sleeping on my back

[Guest]

folks:

i have heard that apnea people shouldn't sleep on their backs. Is this true? what about if you're a mild apnea person but a hearty snorer? my pressure is 8, mostly because of my out-of-this world snoring; my sleep study recorded very few apnea events; most, if not all, were actually hypoapneas. no i'm not in denial--just telling it as it is. but anyway, is back sleeping bad for me? sometimes i wake up on my back and i was thinking of trying to cultivate it as a new, more comfortable sleeping position with a mask.

thanks.

caroline

[Wulfman]

Hi Caroline,

I don't know about saying that thay "SHOULDN'T" sleep on their backs, but I believe it's generally accepted that more apneas occur in that position.....probably because the pillow is lowering your chin towards your chest and having more of an effect of closing your airway.

Are you monitoring your therapy with software? If so, what does it show about sleeping in different positions?

Best wishes,

Den

[Bellcrest]

Are you monitoring your therapy with software? If so, what does it show about sleeping in different positions?
Den

Can you explain where one would look in encorepro or myencore to see or know what position one is sleeping in? Still learning here. .

[Wulfman]

Are you monitoring your therapy with software? If so, what does it show about sleeping in different positions?
Den

Can you explain where one would look in encorepro or myencore to see or know what position one is sleeping in? Still learning here. .

Bellcrest,

I didn't mean it quite that way..... I meant that if she typically sleeps on her back, is she showing apneas on the software reports.

I'm a dedicated side-sleeper and switch a couple of times a night, usually at about 1 1/2 hour intervals. I almost always go to sleep on my left side and usually wake up on my right side. Based on knowing my typical sleep habits, I can kind of tell what position I was in during the night when my events occurred. One other reason I know this is that I frequently glance at the clock when I wake up to turn over (my back usually tells me when it's time).

Den

[woozle]

Hi there,
Am obtaining my 1st cpap machine on wednesday and can't wait! Was wondering about the recording of apnea that was mentioned regarding different sleep positions. Once you are on the machine, shouldn't the apnea episodes be gone due to continous air flow?

[Wulfman]

Hi there,
Am obtaining my 1st cpap machine on wednesday and can't wait! Was wondering about the recording of apnea that was mentioned regarding different sleep positions. Once you are on the machine, shouldn't the apnea episodes be gone due to continous air flow?

No, not in all probability. XPAP therapy should cut the AHI (Apnea Hypopnea Index) to below 5.0 (which is considered "normal"), but eliminating ALL of them is very doubtful.

Best wishes,

Den.