Question:
I just got a cpap I dont know if I should sleep on my back or my side ?
— Oliver J. (posted on April 13, 2004)
April 13, 2004
Sleep the way you normally do..well except on your stomach. For the first
month you will probably have some difficulty getting used to it. It took
me a while before I stopped yanking it off my face in the middle of the
night. Once I started using it faithfully it really made a big difference
in how I felt the next day. My advise..stick with it no matter what. Good
luck to you.
Char
— Charlene W.
April 13, 2004
I HAVE HAD ONE NOW FOR 5 DAYS AND I HATE THE DARN THING...WHEN I ATTEMPTED
TO SLEEP ON MY SIDE I KNOCKED THE WHOLE MACHINE OVER, SO NOW I TRY THE BACK
THING....I HAVEN'T GOTTEN THIS RIGHT YET...I WILL BE READING ANSWERS TO
YOUR POST BECAUSE I NEED HELP ALSO...WHEN I SLEEP WITH IT DOWNWARDS, IT
PRESSES AGAINT MY GUMS, SO THEY ARE ALL SWOLLEN AND TENDER, WHEN I SLEEP
WITH IT UPWARDS, THE CRACK BLOWS THE AIR IN MY EYES I CAN'T GET IT TO FIT
JUST RIGHT...
— ladyspann
April 13, 2004
I used a c-pap for 5 year prior to my BPD-DS. I always slept on my side by
maneuvering the mask in place and supporting the hose with a small pillow
and having the machine positioned on my nighttable next to me. It made life
livable with no headaches and not falling asleep everytime I sat still for
2 seconds! Good luck-don't give up!
— Eleanor P.
April 13, 2004
I have been sleeping with a CPAP for many years. You should be able to
sleep however you normally sleep. If you have air blowing in your eyes and
pain from pressure on your gums or upper lip then your mask is not the
right size for you. Go get fitted for a new mask.
And YES, keep using the darn thing.
Good luck and God bless,
JH
— J H.
April 13, 2004
I used a bipap(nasal hoses- no mask) machine for the 4 months before
surgery and was lucky enough to shed the thing already- 4 months post-op.
I couldn't use the mask at all. I felt like someone was trying to smother
me. I had the machine under the bed and slid it out when I would sleep.
My hoses were quite long and was able to sleep pretty much anyway I wanted.
I am a side sleeper. It does take some time getting used to it- be
patient. I loved it after a few weeks and couldn't sleep without it. I
was very stubborn when it came to my sleep apnea but once I realized how
serious it is and could be and for the surgery, I gave in to the doctors.
Good Luck!
— Kathy *.
April 14, 2004
I have used a CPAP for many years. I don't think I will be able to stop
using it unless I have a nose job since I have a deviated septum. But
that's not what you're asking. I can sleep on my side and on my back. I use
a "neckbone" pillow when I sleep on my side to keep the mask in a
good position. Since surgery, my mask has gotten lose, so I am going to
have to re-fit it. I use a gel-filled mask. It's much better than the one
they usually give you with the machine. I'm lucky that Kaiser covers it,
but I would pay for it if they didn't. One of the secrets I've discovered
is that when first fitting the mask, they tell you to put it in hot water
for a short time (Iforget how long) and then put it on and wear it for 5
minutes. THAT IS NOT ENOUGH. I decided the last new mask I got to do it for
longer. I wore it for an hour. That did give it enough time to form to my
face. Otherwise, the air blows through openings created by the improper
fit. I've always had a small nose and that didn't help the problem. When
you lose weight in your face, you'll have to refit it. If you, or anybody
else having a problem, want to contact me and talk about it; my daytime
number is 714-433-7685.
— lbwales
April 14, 2004
Hi...I'm interested in seeing the answers to this question as well since I
just got one about 2 weeks ago. I have yet to sleep a full night without
pulling the thing off...and the funny thing is that I don't even remember
taking it off or turning the machine itself off. I'm normally a stomach
sleeper and obviously I have not been able to sleep that way so its been
hard getting used to sleeping on my side or back. Although its more
comfortable sleeping on my back because when I sleep on my side, the mask
starts to bother me and I wake up with indents all around my nose :) Not
the prettiest site!!
— Giovanna G.
April 14, 2004
I've used a cpap for just over a year. You're "supposed" to sleep
on you back. I've always been a side sleeper and I've tried to sleep this
way on occasion, but the mask slips around. I find myself waking up to
re-adjust the blasted thing. At times I just want to hurl the thing across
the room! It's one of the reasons I'm getting WLS. At least I sleep alone.
I'd hate to think of sleeping next to someone wearing this rediculous mask.
At least my machine is quiet...wish I could say the same thing when the
mask slips and I'm awakened by the loud hissing of the air escaping the
seal.
— Dream Achiever
April 14, 2004
I no longer need the cpap but when I first got it, my doc said that I
could sleep in any position, as long as the mask stayed in the proper
position.I'm a stomache sleeper and that worked out fine even with the mask
on, except for the red strap marks on my face every morning lol.
— jennifer A.
April 15, 2004
I am a stomach sleeper. I have been using a CPAP for over a year now
without any problems. It stays in place and I can roll around when I have
to. It has made a world of difference in me. I just has RnY surgery, so I
am looking forward to getting rid it in the future, but I do not fight it
now as it has improved my quality of living so greatly.
— Pookie B.
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