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Anyone sleep on their stomach to help their AHI?
#1
Anyone sleep on their stomach to help their AHI?
So I been experimenting with my AHI constantly, and what makes a good nights sleep for me. One thing that I noticed is that I sleep well on my stomach. I never really slept on my stomach before CPAP but I can get my AHI down to .4 when sleeping on my stomach vs a normal night for me is about 3-4 AHI. My leaks are much higher when sleeping in this position but still under the magic 24L point.

Anyone else sleep on their stomach? I heard it was bad for your back, but I haven't noticed any problems really.

I am thinking of buying one of those massage tables with the hole in the face part so I can sleep on my stomach 100 percent of the time Smile (just joking). But I thought about it..lol

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#2
RE: Anyone sleep on their stomach to help their AHI?
SnuffySleeper, I used to sleep on my stomach before being diagnosed, sleeping on your stomach keeps your tongue forward so stops the collapsing which causes apnea's. It was the only way I could sleep. I haven't heard that it's bad for your back.
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#3
RE: Anyone sleep on their stomach to help their AHI?
On my stomach was the only way I could sleep before treatment.

I've swapped to a half side / half stomach sleep now. If I sleep completely on my stomach, my face angles into the pillow too much and creates leaks and blocks my vent. Well, blocks is a strong word, maybe obstructs? It makes a more noise, but I don't think it's dangerous.
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#4
RE: Anyone sleep on their stomach to help their AHI?
On my side, nasal pillow's pinned to my head on both ears. No leaks, I move a lot when I sleep. My AHI is low this way.
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#5
RE: Anyone sleep on their stomach to help their AHI?
I tried sleeping on my stomach the other day. The cats used me for a teeter-totter.
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#6
RE: Anyone sleep on their stomach to help their AHI?
I'm a stomach sleeper too. If I sleep on my back, my AHI and pressure do go up. My events have been pretty well controlled with APAP; pressure will go up to 17 or so (avg 15) and AHI can range from 2.5-6 from a average AHI of .7 and average pressure of about 10; high of 13.
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#7
RE: Anyone sleep on their stomach to help their AHI?
(03-10-2014, 06:09 PM)Tez62 Wrote: SnuffySleeper, I used to sleep on my stomach before being diagnosed, sleeping on your stomach keeps your tongue forward so stops the collapsing which causes apnea's. It was the only way I could sleep. I haven't heard that it's bad for your back.

I too was a stomach sleeper before CPAP treatment started, and yes, as a fat guy, it created back issues for me...
*I* am not a DOCTOR or any type of Health Care Professional.  My thoughts/suggestions/ideas are strictly only my opinions.

"Only two defining forces have ever offered to die for you. Jesus Christ and the American Soldier. One died for your Soul, the other for your Freedom."
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#8
RE: Anyone sleep on their stomach to help their AHI?
I tend to mix things up. I'm probably more of a side sleeper (in general), but with a more pliable mask I can and do sleep on my stomach sometimes. I don't find any pains in my back, but I do find my trapezius muscles can be a bit sore (likely from having to move the head a bit more to accommodate the mask).
INFORMATION ON APNEA BOARD FORUMS OR ON APNEABOARD.COM SHOULD NOT BE CONSIDERED AS MEDICAL ADVICE. ALWAYS SEEK THE ADVICE OF A PHYSICIAN BEFORE SEEKING TREATMENT FOR MEDICAL CONDITIONS, INCLUDING SLEEP APNEA. INFORMATION POSTED ON THE APNEA BOARD WEB SITE AND FORUMS ARE PERSONAL OPINION ONLY AND NOT NECESSARILY A STATEMENT OF FACT.
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#9
RE: Anyone sleep on their stomach to help their AHI?
(03-10-2014, 06:03 PM)SnuffySleeper Wrote: Anyone else sleep on their stomach? I heard it was bad for your back, but I haven't noticed any problems really.

Yup. I do get lower back problems. It only becomes painful after months without giving my spine some relief by using pillows and by bending legs to sleep more on the side. Core strength resistance training also helps.
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#10
RE: Anyone sleep on their stomach to help their AHI?
Well, yeah. I WISH I could sleep on my back. Cannot go to sleep. No matter how long I try or how comfortable I feel or how good it feels to my back. I roll over onto my belly and usually asleep in what has to be less than 5 minutes.

Used to be a back sleeper, but ALWAYS heard about how badly I snored. As the years passed and the pounds stayed, I got to be a side sleeper and then a belly sleeper. Have to believe that was as the apnea was growing more and more a part of my sleep or sleepless patterns. And some problems with hip and knee joints in certain reclining positions thrown in for giggles.

Actually, it is kind of like the "recovery position" learned in first aid: on belly with one knee pulled slightly up and head resting on my arm to make room for mask and hose.

OMM
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