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Preventing Supine Position Sleeping
I have been on APAP for approx. 4 months. My sleep study showed the majority (80%) of events were in the supine position. When I roll over on my back, I'm not sure if any pressure, no matter how high would alleviate the obstruction. These four months have not been a lot of fun. But I am determined to find a soultion for my OSA. The higher the pressure, the more the leaks, the tighter you adjuct the mask, the more you uncounsciencely remove the mask. I have tried T shirt with 3 tennis balls in pocket. I wake up on my back. Put a full coke can in pocket. I wake up on my back. Three pillows rolled up and inserted in long pillow case. Then tied loosely around torso and lower back. Too big, too uncomfortable. Bought childrens 4 inch diameter water float styrofoam tube and cut into 3 two foot sections. Inserted into pillow case and straped around length of back. Hey, it was not uncomfortable at all. But guess what. I wake up on my back. I'm going to use my laptop and video myself during the night and see if time spent on my back corresponds to Rescan times of events. Wow, you think I'm obsessed or what. Not really. I care about myself and I'm determined to feel better. I deserve it. If any one else has found solution to this same problem, I would greatly appreciate it. PS. I never have any events in the first hour of sleep. I fall asleep quickly. Weird!!!
Alan C
Views: 3260
Replies to This Discussion
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Permalink Reply by Barbara Zarrella on
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Well, you are male, so it may not fly.... There is something out there. I found it at Babies R US... it is a huge "C" shaped pillow to help pregnant women to sleep on their backs :-) It helped me to stay at least at 45 degrees. I had to stop using it regularly as my 'senior-aged' hip does not like to be on its side. With a bad sinus problem recently... out it came along with my wedge pillow... as I had to lower my pressure in order to survive, and had to stay off my back. It worked for me once more...
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Permalink Reply by lia deneau on
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http://www.acidrefluxpillow.com/PTPDesign/products.html
pleast take a look at this website they gave a side sleeper pillow for reflux and mild sleep apnea... I use this particular product myself...love it...and I have tried the cheap bed wedges from the D.M.E. companies and they are aweful! and hard as rocks...these pillows are not...!!!
As someone whos husband uses CPAP, plus I am a technologist... the previous suggestions are all awesome!!! thanks for the ideas...
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Permalink Reply by Remy Thierry on
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Hello Alan,
It seems that what are you trying to do is also called "positional therapy". These are the most common strategies:
- placing three to four tennis balls in a pocket sewn on the back of a pajama top.
- pinning a sock filled with tennis balls to the back of a sleep garment.
- sleeping with a filled backpack.
- sleeping with a bumper belt or anti snore shirt.
- using a posture alarm that is triggered whenever a person remains in a supine position.
- elevating the head and trunk at a 30 - 60 degree angle.
I see that you didn't try the backpack technique. However, I think it's a little uncomfortable. You can learn more about : positional therapy here
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Don't know, but it is an idea to tight one of your arms at the wrist to the edge of the bed? In the hospital they sometimes do this to restless patients. So if you sleep on your left side, tight your right wrist, if you prefer to sleep on your right side, tight the left wrist. Keeps you still one arm left to use. Just an idea....? I hope you'll find a solution.
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Permalink Reply by Brian Judy on
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You really have tried about everything I've heard of using. How about a wedge pillow placed behind your back?
Maybe some not so practical solutions would be either some rope and pulleys or maybe some 3 inch nails pounded through a 2 inch board placed behind you (joke).
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Permalink Reply by Martha G. Lee on
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Remy Thiery said:Hello Alan,
It seems that what are you trying to do is also called "positional therapy". These are the most common strategies:
- placing three to four tennis balls in a pocket sewn on the back of a pajama top.
The Tennis balls helped my husband learn to sleep on his side. He has Alzheimer's, and I was afraid nothing would work, but three tennis balls in a bag pined to the back of his tee shirt worked. He no longer wears them but still sleeps on his side.
