supine lost forever

I've discovered that when ever I attempt to sleep on my back my mask leaks. When I turn to one side or the other, it does not. ergo, I sleep on one side or the other, usually both, during the night. I used to sleep at least a portion of the night on my back...like when I'd read some and then shut the light and fall asleep...I don't read in bed now, either. I guess these are necessary changes in an attempt to alleviate apnea.

My sleep study report mentions not sleeping in the supine position. oh well.

Hi, brothermike, others more savvy than myself will eventually respond to your post but I wanted to pose a question to you - is the full face mask all you have ever used? In my short time here i had resigned my self to be a terminal mouth breather and FFM's would be it for me forever but I found that I can breathe through my nose and have tried several nasal pillows and had success. It could be that you could get FOYB (flat on your back) again. I have seen evidence where others have had the same experience. Guess I always breathed mostly through my mouth because of stuffiness in my nose. This has almost been eliminated since using CPAP. Good luck to you.

Jim

brothermike wrote:
My sleep study report mentions not sleeping in the supine position.

In what context? Did it say you did not sleep supine in the sleep lab or did it say you should not sleep supine in the future?

Do you put your mask on and fit your mask whilst sitting up or laying down? Our facial tissue is subject to the laws of gravity just as everything else is. A proper mask fitting is done w/you laying on your back w/your PAP turned on to 10 cms or your PAP pressure setting whichever is higher.

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brothermike, I was encouraged to sleep on my side in the sleep lab. But once home with my ASV, I soon found I slept best on my back. When I turn on one side or the other, I partially wake because my mask starts leaking and I have to twist around a bit to stop the leak. But on my back is easiest , no leaks, and the lowest breathing effort. Maybe you should consider trying a nasal mask.

I appreciate all of your responses.
As for the Sleep Study report and mention of the supine ...it was a recommendation to not sleep on my back.
Re: My FF mask...yes, that's all I've tried.
I have only been 'at this' for just over a month and I realize that there are several options and devices to experiment with in the effort to find optimum therapeutic pap.
It is encouraging to hear from you who have cleared some of the hurdles.

Mike
I also wear a Quattro and I have exactly the same issue that you do. While awake and with my mask on I can literally stretch my face in about any direction and don't get leaks. But as soon as I begin to sleep on my back I will get leaks on my cheek. Side-sleeping prevents this, I think because the pillow pushes my cheek somehow to prevent the leak. It's not too big of a deal for me as I tended to be a side-sleeper already, but there are times when my back gets sore and all I want to do is to sleep for 30 minutes or an hour supine.

Best wishes,
Tony

I discovered this forum about a month and a half ago. I've been on CPAP for 10 years. I made my initial purchase online and have not had a DME since then. This has caused me to get a little inventive and when I had to replace my headgear I simply tried elastic straps from a material store till I got it wired. I recently upgraded form my original setup and a UMFF to a S9 Elite and a Quattro FX. Now with a DME, I decided to try out the FX headgear.

What I discovered, at least for me, is that the top strap pulls up a little too much to get a good seal and when I pushed, just a little back toward my head, the leak went away. Hey I've jerry-rigged my mask headgear for as long as I remember, so I tried out the elastic straps, went and got a slightly different one for the bottom one. Now I have no leaks and I can sleep on my back or side. The nice thing about the elastic is that I can easily pull the mask aways from my face to itch or adjust.

I can't say that this will work for you, especially since everyone's fit is different, or if you even want to bother. And even though my "new" DME go on my case for not using the headgear designed by the experts, I am not planning on changing. Once last thing I do have to make a few tweaks to the tension and replace the elastic as it wears out.

John

70sSanO wrote:... my "new" DME go on my case for not using the headgear designed by the experts, I am not planning on changing. ...

Snort! Like they know better than he who is wearing the darn thing!

Mike,

For me, while trying to figure out just what you are now, I found with any mask that seals "around" nose and/or mouth vs. nasal pillows, that it needed to be adjusted somewhat differently for me depending on whether I was on my back or my side. At least for how I arrange myself for sleep, if I am on my back, my head is tilted a bit farther back and, if on my side, I tend to tip my head "down" a bit more as part of a nascent fetal position. In these cases, the bottom straps need to be rather tighter when on my side than on my back to keep from leaking. I stumbled across that while annoyed and trying to figure it out one night.....

Did I mention how well I am doing w/the Quattro FX?? This baby really clings to my face. Sides or back. Who'd a thunk since I disliked the Quattro's thin outer cushion cover slicing into the bridge of my nose? I made up my mind I didn't like the thin outer cover type masks since I'd had such good luck w/simple mask cushions. Just shows to go ya, never close your mind. I tried that new Mirage Micro and its a "clinger" too. And the forehead brace is so comfortable, really quite unique in its design. If only I could keep my mouth shut whilst sleeping. *sigh*

With the Quatro I can't lay on my back - my jaw relaxes and falls out of the mask, however with my Respite care Hybrid the chin flap keeps things nicely in place and mornings I can drowse and cuddle the cat on my chest, she loves having her nose in the exhaust stream!

Slinky wrote:Did I mention how well I am doing w/the Quattro FX?? This baby really clings to my face. Sides or back. Who'd a thunk since I disliked the Quattro's thin outer cushion cover slicing into the bridge of my nose? I made up my mind I didn't like the thin outer cover type masks since I'd had such good luck w/simple mask cushions. Just shows to go ya, never close your mind. I tried that new Mirage Micro and its a "clinger" too. And the forehead brace is so comfortable, really quite unique in its design. If only I could keep my mouth shut whilst sleeping. *sigh*

I was going to comment about how the forehead brace on my nasal mask takes the pressure off the bridge of my nose. Then I looked up the Mirage Micro. My nasal mask is just like the micro. Maybe what the Quattro needs is a forehead brace to take the pressure off the bridge of the nose.

BlackSpinner wrote:With the Quatro I can't lay on my back - my jaw relaxes and falls out of the mask, however with my Respite care Hybrid the chin flap keeps things nicely in place and mornings I can drowse and cuddle the cat on my chest, she loves having her nose in the exhaust stream!

That is just too neat. I lost my two cats to an owl; 7 months ago and one month ago. I can picture them doing the same thing.

I'm so sorry about your cats, Mr Bill. Hey, that Mirage FX forehead brace is NOTHING LIKE the forehead brace on any mask you've tried! It is very unique, flexible and small. Only forehead brace I have ever liked! And I've been thru well over a dozen masks by now.

The Quattro and I could never make peace and get on friendly terms. The doggone thin outer cushion cover kept slicing in to the bridge of my nose regardless of adjustment. HOWEVER, I've found w/the Quattro FX I don't have that problem. And I "think" it is a much or more because I now always hang my hose above my head whereas before I took the hose under the covers w/me as often or more often even than I hung it over the head of my bed. There is a lot less tugging on your mask if you hang your hose above your head.