Side sleeping vs. sleeping on back

[Jcochran]

I know I've seen a few topics around concerning the difference sleep position can have. How much is it though? I have slept primarily on my back for a couple of years now, ever since a broken collar bone. Since starting my cpap therapy, almost 5 months now, I have not been able to get a decent AHI. After finding this wonderful forum, I have been helped with proper mask, settings on machines, and learning lots in respect to OSA. The lowest AHI able to obtain was around 3.5, one time. Most others were around 5-7. Tried changes in every direction, flex relief, etc.. no luck. Tried sleeping on my side one night and was amazed, AHI of 1.8. The next night, 0.9. And next 1.9. Should sleeping position really have this much effect? And, should I make any more adjustments to pressure settings, or leave alone. I've only had this good of an AHI for 3 nights now, so not really feeling any difference yet. What does everyone think? Thanks again for all the help.

[Wulfman]

I know I've seen a few topics around concerning the difference sleep position can have. How much is it though? I have slept primarily on my back for a couple of years now, ever since a broken collar bone. Since starting my cpap therapy, almost 5 months now, I have not been able to get a decent AHI. After finding this wonderful forum, I have been helped with proper mask, settings on machines, and learning lots in respect to OSA. The lowest AHI able to obtain was around 3.5, one time. Most others were around 5-7. Tried changes in every direction, flex relief, etc.. no luck. Tried sleeping on my side one night and was amazed, AHI of 1.8. The next night, 0.9. And next 1.9. Should sleeping position really have this much effect? And, should I make any more adjustments to pressure settings, or leave alone. I've only had this good of an AHI for 3 nights now, so not really feeling any difference yet. What does everyone think? Thanks again for all the help.

Categorically:

HUGE!

ABSOLUTELY!

Think about it......if you sleep on your back, you tongue will naturally fall backwards into your throat and shut off your air......presto....APNEAS.


Den

[roster]

Ditto Wulfman.

I may qualify as the poster child for side sleeping. The sleep lab titrated me at 19 cm on my back and I confirmed this with my Encore Pro software at home. Some further experimenting at home and I have found 8.5 cm is sufficient for side sleeping. Believe me 8.5 cm is much more comfortable than an intolerable 19.

[jnk]

http://books.google.com/books?id=3oPKnL ... &lpg=PA122

http://www.chestjournal.org/cgi/content/full/128/4/2130

[Hawthorne]

Some people have to sleep on their back or not sleep because of pain (like myself with Rheumatoid Arthritis) and MAYBE you because of your collar bone having been broken.

Your pressure should be enough so that you can sleep on your back, if you have to, and still get good therapy since there may be times in our lives when we have to sleep on our backs for short periods of time or long term. Of course if that should happen the pressure can be adjusted accordingly.

I sleep on my back (the only relatively pain free position for me) and I have settings so that I have an AHI of less that 1 almost 100% of the time. That could, and probably will, change over time and I'll have to make further adjustments in my pressure but that is true for most people no matter in what position they sleep.

I have slept on my back for years ( all the time I have been diagnosed with sleep apnea - 6 years) and my pressure has changed upward about 1 to 2 cm in that time. I do have an auto, set in auto range, so I can really keep track. Given my situation, I think that it important.

Of course, if you have sleep apnea and can sleep on your side, that is best. My pressure may be lower, and still keep that good AHI, if I could sleep on my side. I'm just speaking from my personal experience here in case it might be helpful.

[GaryGarland]

i'm glad this topic came up - my preference is to sleep on my back, and then maybe on my left side to shift position - with the tubing and all i find i try to stay still on my back - and my back has been killing me from lack of moving it through the night. i've tried sleeping on my side with my swift lt, and i consider that to be "advanced sleeping" - when i sleep on my side i seem to be getting a lot more leaks (probably the stiff edges of the headgear are shifting.
my ahi has been the same whether on my back or side -- before the machine my wife would only let me sleep on my side (despite my back preference -- the incredible snoring was marginally less on my side)
at the sleep study they were glad i slept on my back for a "truer" reading (or at least the greater liklihood of events -- and i believe i had 56 in roughly 90 minutes)...

