My mother had sleep apnea and wore a C-pap mask. I don't know what the difference is between hers and what you have described. With the C-pap, you must sleep on your back.

She had the surgery to remove some obstruction in her throat to see if that would eliminate the need to use the mask and she described the results as the worst throat pain she ever had and she would never go through it again. The operation did not help her either and she continued with the face mask.

gonnamakeit