Sleeping on Back with OSA

jrfoster · Post by **jrfoster** » Fri Dec 22, 2006 11:49 am

I have been told that persons with OSA should not sleep on their backs since it increases the chance of apnea, etc. What about those who sleep with CPAP? Does sleeping on your back increase the AHI or not?

I would love to learn how to sleep on my back (I am a side sleeper) so that my arms would not continually go to sleep and I toss from side to side all night.

Is back sleeping ok?

Jeff

telly · Post by **telly** » Fri Dec 22, 2006 11:54 am

Good question. As a person also recovering from back surgery, I need to be able to back sleep too. I am not on CPAP yet, so I can't answer for sure. However, during my test, I had ZERO apneas while on my back so I am assuming with CPAP that you'll be safe.

Jaxdad · Post by **Jaxdad** » Fri Dec 22, 2006 12:37 pm

I was also a side sleeper. I slept on my back with the hose during my titration and had ZERO events. I have been on the hose at home for a week now and sleep on my back every night. So far, so good!

Sleepless_in_LM · Post by **Sleepless_in_LM** » Fri Dec 22, 2006 12:53 pm

Back sleeping should be OK. My problem was/is that I need more pressure when I am on my back. I now have an auto and it adjusts for whatever position I am in, but for certain people, pressure requirements can vary depending on position.

oldgearhead · Post by **oldgearhead** » Fri Dec 22, 2006 1:00 pm

but for certain people, pressure requirements can vary depending on position.

I've found it to be quite positional. Always 2 cm/H2O higher on my back.
However, the AHI's are about the same, and snores seem to be mask-dependant.

josh · Post by **josh** » Fri Dec 22, 2006 1:09 pm

I must say that I have always heard about people sleeping on their sides or backs...I sleep on my stomach...good news is I can't sleep on my back if I wanted to...especially since my OSA is way worse on my back.

Cheers!

muld00n · Post by **muld00n** » Fri Dec 22, 2006 1:13 pm

I would love to learn how to sleep on my back (I am a side sleeper) so that my arms would not continually go to sleep and I toss from side to side all night.

Is back sleeping ok?

I have the same problem... arms "going to sleep" when I sleep on my side. I have been on CPAP for over 2 years now, and it is really great to be able to sleep in ANY position and still be able to breathe. And yes, I sleep quite a bit now on my back

Steve

Sleepless_in_LM · Post by **Sleepless_in_LM** » Fri Dec 22, 2006 1:29 pm

josh wrote:I must say that I have always heard about people sleeping on their sides or backs...I sleep on my stomach...good news is I can't sleep on my back if I wanted to...especially since my OSA is way worse on my back.

That used to me also. Then I started having spine problems. The neurosurgeon, physical therapist, and primary doc all told me sleeping on my stomach was the worst possible sleep position. If I wanted to minimize future back problems, I needed to sleep on my side or back. (For whatever that is worth)

Well I spent so many years training myself not to sleep on my back because my wife said I snored and stopped breathing(hindsight - I had untreated OSA since at least me early teens), that I have only been really able to learn how to sleep decent on my side. I occassionally find myself on my back now, but I usually wake up when in that position. I now need a pillow between my legs to help with back pain. I hug one in my arms to help my arms from going to sleep. Between the hose, mask and all the pillows... I make for quite a site And then of course, I try to only sleep on one side, because the other makes for quite a chilly wind in wife's ear

The things we won't do to get a good night's sleep!!

ColoradoDreamer · Post by **ColoradoDreamer** » Fri Dec 22, 2006 1:52 pm

I am a back sleeper but had to learn to sleep on my side to keep peace in the family (keep the snoring down)...pre-cpap. My shoulders were sore such that I had to take it easy lifting weights over my head. I went in to the dr for a cure for snoring and sore shoulders and ended up in a sleep study. I slept on my back during it and got the high AHI numbers (I decided to sleep in the position that I like most).

I now am trying to unlearn side sleeping because when I do sleep on my back I find that I do not toss and turn from one side to another at all. I also notice that my shoulders are not sore anymore. My AHI and snore levels are low.

Go for it!

biggbunny · Post by **biggbunny** » Fri Dec 22, 2006 2:01 pm

Pre- CPAP, I could not breathe sleeping on my back. (or too well in any position according to my sleep study!) Side sleeping was my only hope.

Since going on CPAP in May, I find I will wake up on my back even if I went to sleep in my side. Moreover, if my nose is a little stuffy, I can breather better on my back (with CPAP). Laying on my side tends to close the nostril on the lower side of my face.

I can now breather deeper and easier on my back that in any position. And yes, my shoulders are the better for it.

LB

OwlCreekObserver · Post by **OwlCreekObserver** » Fri Dec 22, 2006 3:37 pm

Until I started CPAP a few months ago I had pretty much given up sleeping on my back because I'd wake up every few minutes gasping for breath. Falling asleep in my recliner was just out of the question. Side sleeping was my only option. Now I'm mostly on my back, though I also sleep on both sides -- whatever's comfortable at the time.

Oddly enough, I feel like I need more pressure when I'm on my sides now than on my back, but since I don't have an APAP machine, I can't really say if that's true or just my imagination.

OCO

jrfoster · Post by **jrfoster** » Fri Dec 22, 2006 3:56 pm

Thanks to all who replied! I am going to work on learning how to sleep on my back. I have an AutoPap with a range of 5-10cm. I always find it at 9.5 or 10 when I wake up.

I also bought one of those pillows that is like the temperpedic (sp?) with the built up area to support the neck. I think that will help support my head, and help with headaches that I am getting when sleeping on my sides.

Thanks to all and Merry Christmas!

Jeff

WifeIsHappyNow · Post by **WifeIsHappyNow** » Sat Dec 23, 2006 7:41 am

Good Luck, Jeff!

I am trying to teach myself to sleep on my back again. Its not as easy as it was to learn to sleep on my side since my wife doesn't kick me constantly like she did when I would sleep on my back!

Merry Christmas!

Mike

Goofproof · Post by **Goofproof** » Sat Dec 23, 2006 6:57 pm

jrfoster wrote:Thanks to all who replied! I am going to work on learning how to sleep on my back. I have an AutoPap with a range of 5-10cm. I always find it at 9.5 or 10 when I wake up.

I also bought one of those pillows that is like the temperpedic (sp?) with the built up area to support the neck. I think that will help support my head, and help with headaches that I am getting when sleeping on my sides.

Thanks to all and Merry Christmas!

Jeff

Sleeping on your back, will raise your pressure requirements, that's why sleep studies want you on your back, so they can find your worse requirements.

Looking at the pressure your APAP shows when you wake up, has nothing to do about showing the pressure you need when you are asleep, you are looking at Apples & Oranges. You have to have the software to see what's happening where and when. It could be your headaches are from your treatment pressure not covering all your events, seeing as it's at the top when you wake up, or it may be leaks. Jim

tooly125 · Post by **tooly125** » Sat Dec 23, 2006 7:23 pm

Goofproof wrote: It could be your headaches are from your treatment pressure not covering all your events, seeing as it's at the top when you wake up, or it may be leaks. Jim

I agree with Jim on this having the machine at the top pressure and still having headaches which is a OSA symptom I think you need to evaluate your therapy to be sure its effective' the card reader and software can be an extremely helpful tool for this.

Once your therapy is working correctly sleeping on your back will be just fine.

Mask

Mask

Sleeping on Back with OSA

Sleeping on Back with OSA

re back sleeping