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I'm not sleeping on my back
#1
I'm not sleeping on my back
WRONG.WRONG.WRONG. I decided to forgo the tennis balls
last night . convincing myself that back sleeping is not my
problem. Got the highest AHI ever- 12!

PLEASE don't tell me I am stuck with tennis balls on my back
for the rest of my life.... I'm really not complaining-I am laughing
over here -Now I think I understand why I am having all these
events- on event nights I must roll over on my back. For me this
is a monumental piece of my cpap puzzle. I know I've said this
before, but I think I am close to figuring this cpap journey out. Now
if only I can keep my pressure down, I can loosen my mask....

Thanks for listening.
2010 sleep study 63 AHI
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#2
RE: I'm not sleeping on my back
I'm surprised that the autoset wasn't able to compensate better.
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#3
RE: I'm not sleeping on my back
(06-07-2014, 02:04 PM)readyforsleep Wrote: WRONG.WRONG.WRONG. I decided to forgo the tennis balls
last night . convincing myself that back sleeping is not my
problem. Got the highest AHI ever- 12!

PLEASE don't tell me I am stuck with tennis balls on my back
for the rest of my life.... I'm really not complaining-I am laughing
over here -Now I think I understand why I am having all these
events- on event nights I must roll over on my back. For me this
is a monumental piece of my cpap puzzle. I know I've said this
before, but I think I am close to figuring this cpap journey out. Now
if only I can keep my pressure down, I can loosen my mask....

Thanks for listening.

(06-07-2014, 02:59 PM)diamaunt Wrote: I'm surprised that the autoset wasn't able to compensate better.

What does your pressure look like when you're having the events? It could be it is taking too long to move from the lower pressure needed when on your side to a higher pressure for when you're on your back.

You might consider shortening the distance between your low and your high.

Keep fooling with it a bit though. Back sleeping after not being able to do that is so worth while............ Ahhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhh.
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#4
RE: I'm not sleeping on my back
My pressure started at 12.4 and then zipped right up to
20 and stayed there most of the night. You are right, I need
to increase my low pressure. I've been increasing EPAP due
to gas issues and am now at 2 going to 3 soon. I mistakenly
thought the gerd issues were due to increasing my start
pressure, but learned from the forum that that is not the case.
How would you suggest I move up to a start pressure of 14?
I.e how much of a change each nite?
2010 sleep study 63 AHI
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#5
RE: I'm not sleeping on my back
Hmm, my DME told me I could sleep on my back, that there would be no problem once I was on APAP. I know I get most episodes while lying on my back. I can't check my figures. But on the whole, what is the situation with back sleeping? (I'll ask my specialist as well when I see him next).
Before APAP: [Image: DARTH-VADER_zpsa57946df.png]

After APAP: See avatar: R2D2 for the win!

"Be kind, for everyone you meet is fighting a great battle"
--Ian Maclaren

I don't snore! I just make creepy noises so the aliens know I'm not someone to be messed with.
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#6
RE: I'm not sleeping on my back
(06-07-2014, 04:21 PM)Visitor Wrote: Hmm, my DME told me I could sleep on my back, that there would be no problem once I was on APAP. I know I get most episodes while lying on my back. I can't check my figures. But on the whole, what is the situation with back sleeping? (I'll ask my specialist as well when I see him next).

In my case I need a pressure higher than 20 to compensate
for back sleeping. My apap only goes up to 20. If I have this figured
out right, to prevent these events I need a bipap.(which gives a pressure
above 20) or
as I raise my low pressure closer to 20 I may be able to nip them quicker
2010 sleep study 63 AHI
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#7
RE: I'm not sleeping on my back
(06-07-2014, 04:19 PM)readyforsleep Wrote: My pressure started at 12.4 and then zipped right up to
20 and stayed there most of the night. You are right, I need
to increase my low pressure. I've been increasing EPAP due
to gas issues and am now at 2 going to 3 soon. I mistakenly
thought the gerd issues were due to increasing my start
pressure, but learned from the forum that that is not the case.
How would you suggest I move up to a start pressure of 14?
I.e how much of a change each nite?

I would change a little at a time. But since you're already accustomed to 20, you should be able to adjust it quicker that otherwise. I think I would go to 14 for two nights, see what the results look and feel like, then go to 16.
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#8
RE: I'm not sleeping on my back
(06-07-2014, 04:38 PM)readyforsleep Wrote: In my case I need a pressure higher than 20 to compensate
for back sleeping. My apap only goes up to 20. If I have this figured
out right, to prevent these events I need a bipap.(which gives a pressure
above 20)

Or a VPAP(BIPAP) Auto.

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#9
RE: I'm not sleeping on my back
(06-07-2014, 04:21 PM)Visitor Wrote: Hmm, my DME told me I could sleep on my back, that there would be no problem once I was on APAP. I know I get most episodes while lying on my back. I can't check my figures. But on the whole, what is the situation with back sleeping? (I'll ask my specialist as well when I see him next).

In my case I need a pressure higher than 20 to compensate
for back sleeping. My apap only goes up to 20. If I have this figured
out right, to prevent these events I need a bipap.(which gives a pressure
above 20)
2010 sleep study 63 AHI
Post Reply Post Reply
#10
RE: I'm not sleeping on my back
Have you tried a different pillow so that your neck is at a straighter angle? I forget what those pillows are called but your neck is supported and the section of the pillow where your head is, is actually is at a bit lower level that your neck, which seems to help in keeping your airway open when lying on your back.

Also, if you really don't want to sleep on your back, turn on your side and place a pillow halfway underneath the side of your back, which will make you at least lie at a semi-side angle.

I have a CPAP pillow which has "cut-outs" on the side which worked well when I was using a face mask, and also long one side is higher than the other, so it does well if your want that neck support when lying on your back -- although I sleep on my side.

If you continue to get high AHI numbers, look at the data to see if it corresponds with mask/nasal pillow leakage as well. If so, you may need to change to something that works better for you. Don't just stick with something if it doesn't seem to be working -- my provider said I had 30 days to change mask/pillows, accessories, etc., if they were not working for me, without there being an additional charge. I used a face mask for the first year, and then changed to nasal pillows. Once I changed to nasal pillows in the correct size I had much lower leakage numbers, although, I've been fortunate, because when I had my sleep study done my AHI averaged at 140. Now it's around 0.79 -- only occasionally getting as high as 1.5. A couple of weeks ago, I went to a funeral and slept for two nights on a relative's sofa and my AHI went up to 4.5, and that's the highest it's been since I've been using therapy.

I have a ResMed S9 AutoSet, and I've been really pleased that it adjusts pressure when I need it.

Another thing you may encounter with higher mask pressure is that you may tend to get more air leakage from your mask/nasal pillows. Once you get leakages, (if using S9 AutoSet) then the mask pressure will increase and then it becomes a cycle -- higher pressure, more leakages, less sleep.

Try to find a well fitting mask/nasal pillows, a good pillow, and if you are a back sleeper, try using another pillow along one side of your back so you don't roll completely over onto your back. Just some suggestions, which I hope will work for you.

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