Sleeping positions

Hi Everyone,

Well I am not make that was, so excited that I finally got my machine and I could not wait to start feeling better. I had found it really easy to sleep in the hospital with the mask on and I was even comfortable.

But I have been the activa nasal mask but I have the sorest neck and shoulders because when I try to sleep on my side (my usual position) I get leaks so I move around to find a spot that does not leak and ignore the pain until I sleep.

When I tried it on at the shop I thought it felt different to at the hospital. Then when I went to use it the first night I felt that it was resting on my chin and it was underinflated. I tried fiddling around with it but to no avail.

Now I have really read sore spots on where the 'overhang' it sitting above my mouth and I have my cranky pants on because I didn't sleep well and I am still tired and I have a sore neck.

Does anyone have any suggestions on:

* how to fix the underinflatedness?

* how to sleep on my side (I have not ever been able to go to sleep on my back because I have nightmares when I sleep on my back - I don't know if this is an old wives tale but it is true for me and I have been going to sleep this way since I was about 5)?

Thanks.

for sleeping on my side this is what I do

I put my bed against the wall and position myself and my pillows in my regular side position facing the wall. I stick a couple pillows against the wall and push my head into them. no leaks, I know its underinflated but it works

heheh, clownshow...where there's a will, there's a way, huh? First time I've read that particular way of dealing with mask leaks. But, hey, if it works for you (and if the exhaust port is clear somehow) that's great!

RAWTSgirl, what works for me is to have a firm, slightly elevated edge to my pillow, to let the mask hang over the edge over open space. I sleep on my side, turning from side to side during the night. I use a thin tempurpedic pillow ("memory foam pillow") with a thin foam regular pillow on top of it. Two thin-ish pillows stacked. The tempurpedic is firm to keep the pillow(s) lifted and not sagging on the edge. The thin regular foam pillow on top is because I like a softer pillow than just a tempurpedic. Tempurpedic pillows seem too "hard" to me. Anyway, the stack works fine - top pillow never slides off or anything.

While sleeping on my side I also have another regular pillow in front of me - but I don't push the mask against it ...it's just to drape my arm over for more comfy side sleeping.

The key to getting the Activa "fitted" right is to be laying down in sleeping position, have the machine going, and have the straps fairly loose while you make adjustments. Do your main adjustment tweaks to the vertical plastic bar (has a small button on it) that holds the forehead pad. Adjusting that bar with the button will tilt the mask to different angles against your face. Alternate fiddling with the straps (especially the lower straps) and the "tilt" button. Once you finally get it right (and the straps should be rather loose) you won't have to go through all that again.

It may be that the cushion size is not right for you. If tweaking the Activa while in sleeping position just can't get a leakproof fit with loose straps for you, look at the size that's printed on the side of the cushion itself. If it says "Standard", you may need a "Shallow" - or vice versa. Either fits me fine without leaking, but I prefer the way the "Shallow" feels.

Have you considered a Breeze with nasal pillows? I like the Activa very well and use it for a change from time to time, but the Breeze/nasal pillows is my favorite for sleeping on my sides. I use the Breeze almost every night.

With any mask, any type of mask at all, it also helps to rig up a way to keep the main air hose hanging above your head - a clamp on the headboard (if low enough) or a hook on the wall, bungee...whatever. That keeps the main hose from tugging on your mask or getting under you if you turn a lot. Picture a fish on the end of a slightly slack line as you think of how to hang the main hose more up and out of the way.

Thanks everyone for your responses.

Rested Gal I did not know about the lying down thing but I kind of figured it out by trying last night. I ended up loosening the straps quite loose and it worked well.

I do have 2 pillows and I try to sleep on the edge of the top one for something to lean on.

I have a standard size mask and I am thinking I would like to try the shallow. Luckily I have a couple of weeks to keep trying it out and I go back to the sleep unit where I can try on a shallow.