Ongoing poor start to CPAP

While my neck issue has passed the acute stage I have a lot of lingering ache and my neck and arm can still be made worse by activity or wrong position.

I heard back from the doctor this morning and was told it's OK for me to start CPAP again but no mention was made about my concern if my neck gets really, really bad again. I want some assurance that I will not have to live 3 weeks in excruciating pain again, so I'm waiting for a direct answer.

The other thing mentioned was they were going to get me a CPAP pillow - wtf is the point of that? As far as I know, there is no such thing for a stomach sleeper. That's on top of the fact that I need scrunchy pillows - not padded bricks. I save the padded brick surface for the rest of my back...

It's been over a month since I've gotten my machine and I have used it 7 whole days. This is not a good start, and it is only making my sleep deprivation worse.

xxyzx wrote: =====

if you dont want to use the cpap just say no

I don't want to use CPAP - I want to be in perfect health. But since what I want has never happened (yet) I have to compromise and get some sleep.

xxyzx wrote: it is really easy to do
just roll 180 degrees and stop there

As easy as quitting smoking, losing weight, getting in shape, and becoming left-handed.

Is it impossible? No. Is it easy? Hell no, so just stuff the "easy" crap.

don't use the CPAP-pillow! (as long as you are sleeping on your stomach)

get yourself a sidesleeper pillow - try it - really try it!
google the falcon-position (as mentioned already in the other thread!) - might not work right away, but it is (kind of) comfortable. Use the tipp with the pillow under your side / stomach! (otherwise you most likely will run into trouble with your neck again!)

Guest wrote:don't use the CPAP-pillow! (as long as you are sleeping on your stomach)

When I looked them up, they all appeared to be for back and side sleepers...

Guest wrote:get yourself a sidesleeper pillow - try it - really try it!
google the falcon-position (as mentioned already in the other thread!) - might not work right away, but it is (kind of) comfortable. Use the tipp with the pillow under your side / stomach! (otherwise you most likely will run into trouble with your neck again!)

If I could sleep on my side consistently, I can make do with my feather pillows because I can scrunch them into most any shape or thickness

The Falcon position has been recommended before, but if must be for people that a) have the bed to themselves and b) can sleep with out any pillow for their head. Not that I can move my neck, right shoulder or right arm into that position at them moment anyway....

xxyzx wrote:

MaxINTJ wrote:While my neck issue has passed the acute stage I have a lot of lingering ache and my neck and arm can still be made worse by activity or wrong position.

I heard back from the doctor this morning and was told it's OK for me to start CPAP again but no mention was made about my concern if my neck gets really, really bad again. I want some assurance that I will not have to live 3 weeks in excruciating pain again, so I'm waiting for a direct answer.

The other thing mentioned was they were going to get me a CPAP pillow - wtf is the point of that? As far as I know, there is no such thing for a stomach sleeper. That's on top of the fact that I need scrunchy pillows - not padded bricks. I save the padded brick surface for the rest of my back...

It's been over a month since I've gotten my machine and I have used it 7 whole days. This is not a good start, and it is only making my sleep deprivation worse.

=====

if you dont want to use the cpap just say no

want guarantee of no pain
then sleep on your back

there are cpap pillows whether you heard of them or not

you WANT certain pillows
that was then
this is now
stuff changes
get used to it

sleep deprivation or sleeping on your tummy
such a hard decision
SLEEP ON YOUR BACK AND GET SOME SLEEP AND AVOID NECK PAIN

it is really easy to do
just roll 180 degrees and stop there

It appears they have, from day one, four sides to sleep on chose one that works, like the rest of us. In order of what works best for our health. 1. Rt side down (Better for the Heart) 2. Lf side down (Poor for Gerd & harder for heart) 3. Tummy, head on edge of pillow neck turned, not floating deadman head buried in pillow! 4. On back, (Possible will need higher pressure)

I sleep like Rover, (all over 1 & 4) You may need one of those hospital beds that rotate 360 degrees, (I doubt it). As Yoda says "Do or Do Not!", the choice is yours only. I'll be Dammed if I'd let faulty thinking kill me. Jim

A bed to yourself is also much better than dying!

Goofproof wrote:Tummy, head on edge of pillow neck turned,

I'm sure this is what finished off my neck - it was never used to spending 6-7 hours turned 90 degrees - I'm sure it put constant stress on everything.

Because the mask has a STUPID vent location I couldn't face down at all without air blowing back in my face unless I blocked the vent with the pillow, then it just moved the mask and it leaked

I know stomach sleepers are supposed to be only 7% of the population, but you would think with the number of people needing CPAP, that somewhere in the world they would have come up with something for us.

