Sleeping on back

[MAXDRI]

Sir Noddinoff said Anyway, that said, I've been able to train myself to sleep on my back using what I call the Hybrid Supine Position . First get some throw pillows from a couch or roll up a blanket to make a support system to place in your bed; it should be about 3' long and a thick as you feel comfortable with. Rather than start out sleeping flat on your back, start on your favorite side. After a reasonable amount of time and after adjusting your covers, mask etc,reach back and slide the rolled up blanket or the throw pillows into contact with your butt and back areas. You may have to lift up your body a bit to get the contact really firm. Next roll your torso and hips back a bit, letting the supports take the weight of your body... the object is to have your torso at a 45 degree angle to the bed. Note, I'm NOT saying put the pillows etc under your back and shoulders, like you are reading in bed!!! Adjust your pillow so you are comfortable and don't worry about your legs, they seem to take care of themselves. I find this hybrid position really comfortable and eventually after a week or two started pushing the supports out of the way after an hour or so, thusly ending up flat on my back while sleeping soundly. It took a couple of months using this method, but now I sleep easily flat on my back or in the 45 degree position.

Thank you so much for your post about learning to sleep on your back. My body just naturally goes to my sides. Sleep studies found that, after a few minutes on my back, I slept half the night on my left side and half on my right. I'm trying to learn to sleep on my back. Starting tonight I will try your method. Why would I want to change? Because of my mask. After trying almost every mask on the market. I find Respironics Fit Life is very comfortable and can handle the changes in pressure from my ResMed Vpap Adapt machine. But it gets out of position if I turn onto my side. From another post, I learned to use an additional stap across my forehead to eliminate leaks in the middle of my forehead.
I had trouble believing last night's data. Few leaks, NO Ahi and NO AI. And I slept 8 hours. I feel great today. Unbelievable. I couldn't have done it without this Forum. Thanks so much.

[The Sheikh]

Speaking of side sleeping...

I sometimes get hip pain after a night of side-sleeping. This is because the "top" leg pulls downward from gravity and puts a strain on the top hip. I've found that by placing a pillow between my thighs, this will support the top leg. This results in a comfortable, stable position.

Add MaxDri's back brace idea above and you're golden in any position.

Try it and see.

Tom

[wm_hess]

Speaking of side sleeping...

I sometimes get hip pain after a night of side-sleeping. This is because the "top" leg pulls downward from gravity and puts a strain on the top hip. I've found that by placing a pillow between my thighs, this will support the top leg. This results in a comfortable, stable position.

Tom

I have similar hip pain when I side sleep due to busitis. I prefer to side sleep but have difficulty. Since back sleeping is not good, side sleeping is almost as bad, I've considered sleeping on my head, but the blood rush is to much. Since that is out, I fold a hand town several times and place that right above the hip that hurts. By doing this, I'm able to reduce the amount of pressure put the bursa and can sleep better.

-Bill

[archangle]

This is one of many reasons you need a fully data capable CPAP machine and software to monitor it.

With that, you can try various positions and see what your results are.

[DavidCarolina]

im one of those people who just cannot sleep on their back----even though im a natural back sleeper.

Unless im strapped in, i will simply roll onto my back, and then have "clusters of events" that cause me extreme oximetry problems even though i may have an "average" AHI number the next day below 2.

And, for some people, the backpacks simply dont work. The tennis ball theory is just that, a theory. In reality, a really deep sleeper can endure a little pain and more or less roll onto their back anyway or at least get their head into the position of pointing up, which is when the tongue structure/jaw alignment and throat structure collapses.

It is really frustrating, im not going to lie to you. I had originally devised a good sized backpack with multiple straps with small mini basketballs in it, but other times ive tethered my opposite arm or beltloop to a rope and then to a railing below in order that i not flip over. I havnt quite mastered the technique yet, im always looking for something better.

the best scenario is probably a line from the ceiling to a back beltloop, with just enough flexibility to let your gently roll onto your side-----because stomach sleeping is hard to pull of with OsA because it will cause leak problems usually. You have to work at this and find what works.

In theory you could keep upping your pressure and sleep on your back, but ultimately for a few of us the pressure would be too high and cause centrals eventually, or make it hard to strap that mask on for the night.

[Sir NoddinOff]

Sir Noddinoff. Thank you so much for your post about learning to sleep on your back... I had trouble believing last night's data. Few leaks, NO Ahi and NO AI. And I slept 8 hours. I feel great today. Unbelievable. I couldn't have done it without this Forum. Thanks so much.

Glad to be of help Please keep us updated on your progress and if you are able to add sleeping on your back to your nighttime positions.

[Suddenly Worn Out]

Before CPAP, I used to be a stomach sleeper almost entirely. Actually, I was a very "active" sleeper, moving around like crazy in my sleep before CPAP. But stomach sleeping was where I would typically spend the most time. Id wake up on my stomach. Fall asleep on my stomach.

After I went on CPAP, the desire to sleep on my stomach went away almost entirely. In fact, I "switched" from a stomach sleeper to a back sleeper practically immediately. Now I sleep on my side some.

It is hard to sleep on your stomach IMO if you are wearing a CPAP mask.

Honestly, as long as the position you are sleeping in does not cause you to break the silicone seal on your mask, I would not worry about it. CPAP might be making you feel like you have no need to sleep on your stomach much anymore. I would just go with it. I dont worry about it.

Eric

[Sir NoddinOff]

Honestly, as long as the position you are sleeping in does not cause you to break the silicone seal on your mask, I would not worry about it. CPAP might be making you feel like you have no need to sleep on your stomach much anymore. I would just go with it. I dont worry about it. Eric

Good point, Eric. I just read a recent post by someone who bought a new memory foam mattress then cut into it with an electric carving knife to make a space for their face/mask to fit. I've heard lots of other stories like that too. I sincerely wish the folks who do those drastic things a lot of luck and hope these experiments work out - however it seems simpler to try sleeping on your back or side first, then use the carving knives etc as a last resort. IMO,having a mask or nasal pillows on your face is just a new reality that one has to accept. No rancor please... just my humble two cents worth. If someone's got some positive stories of stomach sleeping using a mask or nasal pillows, this would be a good time to weigh in.

[chunkyfrog]

For anyone whose hip pain prevents side sleeping, here a few pillows to try:
http://www.amazon.com/The-Most-Popular- ... XRQP32APJS