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Cpap and getting better sleep: What's your experience?
Sleep Health | Last Active: Sep 15, 2022 | Replies (356)Comment receiving replies
I think it is important to note that sleep apnea patients who sleep on their side need to have their face half off of the pillow. Otherwise the pillow will move a full face mask over and cause it to leak. There are also special pillows that are available to buy for those who want something just for sleep apnea patients, but I have always used the sleep halfway off technique. I do not know how many of us sleep on their side, but it was recommended to me when I first started on CPAP therapy years ago. I was told that it lessens the incidence of sleep apnea. When I did my sleep study I was told to sleep on my back so as not to disturb the electrode placements. Before the study, I always slept on my back.
Replies to "I think it is important to note that sleep apnea patients who sleep on their side..."
@johnbishop; @oldkarl- I have several friends & relatives that have told me several times that they have ripped their masks off and flung them accross the room! Thankfully the C-pap remained! 🙂 !
I have been reading everyone's reactions to the equipment and at times I have to chuckle. Maybe the manufacturer should add a warning label, "Irritability Can Occur Before Adjustment Begins."
Teresa
@hopeful33250- Teresa, I totally agree with a warning label! Lets start working on a acronym for that! That would be great! ICOBAB needs works but so true.
Well, I focused on sleeping only on my side last night and I used your pillow suggestion of sleeping with the face on the side of the pillow. I had to switch to a smaller pillow but I did sleep much better and was happy to see the results with an AHI of 4.9. The true test will be the next few days to see if it stays around the same or gets better. Thanks for the tips @johnhans and the support from all of my CPAP pals.
@thankful Great idea - you just have love to acronyms!
Well RATS! (Really Am Trying Stuff!) -- went from 4.9 AHI on Monday night to 7.2 last night. Think I tried the same tips with sleeping with the face half off of the pillow on my side most of the night. It's still better than some of the previous nights so will just keep working on it. Thanks for everyone sharing tips. It really is helpful and appreciated.
@johnbishop- RATS, I love that John! You are doing great! Trial & error is the name of the game when it comes to C-pap. Also having friends like all of us makes a big difference! Hang in there and please know every night when you use your C-pap is another night that you eliminate apnea episodes which stops the cortisol from being pumped into our systems that creates real havoc for our overall health. Happy Rem sleep to all! Jim @thankful
Thanks Jim! @thankful. I had another pretty good night last night with an AHI of 5.6 for 8:18 hrs. I have an appointment Friday afternoon to see the sleep therapist at the medical store to swap my mask for another large Dreamware full face mask. All I need is the large head frame that goes with the mask but they can' sell it or give it you due to Medicare rules. Because it's less than 30 days I can take the whole mask package back and they will give me one with the large head frame/air tube. The regular one comes with a small and medium full face cushion along with the headgear and a small and medium head frame with the connector. The medium mask was too small so they gave me a large mask which I'm using but the head frame seems a little tight on my head and I wanted to buy a large frame...nope, have to bring it all back and we'll give you another whole package with the large frame. I can see why Medicare doesn't have any money. (oops, perish that thought!). My problem is I don't even know if the large one will be too large so I hope it comes with a medium frame also.
Happy REM sleep to all indeed!
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Hi @oldkarl -- I haven't been on a long vacation for a long time. I would probably figure out a way to take part of my setup with me if I ever go on a long trip again. On the bright side, I haven't thrown my mask down yet. ☺