side sleeping dilemma

gregnga · Post by **gregnga** » Fri Jan 26, 2007 4:48 pm

I am a person that sleeps on their side. Although I am adjusting well to CPAP, I wake up a lot to flip over on my other side, so I am still tired in the morning due to waking up so much to switch sides. A lot of the switching sides is because my hip gets sore from sleeping on the same side so long. Is it normal for side sleepers to switch sides a lot during the night or do most side sleeps sleep on the same side all night.

I thought about trying to switch to sleeping on my back. I don't know how hard it would be to switch or even if it's a good idea.

Thanks

Wulfman · Post by **Wulfman** » Fri Jan 26, 2007 5:15 pm

gregnga wrote:I am a person that sleeps on their side. Although I am adjusting well to CPAP, I wake up a lot to flip over on my other side, so I am still tired in the morning due to waking up so much to switch sides. A lot of the switching sides is because my hip gets sore from sleeping on the same side so long. Is it normal for side sleepers to switch sides a lot during the night or do most side sleeps sleep on the same side all night.

I thought about trying to switch to sleeping on my back. I don't know how hard it would be to switch or even if it's a good idea.

Thanks

It is for me. I have some lower back "issues" that make it uncomfortable to stay on one side too long. I can't seem to be able to sleep on my back and that's the worst position for apneas/hypopneas, so I just do what I have to do.

Den

Rabid1 · Post by **Rabid1** » Fri Jan 26, 2007 5:20 pm

I feel your pain. My wife nick-named me "Flipper".

The thing that has helped me the most is having my hose overhead. I still turn over a lot, but at least I don't have to rearrange my hose each time.

Linda3032 · Post by **Linda3032** » Fri Jan 26, 2007 5:24 pm

Join the "old hurting hips" club. Been there for many years.

I only sleep on my sides and switch sides often (probably every hour or so). The only suggestions I can make would be:

Get a soft mattress. I find my hips don't hurt as much.
Put an "egg-crate" foam topper on the mattress - about 2 or 3 inches thick.
Don't sleep in a cold bedroom.

laurie2025 · Post by **laurie2025** » Fri Jan 26, 2007 5:26 pm

I flip over at least 3-4 times that I am aware of. I get sore laying on the same side for a long time. I also route my hose up and away from my head, so it doesn't bother me; and the "flip" over is pretty easy. Usually I have to make a minor adjustment or two to my headgear, but it's not a big deal.

Linda3032 · Post by **Linda3032** » Fri Jan 26, 2007 5:27 pm

Rabid1 wrote:I feel your pain. My wife nick-named me "Flipper".

The thing that has helped me the most is having my hose overhead. I still turn over a lot, but at least I don't have to rearrange my hose each time.

Good point on the hose, FLIPPER.

laurie2025 · Post by **laurie2025** » Fri Jan 26, 2007 5:29 pm

Just a thought, have you ever tried getting one of those full-length body pillows? You sleep on your side, but are kind of leaning toward the mattress, toward the full body pillow, and it "props" you up. It may take the pressure off your hip. I used one years ago and it worked very well.

gregnga · Post by **gregnga** » Fri Jan 26, 2007 6:44 pm

laurie2025 wrote:Just a thought, have you ever tried getting one of those full-length body pillows? You sleep on your side, but are kind of leaning toward the mattress, toward the full body pillow, and it "props" you up. It may take the pressure off your hip. I used one years ago and it worked very well.

that's a good idea. That probably explains why I sleep so good on the couch

justsharon · Post by **justsharon** » Fri Jan 26, 2007 8:18 pm

I'm a 100% side sleeper......and I never flip over. My lower back used to get soooooo stiff from lying in one position so long. Then I bought a tempur pedic mattress.....no more stiff back and I stay on one side all night long. I also have used a body pillow for many years. Lets you make subtle changes to your position without having to flip over.

RestlessRoper · Post by **RestlessRoper** » Fri Jan 26, 2007 8:48 pm

I have the same sore hip, back and shoulder problem. Before CPAP I never had any problem with any of that but now I sleep so sound for 2-3 hrs. I wake up hurting.
Today I tried a memory foam mattress. It feels like it may work by not cutting off circulation. We have a good mattress so we ordered a memory foam pad to go on the mattress. I think it will help a lot.
Now I need a memory foam pillow.

jrfoster · Post by **jrfoster** » Fri Jan 26, 2007 10:14 pm

I too am a side sleeper! I turn back and forth at least 4-5 times during the night. Usual reason is that I sleep with my arm under the pillow and my arm goes to sleep! If there was a way to keep my arm from going to sleep I think I could stay on one side most of the night.
I also have the hose overhead so turning back and forth is not a major adjustment other than to make sure I haven't blocked the vents on my mask with the sheets!

Jeff in TN

Snoredog · Post by **Snoredog** » Sat Jan 27, 2007 1:15 am

sounds to me like you may have a bed or a pillow problem.

If you have back aches, I went from a conventional mattress about 20years ago to the SelectComfort bed. My back has never felt better using that bed, I keep mine on 50.

I still get flare ups every once in a while and have to hang upside down for 5-minutes a day for about a week in my LifeGear inversion table.

I have a severely slipped L4 disc (more like smashed) which causes me to have severe sciatica which radiates from the back arround the buttocks all the way down to my toes. Sciatica hurts most of the time but I've learned to live with it. I've gone through physical therapy several times, gone through Novocaine shots twice, nothing worked as well as that bed and inversion table. They wanted to operate I opted for the inversion table. Recent study seems to confirm my approach as being just as effective.

But I would look at your bed and pillow. Pillows only last a year or so and they are shot. I have never tired the Tempurpedic, but I tried one of those mattress pads made of same material and found it hot during the summer.

betty303 · Post by **betty303** » Sat Jan 27, 2007 9:24 am

I want to ditto the posts about paying attention to your bed.

I used to travel a lot for my job, and so slept in many different beds. With a lower back problem and sometimes side-sleep hip problems, it got worse on harder beds (like the ones in most motel rooms!)

I have a BeautyRest - the one where the springs are individually wrapped and not tied to each other, so it conforms more to your body. No heat problems in the summer, like the memory foam can have.

The softness/support of the various beds made a huge difference in the hip and back pain through the night and in the morning.

I would love to come home to my softer bed. I have been using it now for 13 years and it is still as good as new. Initially I thought it was way too expensive, but it has been worth every penny! - in fact now I would pay double for the right bed!

lvwildcat · Post by **lvwildcat** » Sat Jan 27, 2007 11:33 am

On a night when sleeping 7-8 hrs I usually flip from left to right 3 or 4 times. Yes my hose is overhead;no adjusting. When I used a full mask;there was adjusting with every flip. Now that I'm an Oracle gal-no adjusting needed. YAY!

gregnga · Post by **gregnga** » Sat Jan 27, 2007 3:19 pm

Snoredog wrote:sounds to me like you may have a bed or a pillow problem.

I just bought a new mattress about 3 weeks ago. It's a Sealy Posturpedic, extra plush, so I don't think it's the mattress. Could be the pillows, maybe.

I actually sleep best on the couch, leading me to believe I need a full body pillow.

Mask

Additional Comments: Machine:Resmed S7 Elite; Oracle Mask(YES! My DREAM mask!!)

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