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gonna take a break for a few days

Posted: Thu Aug 31, 2023 11:43 am
by BillHill
Hi folks, I've been using a bipap machine with the full silicone mask for about a year. I sleep well with it but wake up everyday with blood-bloodshot eyes,
really painful itchy eyes and huge creases in my face. This morning I woke up with pain in my right eye so bad I considered going to an emergency room.
The problem is that I sleep on my stomach and the mask gets pressed into my face and eyes on one side or the other. I've tried throughout my life to "train myself" to sleep
on my back. It doesn't work, once I fall asleep all bets are off.

I'm going to take a fews days off and see if my right eye heals before I see a doctor. In the meantime, does anyone have any suggestions?

Thank you!
Bill

Re: gonna take a break for a few days

Posted: Thu Aug 31, 2023 1:53 pm
by palerider
I never sleep on my back. always on my side. FFM, pillow mask, bleep, doesn't matter.

Re: gonna take a break for a few days

Posted: Thu Aug 31, 2023 2:46 pm
by BillHill
Lucky you.

Re: gonna take a break for a few days

Posted: Thu Aug 31, 2023 2:52 pm
by Miss Emerita
I don't know whether it'd help you, but you might try the "Falcon position" for sleeping on your stomach with CPAP. More here:

wiki/index.php/Sleep_Positions

Re: gonna take a break for a few days

Posted: Thu Aug 31, 2023 3:49 pm
by ChicagoGranny
BillHill wrote:
Thu Aug 31, 2023 11:43 am
The problem is that I sleep on my stomach and the mask gets pressed into my face and eyes on one side or the other.
Here is Dr. Falcon's web page regarding the wiki Miss Emerita recommended - http://www.uarsrelief.com/sleeppositions.html

Re: gonna take a break for a few days

Posted: Thu Aug 31, 2023 4:12 pm
by chunkyfrog
See an EYE DOCTOR--(ophthalmologist.)
Emergency room personnel know NOTHING about eye problems,
and sometimes do more harm than good.

Re: gonna take a break for a few days

Posted: Thu Aug 31, 2023 4:20 pm
by BillHill
This is very close to how I sleep except I use a pillow. Person in picture has moved the pillow.
I'll give it a try.

Wouldn't it be great if all it took was moving the pillow?

Thank you folks

edited for typos

Re: gonna take a break for a few days

Posted: Thu Aug 31, 2023 4:22 pm
by Miss Emerita
Let us know!

Re: gonna take a break for a few days

Posted: Fri Sep 01, 2023 3:56 am
by ozij
BillHill wrote:
Thu Aug 31, 2023 4:20 pm
Wouldn't it be great if all it took was moving the pillow?
It sure would!

A special CPAP pillow is also an option.
You may want to try the Bleep masks - Not straps on your cheeks
https://bleepsleep.com/

Some of us suffer from dry eyes, caused by mask leak -- there are all kinds of eyedrops for dry eyes.
Ask you local hospital if they have an Ophthalmology Emergency room - some hospitals do.

Re: gonna take a break for a few days

Posted: Fri Sep 01, 2023 11:16 am
by ChicagoGranny
ozij wrote:
Fri Sep 01, 2023 3:56 am
A special CPAP pillow is also an option.
No pillow is used in a proper stomach-sleeping position.

Re: gonna take a break for a few days

Posted: Fri Sep 01, 2023 9:45 pm
by bwexler
I feel your pain. Latterly.

First I used to be a stomach sleeper, now have transitioned to side sleeper on my left side.
I have tried at least 2 dozen masks over the past 13 years. My go to has been the Sleepweaver masks. I have worked my way through the full line and have settled on the current 3D. These are cloth masks so can sleep on them and they won't dig into your face. It does take some time and effort to learn to position them properly for comfort and LEAK elimination. And the 18" Featherweight hose is a MANDATORY ACCESSORY.
I woke up 2 weeks ago with a painful right eye. Powered through it for a few days, but since it woke me every hour all night I had to give in and see my ophthalmologist. He sent me to the ER for an MRI and CAT Scan. Mine turned out to be 3ed nerve Palsy. Not trying to offer you a diagnoses, only a strong suggestion to get it checked out. I did find an ER doc who knew exactly what to do.