How to sleep on my back?
I'm having back issues and will have for a while. This week my AHI went from a calm, sedate 1.2 on Tuesday to a 4.96 last night, climbing steadily each day as I was sleeping more and more on my back since it is the most comfortable position for me right now.
So if I am going to sleep that way, what can I do to get that AHI down? And it's not just the AHI. I'm also experiencing more PVCs as the AHI climbs. The blood pressure is fine so it's odd the skipping is increasing. I've not increased my pain medication that much yet but will be soon.
I'm thinking the first step would be to raise the max to 20 so it can do more. My 95% for the past several nights is from 17.6 to 18 so I am hitting the roof.
The next step would be to prop me up on pillows, right? We have a recliner but I hate it. No way I can sleep in it.
We briefly me sleeping in my chair since it has tilt. My main hesitation with that is if I jerk my legs, I could fall over, which has happened when I napped once prior to CPAP. I don't jerk that hard now, though. But, still, not too keen on being woke up like that again!
PaulaO
Take a deep breath and count to zen.
RE: How to sleep on my back?
You having issues sleeping on your back because of the nuance? Because when I sleep on my back I find it easier with that mask. It's when I am on my side it is giving me some issues now and again.
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RE: How to sleep on my back?
No, I have back pain. Sleeping on my back is the most comfortable right now. I'd be sleeping great if it weren't for the snoring and gasping and all that. The Elbow Snore Alarm is gentle yet persistent.
The mask is doing great.
PaulaO
Take a deep breath and count to zen.
RE: How to sleep on my back?
the only thing I can think of is as you said prop yourself up with pillows.
RE: How to sleep on my back?
If you're maxing out on a pressure of 18 then you might try raising the cap to 20.
Propping with pillows, or better yet a wedge, is probably a good idea, too. Although that might increase your back pain.
Sleepster
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RE: How to sleep on my back?
I've slept on my back before but not for so much of the night. I think that's why the AHI is creeping so high.
Normally the 95% is about 16.5-17.
I did have a wedge pillow but we gave it to a friend who had back surgery. I may have to go get myself another! I've got an old body pillow that has a hole in it. I might be able to rig something with that.
But for tonight, I'm just going to turn up the pressure. I'll mess with the pillows tomorrow.
PaulaO
Take a deep breath and count to zen.
03-09-2014, 11:19 PM
(This post was last modified: 03-09-2014, 11:19 PM by eviltim.)
RE: How to sleep on my back?
I wish I could help. I cannot for the life of me fall asleep on my back.
Sew tennis balls to the side of your clothes, maybe? Reverse of the old trick to keep you off your back.
RE: How to sleep on my back?
First set of questions: Are you getting any medical treatment for the back pain? How long has the back been hurting bad enough to force you to sleep on your back? Was there a specific injury to the back?
If the back pain is new and acute, it needs to be looked at. Fixing the back pain (if possible) should fix the current sleep issues. And in the meantime if sleeping on the back helps with healing the back, then tolerating a (slightly) higher AHI while the back is actively healing may be worth it.
Second set of questions: Does propping yourself up on pillows all night really make the back feel any better? Does sleeping in the recliner really make the back feel any better? If you are a side sleeper, have you tried placing a pillow between your legs at night? That helps keep the top hip from flopping over and twisting the spine.
When I injured my knee and back in October, it was quite difficult to sleep on my side when the pain was acute. But propping up on pillows or sleeping in a recliner was even worse since neither of those things provided any meaningful support for the part of the back that was in pain. One the back pain started to subside (with PT for the back and a prescription NSAID for the pain), I was able to start using a pillow between my knees and return to side sleeping.
RE: How to sleep on my back?
Robysue, yeah, sadly, I'm being treated for it. I have a condition (Ehlers-Danlos Syndrome, Hypermobility Type) that causes chronic pain. I have some disc issues in several places in my back but they (the docs) are hesitant to do anything just yet. I see the back doc on the 21st for this latest joy. He's a new one for me so maybe fresh eyes will be beneficial.
When I sleep on my side, I use a body pillow. Sometimes I use a smaller pillow for between my feet.
And propping me up at night is going to be difficult because I will need arm support, too.
I woke up this morning with my back and hips killing me. I slept on my side all night. My AHI was 2.5.
I raised the pressure to 20 last night and I'll keep it there until stuff settles. This afternoon we'll try to see if we can find a comfortable pillow arrangement that works. If not (shrug) I'll just have high AHI for a while.
PaulaO
Take a deep breath and count to zen.
RE: How to sleep on my back?
When I've built myself a sleeping ramp I sometimes use folded blankets with the pillows to widen the ramp area, control the slope etc,wrap a sheet around it to hold in place and even place a sheep skin on top or any combo of the above as the night requires. So I don't feel like I'm on Mount Everest and could fall off if I rolled over wrong. Hope it may add some building material ideas to your forte. Maybe even rolled towels or rolled blankets for arm support .
It's akin to finding the right mask , I found.
Take care,
3
