Confused about back sleeping

[trytryagain]

If you are getting good AHI readings while sleeping on your back, is there any reason to change sleeping position? Before CPAP i was a stomach and side sleeper. I never slept on my back. The side and stomach sleeping gave me lots of neck and back pain, and I was told to sleep on my back with a neck contour pillow. Now with CPAP we are told not to sleep on your back but to sleep on your side. I get the fewest leaks and lowest AHI while sleeping on my back, after relearning not to sleep on my stomach. Should I worry about back sleeping now?

[DocWeezy]

I'm pretty much a newbie and my experience is limited, however, from what I have learned here, some people have positional apnea--meaning that it is worse when sleeping in a certain position, usually on the back.

My numbers don't change whether I'm on my back or side, and no positional problems showed up during either of my sleep studies, so I'm assuming that I do not have positional apnea problems. I continue to sleep on my back and my numbers range from 0.0 to 0.3.

If your numbers are low and you are starting to feel better, then sleeping on your back probably isn't a problem. My theory is that as long as your numbers are good, just sleep in whatever position you are most comfortable!

Weezy

[BlackSpinner]

My problem with sleeping on my back is that gravity cause my jaw to fall out of my masks - though the problem is less bad with the Hybrid.
For many people their tongue is an issue. For others - they find they can decrease their problematic pressure if they can sleep on their sides.

For you obviously sleeping on your back solves other problems and your numbers are good. So stay on your back!

[Hawthorne]

No, there is no need for you to worry about it or try not to sleep on your back! You are getting "the lowest AHI and the best leak rate" sleeping on your back. I am the same. I also had problems sleeping any other way than on my back. I have Rheumatoid Arthritis and the only way I get any rest is on my back with a contour pillow as well.

I had the arthritis long before I was daignosed with sleep apnea and have to continue to sleep on my back if I want any sleep at all.

Most of us are titrated on our backs because it is often when we need the highest pressure. This makes our therapy work just as well when we are on our backs.

Some people have "positional sleep apnea", meaning they have more events in a certain position. For many this happens when they are sleeping on their back. For some it happens when they are sleeping on their side.

If you are doing well on your back, and it certainly sounds like you are as am I, then sleep on your back! There is no need for you to try to train yourself to sleep on your side.

I was diagnosed with sleep apnea 8+ years ago and, as I said, RA 12 years before that. I've slept well on my back for 8+ years with a very low AHI (usually below 2) and an almost sraight leak line. You sound the same as me. Keep on sleeping your back, getting good sleep and excellent apnea therapy.

[mayondair]

My sleep study showed that I had the most events sleeping on my R side, fewer on L and none on back, . I use an auto, and I assume it compensates for my rolling around as my AHI is usually below 2 now that I have things dialed in. I like to sleep on my side. I think blanket statements not to sleep in a certain position need to be taken with a grain of salt. If your numbers look good and you are sleeping well,no need to worry about position, JMO

[PST]

I agree with the rest of the gang. If you are getting good results and are comfortable sleeping on your back there is no reason not to. For some of us, who need more air pressure when on our backs than on our sides to keep our airways open, staying off our backs is a way of getting by with a lower pressure than we would otherwise need. This helps with mask fit, leaks, and so forth.

[montana user]

During a sleep study most sleep labs, like mine, like to see you sleep on your back so we can get the optimal pressure. If we can slow the apneas on your back we know you are good on your side. so if you have an optimal pressure while on your back and your nubers are good, stay on your back! I hardly ever slept on my back but now on CPAP I do.

[avi123]

What about developing pressure sores while laying on your back only?

http://familydoctor.org/online/famdocen ... e/039.html

and

http://www.ldhpmed.com/Prevention.aspx

p.s.

Are you using Anti Decubitus Mattress?

[PST]

What about developing pressure sores while laying on your back only?

I have never heard of a person with normal sensation and mobility developing a pressure sore. Whatever position we choose, we seem to move enough in our sleep to prevent that.

[Hawthorne]

I've had to sleep on my back for almost 17 years now and never had a pressure sore.
I am quite mobile and active in the daytime. Pressure sores usually occur in people who are bedridden all the time, not in people who sleep on their backs overnight but are not in bed or immobile all day as well.

If people who slept on their back all the time go pressure sores, then people who slept on the same side all the time would also get pressure sores but on their side.

[avi123]

What about developing pressure sores while laying on your back only?

I have never heard of a person with normal sensation and mobility developing a pressure sore. Whatever position we choose, we seem to move enough in our sleep to prevent that.

For healthy persons it does make sense. But, it takes 2 to 3 hours after blood circulation blockage for an ulcer to start. Assume a not healthy person on CPAP, confined by the air tube and the mask, and not making any efforts to lift and move the body.

[Big S]

I love to sleep on my back because it feels good and I could never do it before cpap. Unfortunately, I'm the dryest in the mouth when I do so. I tend to be a maverick however and sneak one in on my back every once in a while just to feel like I'm getting away with something.

[PST]

What about developing pressure sores while laying on your back only?

I have never heard of a person with normal sensation and mobility developing a pressure sore. Whatever position we choose, we seem to move enough in our sleep to prevent that.

For healthy persons it does make sense. But, it takes 2 to 3 hours after blood circulation blockage for an ulcer to start. Assume a not healthy person on CPAP, confined by the air tube and the mask, and not making any efforts to lift and move the body.

I didn't want trytryagain to worry about something unnecessary or think there might be some need to buy a special mattress. I don't think CPAP adds much to the hypothetical situation avi123 poses, since a hose and mask are not very confining. If you assume that someone is making no effort to lift or move his body, then such a person could be at risk due to the lack of movement. However, people with normal sensation and mobility do move at night regardless of preferred sleep position. People who are up and around during the day and have a normal ability to react to discomfort don't get decubiti. Unless she has some unusual medical condition, this is the last thing trytryagain needs to add to her list of concerns while she tries to work on adapting to CPAP and reducing her sleep apnea symptoms.

[Hawthorne]

Even as a back sleeper for all these years I know that although I do not turn on to my sides, I do move in the night. Only people with some other medical would not move at all and normal activity in the daytime means things are fine and there is no need to worry about bed sores if you sleep on your back.

[trytryagain]

Thanks everyone and PST for your help and concern. I realize now that sleeping on my back is okay as long as its working for ME. I do move during the night on to my side at times, but I find the leaking is at a minimum on my back. I 'm no way still enough to get any sores.