- pinning a sock filled with tennis balls to the back of a sleep garment.
- sleeping with a filled backpack.
- sleeping with a bumper belt or anti snore shirt.
- using a posture alarm that is triggered whenever a person remains in a supine position.
- elevating the head and trunk at a 30 - 60 degree angle.
I see that you didn't try the backpack technique. However, I think it's a little uncomfortable. You can learn more about : positional therapy here
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Permalink Reply by Mike on
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the Zzoma pillow might be a good option for you. i've heard some positive reports on it.
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Permalink Reply by Steven on
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Alan,
When you go to sleep on your side, are you comfortable? How quickly do you fall asleep? Do you overheat or get sweaty when you sleep? When you are on your side, do you stack or fold the pillow? Or, put your arm under the pillow? Enough questions.
Steven
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Permalink Reply by Alan C on
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Thanks for all your suggestions. Even the one about the nails!!!!!. Weird sleep study. After 133 minutes they began to titrate. Titration was unsuccessful because I woke up after an hour and could not fall back to sleep. Rather than have me come back for just a Titration, the MD just prescribed an APAP. ? Latency to REM was125.0 minutes? During 133 minutes 48 episodes of A/H. AHI 21.6. RDI in supine 46.4 events per hour and I slept 65.5 minutes in supine position. Half the time on my back. Total RDI 36. Non REM events. 71/hr... REM events 9/hr. Weird, I have never had any events in the past 4 months during the first hour of sleep. I fall asleep fast and I am comfy on my side with my arm NOT tucked under my pillow. Maybe I will try nothing but supine position sleep and set APAP on 12 - 20. I know when pressure is above 12, it becomes uncomfortable. Plus the leaks and constant tightening of mask. I might ask Dr. to do just overnight Titration. Thx again
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I bought a C shaped pillow at babies r us today. This one is for keeping you from turning on your back. Will try it tonight. Thx
Barbara Zarrella said:Well, you are male, so it may not fly.... There is something out there. I found it at Babies R US... it is a huge "C" shaped pillow to help pregnant women to sleep on their backs :-) It helped me to stay at least at 45 degrees. I had to stop using it regularly as my 'senior-aged' hip does not like to be on its side. With a bad sinus problem recently... out it came along with my wedge pillow... as I had to lower my pressure in order to survive, and had to stay off my back. It worked for me once more...
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Can you side sleep facing away from the machine? Or are you confined to one side?
Alan C said:Thanks for all your suggestions. Even the one about the nails!!!!!. Weird sleep study. After 133 minutes they began to titrate. Titration was unsuccessful because I woke up after an hour and could not fall back to sleep. Rather than have me come back for just a Titration, the MD just prescribed an APAP. ? Latency to REM was125.0 minutes? During 133 minutes 48 episodes of A/H. AHI 21.6. RDI in supine 46.4 events per hour and I slept 65.5 minutes in supine position. Half the time on my back. Total RDI 36. Non REM events. 71/hr... REM events 9/hr. Weird, I have never had any events in the past 4 months during the first hour of sleep. I fall asleep fast and I am comfy on my side with my arm NOT tucked under my pillow. Maybe I will try nothing but supine position sleep and set APAP on 12 - 20. I know when pressure is above 12, it becomes uncomfortable. Plus the leaks and constant tightening of mask. I might ask Dr. to do just overnight Titration. Thx again
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Permalink Reply by Michael F. O'Brien on
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I need to know about this. I didn't know or have been told that sleeping on my back was not a good thing. Before CPAP (about 28 months, now), I fell asleep on my stomach. I find that pretty much impossible with the CPAP. The CPAP seems to get in the way. Mostly I fall asleep on my back. I do turn in the night to either one side or the other, but mostly I am aware when I do. I have always had to change sleeping positions because of lower back pain. Some mornings I don't want to get up because that hurt more than the back pain.
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