV commercials in the past but now Im thinking their is something to positional therapy. Not a replacement for CPAP or BiPAP, but a useful adjunct treatment.

Sincerely,

Rick

Hi - You have a (detailed) PM - it's long = but read Part 2 first or it won't make sense (sorry, had to cut and paste).

[chunkyfrog]

I would concentrate on getting an adjustable bed with an inclined frame.
The Tempurpedic ads focus on SNORING--not the dangers of apnea.
Just smoke and mirrors for a fast buck, IMO. (Oughta be a law . . . )
Many have had excellent results from raising the head of the bed only
by placing those legs on bed risers.
Cheap solution--could save you a pile of money.
(Or give you time to shop around, or even catch a sale)

[Julie]

Doctors can be twits at the best of times

[ILoveFlowers]

It seems like it can help a lot to sleep inclined as long as your neck is supported, but sometimes it can cause back or hip problems from sleeping all night bent at the waist, so it's a trade-off depending on which one helps or bothers you more.

[ChicagoGranny]

The thing I cant get over is that no sleep doctor ever mentioned positional therapy to me. Im thinking its because sleep doctors dont make their money by selling incline beds they make their money putting people on CPAP/BiPAP and APAP machines and referring them to weight loss programs.

Nope, that doesn't motivate them. Incline is not part of their training. In any case, very few of their patients would take advice to get an incline bed.

Of course, sleeping at an incline can help. When flat on one's back, gravity is pulling directly on the tongue and soft palate. The airway is more likely to collapse. At an incline, this effect of gravity is not as direct.

BTW, many of us wear firm, foam, cervical collars to improve airway patency. This give similar results to sleeping on an incline - better airway patency, lower CPAP pressure requirements. I've been tempted many times to buy an incline bed. But, what would I do when traveling and not using an incline bed? Feel bad? That's why I have stuck with a collar - travels easily.

On another point, if you are feeling better at an incline, it's likely your machine settings are not optimized for flat-on-the-back sleeping. If you are interested, your settings can be optimized.

[ChicagoGranny]

It seems like it can help a lot to sleep inclined as long as your neck is supported, but sometimes it can cause back or hip problems from sleeping all night bent at the waist, so it's a trade-off depending on which one helps or bothers you more.

It's unclear what you are talking about. With incline beds, the body bends at the hip. This is a great way to sleep for the health of the skeleton and connecting tissue.

[ILoveFlowers]

If you have any spine/disk problems, sleeping bent upwards on a wedge or in a sitting position can give you grief, as I've learned from experience.

[Benicetoothers]

Hi guys,

I slept on the inclined Sealy again last night with my APAP. I noticed I did sleep better, had dreams which I usually do not have. Unfortunately, I also woke up with my lower back a bit sore, nothing extreme or anything. I slept on my side with it inclined. I normally do not wake up with a sore back.

I have been shopping for these beds lately and at one of the stores told the guy I sleep on my side a lot. He told me they dont recommend sleeping inclined if you also sleep on your side as it can cause back problems. So I definitely agree with the comments mentioned above about sleeping inclined can cause the spine to twist and back hurt with some folks.

As long as I stay on my back, I dont have the back problem.

I think Im going to hold off a bit and research a bit more. I do find it an interesting topic regarding sleep apnea treatment though.

Sincerely,

Rick

[chunkyfrog]

Sleeping on an incline makes me think of Babylon 5;
and the Minbari sleeping blocks.
Looks rough on feet and legs.

[ChicagoGranny]

I slept on my side with it inclined.

Good grief. I could not imagine.

[Benicetoothers]

Just a little bit inclined, maybe 30 degrees up. Not inclined like upright in a recliner chair or anything.

I slept on my side with it inclined.

Good grief. I could not imagine.

[GrumpyHere]

Have you tried the Falcon position? $0 cost.

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

Example of someone adding pillows to accommodate their mask.
https://www.cpaptalk.com/viewtopic.php? ... 63#p387587

https://www.cpaptalk.com/search.php?keywords=Falcon

[kteague]

Sleeping at an incline can be its own problem if one (like me) is prone to edema in the legs. Not sure a special bed is needed to practice positional therapy. What works for me is side sleeping on a firm flat pillow with my face hanging over the edge a bit. The flat pillow prevents jaw drop and hanging over the edge tilts my face slightly downward, keeping my tongue out of my throat. Maybe I'm using the term positional therapy too loosely. I haven't lowered my pressure though because I'm a scairdy cat and don't want to risk changing positions in my sleep and not being fully protected. Sounds like you are pretty in tune with your body so you'll likely settle in soon to what what works best for you.