Back Sleeping

[DoriC]

Solved one problem, now another. Hubby was having lots of leaks side sleeping on his soft mushy pillow with his FF. Never made it through the night. Bought one of those memory foam contour pillows and he's had 2 wonderful nights of sleeping 7-8hrs, hardly moving, but the pillow doesn't allow him to side sleep it seems, so he's on his back with his head to the side, with no leaks BUT his pressure reads 15. His stats were between 10.7-11.4 sleeping on sides. I have the settings at 10-15, should I raise the min & max? If so, how much? Titrated =13. Does position change the pressures? We're finally starting to make some progress but wish we had all this down to a science. Trying not to be impatient but since my husband isn't "quite with it" and we're both seniors, I'm doing all the learning and caretaking and I'm tired I guess. Thanks for letting me vent.

[Hawthorne]

I have had to sleep on my back for a number of years (even before my sleep apnea diagnosis which was 6 years ago) because I have Rheumatoid Arthritis. It's the only pain free position for me. I use the same machine as your husband (same kind of pillow too - the contour one) and my head is usually slightly to the side. I have my machine set at a narrow range (10.5 cm -13 cm). My AHI is almost always below 1. My 90% pressure is 12 cm. I was set at 10 cm when I was diagnosed 6 years ago. I used a straight cpap machine until this past February. My last titration (in April of this year) got an AHI of just below 5, actually 4.2. That was on a different machine and they only seemed concerned to get me below 5. I feel better with the lower AHI. I have the software and reader so I see what is happening all night.

I had an in home auto trial (5 nights) on my back, of course, last fall and my 90% was 11 cm. It's not all that much different.

Was your husband's titration on his back? It most often is done that way so that, in the worse case senario, you will be well treated if you are sleeping on your back.

He may not continue to sleep on his back as he adjusts to the therapy but it is not a problem. I wouldn't change the pressure range just yet. After a week or so things may level out and his AHI may be lower.

Others here may have other suggestions. Thought my experience would be helpful. Oh, and I am also a senior!!! Give it some more time.

[Hawthorne]

DorisC - I just put another thought I had in your duplicate post about back sleeping.

You may want to check both posts for awhile! You may get helpful thoughts in both of them!!

[givemesleep]

I am a side sleeper as well and I have the memory foam contour pillow as well. I still only sleep on my side. I scoot my face all the way to the edge of the pillow so that the part of my face that has the mask on it is hanging off the side. I place my hand underneath my cheek to raise me up a little bit and it works perfect. I am able to turn from side to side throughout the night if need be.