Does sleeping on your back really make a difference??

kjarels wrote:If so then maybe thats why I do not do very well on CPAP because I am a back sleeper.

I think it is different for everyone. I have noticed that it only takes about 10 cm to be apnea free on my side ... but on my back I need 13 or more.

Anonymous wrote:So are you still trying to stay on your side Rooster, or have you gone back to turning the pressure up and sleeping on your back?

I am just trying to sleep on my side. I set the pressure range at 7 - 20 cm.

Some nights I seem to make it all the way through on my sides and get a fairly low AHI and 90% pressure of 9.

Other nights I can look at the daily details and see periods when the apneas hit and the pressure slowly climbed to 18 or so. I assume I rolled onto my back at the beginning of these periods. When I wake up and the machine is pumping at a high pressure, I hit the ramp button to take it down to 7 cm and roll to my side and try to fall asleep again.

If you are interested, look at this post -> viewtopic.php?p=227207#227207.

The docs and I have high hopes that opening up my nasal airway will allow me to use a low pressure (7 to 9 cm maybe) whether on my sides or back. Hopefully I can also stop mouth breathing and use a nasal mask.

The ENT says air flow through the nose can more easily move the tongue out of the way as compared to gettting most of the flow through the mouth. He cited both the Bernoulli Principle and the Venturi Effect.

Regards,

Rooster.....Interesting stuff.... I hope it all works out for you so you can settle at a lower pressure with a nasal mask.