Posted by mimi on August 28, 2007 at 17:16:41:

In Reply to: Re: side sleeper and mask leaks posted by todd on August 28, 2007 at 13:58:39:

Have been on CPAP 3 years, and used (Med.size) NasalAire II all of that time. I hated the provided head band and various loops, etc.,

I sleep on my sides (right, more) and stomach. I use two little satin type pillows, not much larger than 2 lb.-sized bags of frozen vegetables.

I made my own band, first of 1 1/2 inch black elastic, and velcro; more recently, 1 inch elastic. I velcro it together on my forehead, under my hairline; with two loops in front of my ears, holding the tubes with ends toward the nosepiece. They crisscross through a loop at the nape of my neck, from opposite sides, and all of the loops have TENSION. The tubes don't slide around. At the back, I fasten the connection to my longer hose which I bring up from the foot, and through the center of the bed.
My CPAP sits on a tray under the lower edge of the bed, and is set so it begins with a few breaths. This setup doesn't mess-up my hair which I have done weekly; I put two flat clips at each ear to keep the elastic band from scrunching my hair around, but most morning it needs very little smoothing. I do not use the ramp; I am only a "seven". I don't use any humidifier, either. I've never had any trouble with my mouth falling open, as that makes a different sound, as does bedding, etc., if my exhale ports in the nosepiece blow directly on the sheet. I sleep with a little pillow speaker from my bedside radio, to give me something else to think about besides the days events or worries. It is on sleep button; sometimes I hit that several times in a night, but it's not the CPAP's fault.
I never sleep on my back, and with the little pillows, stomach and right side work well. If I lie on my left, that puffs at my husband, so I only do that occasionally.
On occasions when I get up in the night, I simply disconnect from the large hose in the back. The nosepiece doesn't keep me from breathing. This is a very quick setup to put on at bedtime, and a snap to take off in the morning.
I used to write on variations of this until I figured people wearied of me extolling my pretty-good luck with nasal aire, and my homemade headband.

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