[ca_hosehead]

I set up a video that runs for the full night. I watched the video with my Encore report every day. I would mark the sleeping position on the report. After a few weeks there was a very clear pattern of worse apneas on my back. I trained myself not to sleep on my back and I got a substantial improvement in my numbers and the way I felt. I didn't eliminate all of the apneas I saw on my back, some of them moved to other sleeping positions, but the the reduction was still substantial.

One thing I found interesting, my idea of what positions I sleeping in was very wrong. Before the video I would have put it like this:

Left Side:75%
Right Side:15%
Back: 10%

The actual numbers were closer to this:

Left Side: 10%
Right Side: 10%
Back: 80%

I would always go to sleep on my left side, but then change to back sleeping fairly quickly once I was asleep. Since I knew back sleeping was bad for apneas, if I was awake I wouldn't choose that position. I think the "before video" numbers were correct for my concious moments but very wrong for the entire night.

The video was helpful while I was training myself as well, I could see how effective my training measures were.

It certainly won't "cure" anyone to eliminate back sleeping, but it could improve the way you feel and could let you use a lower pressure with the same or better results.

[Bluebonnet_Gal]

WOW - what great information CA_hosehead (aka "Sheriff Taylor") - love your avatar btw!

I recently had my first sleep study. My ENT ordered a split night study. The instructions I received prior to the study stated that they needed me to clock sufficient hours of sleep on my back with events prior to 1:00 am in order to introduce C-PAP for the last few hours of the night. I normally sleep on my side or sometimes even on my stomach. I do not generally like to sleep on my back, but for a few nights before the study, I practiced going to sleep on my back to increase my chances of being able to sleep on my back during the sleep study. I spent the entire sleep study time on my back and my AHI was 107.

From reading this post, I gather that the sleep center encourages back sleeping in order to increase the chances of recording events. I'm glad to read here that side sleeping is better and will likely give me better results at home and result in lower pressure being needed.

[ca_hosehead]

I think the reason they want you to sleep on your back during a sleep study is that for most people apneas are worst on their back, so if they do a study with no back sleeping they could easily set the person up with a pressure that is too low or miss a case of apnea altogether.

You're ahead of the game if you don't sleep on your back. Just stick with that and you'll likely get better results.

Glad you like the avatar, I think this town needs a good sheriff!

[track]

I trained myself not to sleep on my back

I would be fascinated to know how one trains oneself to not get on their back while sleeping. I have tried every trick in the book and I still manage to get on my back at times...even if I am laying on top of a few hard balls that are digging into my spine or a back pack packed full as big as a suitcase.

[sleepydoll]

Êxtremely interesting post!
Thanks to everyone for your input!
D.

[DreamStalker]

Prior to treatment, my body trained itself to sleep on my side and/or stomach (as a matter of life or death I suppose).

I now use a nasal pillow type interface for my treatment and I don't tape, glue, or use a chinstrap to control leaks. It seems 12 to 13 cm of pressure is the limit I have before air leaks start my lips to flapping. Sleeping on my back without apneas requires pressures greater than or equal to 13 cm. That is what provides the incentive for me not to resort to back sleeping ... and I do have chronic back pain from a 30 year-old accident. I use other methods than sleeping on my back to mitigate back pain but realize that others may not have other options.

However, training oneself not to sleep on their back is not anymore difficult than learning to sleep hooked up to an air machine ... just a matter of changing habits/lifestyles.

[roster]

I trained myself not to sleep on my back

I would be fascinated to know how one trains oneself to not get on their back while sleeping. I have tried every trick in the book and I still manage to get on my back at times...even if I am laying on top of a few hard balls that are digging into my spine or a back pack packed full as big as a suitcase.

Buy a mattress made for side sleeping.

[track]

LMAO..how did you do that.

[yorkiemum01]

hehehehee...love the mattress Rooster......good one