MaxINTJ wrote:

Goofproof wrote:Tummy, head on edge of pillow neck turned,

I'm sure this is what finished off my neck - it was never used to spending 6-7 hours turned 90 degrees - I'm sure it put constant stress on everything.

Because the mask has a STUPID vent location I couldn't face down at all without air blowing back in my face unless I blocked the vent with the pillow, then it just moved the mask and it leaked

I know stomach sleepers are supposed to be only 7% of the population, but you would think with the number of people needing CPAP, that somewhere in the world they would have come up with something for us.

As a child, I always slept on my stomach, sometimes head turned, or head on arm on pillow. I don't think the mask vent is placed wrong, evolution just misplaced some peoples noses, they need to be on the back on the head for stomach sleeper, if they can't work it out. Jim

I had to stop back sleeping because my arm position began causing shoulder pain. As we age we must conform to our real needs. Old equals Pain!

SEALY HALF & HALF Bed Pillow about $30 (Firm) Best one I've found.

Goofproof wrote: As a child, I always slept on my stomach, sometimes head turned, or head on arm on pillow. I don't think the mask vent is placed wrong, evolution just misplaced some peoples noses, they need to be on the back on the head for stomach sleeper, if they can't work it out. Jim

Honestly though, when breathing through your nose, the air is exhaled downward - why would anyone think venting a nasal mask any direction but the natural direction is a good idea?

MaxINTJ wrote:

Goofproof wrote: As a child, I always slept on my stomach, sometimes head turned, or head on arm on pillow. I don't think the mask vent is placed wrong, evolution just misplaced some peoples noses, they need to be on the back on the head for stomach sleeper, if they can't work it out. Jim

Honestly though, when breathing through your nose, the air is exhaled downward - why would anyone think venting a nasal mask any direction but the natural direction is a good idea?

With the mask on you are breathing into a space, anywhere close to the nose and mouth works. (Air breathing thru your mouth isn't aimed down) My previous post now has my pillow, I love it. Jim

Goofproof wrote: With the mask on you are breathing into a space, anywhere close to the nose and mouth works. (Air breathing thru your mouth isn't aimed down) My previous post now has my pillow, I love it. Jim

If I was a mouth breather, I would have found a position long ago that would allow exhaling straight ahead. As it is now, I have learned to sleep comfortably (unencumbered) while allowing airflow into and out of my nose. The Dreamwear mask prevents that with a mouth breather location for the vent. Maybe the "brilliant engineers" have a valid reason for it, I don't know, but from my perspective it's a stupid direction to vent a nasal mask. It would be fine for anyone used to breathing through their mouth, as it is a normal direction.

If directing the exhaust "down", it gets drafty if you like sleeping commando.

chunkyfrog wrote:If directing the exhaust "down", it gets drafty if you like sleeping commando.

I don't like sleeping commando, there is always that one guy, getting up in the night, to cleaning his gun. Jim

One of the reasons the vent is near the nose is, the farther the vent is from the nose the more of the mask CO2 is breathed back in If they engineered a check valve before the vent a hose could be used to vent it anywhere, but that would add cost, cleaning and repair. K.I.S.S. applies.....

Goofproof wrote:

chunkyfrog wrote:If directing the exhaust "down", it gets drafty if you like sleeping commando.

I don't like sleeping commando, there is always that one guy, getting up in the night, to cleaning his gun. Jim

One of the reasons the vent is near the nose is, the farther the vent is from the nose the more of the mask CO2 is breathed back in If they engineered a check valve before the vent a hose could be used to vent it anywhere, but that would add cost, cleaning and repair. K.I.S.S. applies.....

Putting the vent on the bottom would be just as close to the nose and it would be the natural direction of airflow.

Engineers....

xxyzx wrote: you would think the OPer realises good sleep is more important than his wishes that he not have to change anything

You seem to think I can sleep just as well in an position. How do you know my sleep will be any better in any other position? From my sleep study I was only briefly on each side and back, so I must be VERY restless in any position other than stomach - how's that going to help my sleep?

MaxINTJ wrote:

xxyzx wrote: you would think the OPer realises good sleep is more important than his wishes that he not have to change anything

You seem to think I can sleep just as well in an position. How do you know my sleep will be any better in any other position? From my sleep study I was only briefly on each side and back, so I must be VERY restless in any position other than stomach - how's that going to help my sleep?

Which arm can you row best with, remember to use it when you are paddling up De-Nile! I see a trip in your future. Jim

You already have the tickets.