Hi All! I am fairly new to using a CPAP machine, using the nasal pillows. I think my problem is being a side sleeper and it tends to skew a little bit off my nose creating the loud noise of the air blowing. It doesn’t typically wake me up, but it sure wakes my husband up. I tried the full face mask for a night, but that seemed to be even worse with the air leakage. Any tips for how to remedy that?
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Hi there! Thanks for your question. Side sleeping can definitely make nasal pillows tricky, and it’s really common to have some air leaks at first. The good news is there are several ways to improve comfort and reduce noise:
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Check your size and fit: Make sure the nasal pillows fit snugly but comfortably in your nostrils. Even small adjustments to the angle or headgear straps can make a big difference.
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Try mask liners: Soft CPAP mask liners can cushion the area around your nose and prevent leaks while also reducing skin irritation.
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Consider a CPAP pillow: Specially designed CPAP pillows have cutouts for your mask and tubing, helping to reduce pressure and keep your mask in place while side sleeping.
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Hybrid or nasal cradle masks: If the pillows still leak, some people find hybrid or nasal cradle masks more stable for side sleeping. Or masks with tubing over the head can be helpful for positioning changes through the night.
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Acclimation: Wear your mask while awake for short periods — reading or watching TV — to get used to it before bedtime.
It often takes a little trial and error to find what works best, and that’s completely normal. If leaks persist, contacting your provider or the retailer you got your CPAP from can help; sometimes small adjustments make a big difference. You’re not alone — side sleepers face this challenge all the time, and with some tweaks, it usually gets much better 