CPAP Pillow Reviews and Helpfulness

[lemonbomb]

Hi Guys,

I've been looking at getting a CPAP pillow to lessen the leaks. And it takes me awhile at night before I get comfortable with my DW Nasal pillows.

Also like most of you I have obstructive apenea and the proper neck position should help with this also.

So let me know if you use one, which one and if it helped you? I'm looking at this pillow in the picture attached. Thanks community!

[Hydrangea]

I bought and loved the buckwheat pillow that is often recommended here. It's called the FaceFit Pillow by Pur-Sleep, and I got it on Amazon.

You can adjust the amount of buckwheat in there - it comes with a bag for storing the extra buckwheat, to save for later. It's mainly buckwheat, with some shredded memory foam. It's quite comfortable.

In less than a week, I got the hang of where to make crevices in the buckwheat (by putting my fist into it to carve out a crevice) so my mask wouldn't be bothered, and also for the exact support my neck and head needed.

While I liked that pillow a lot, I wanted to try a softer pillow, so I bought the MyPillow from Bed Bath & Beyond. The fuller one is too full - causes my chin to tuck. But the medium one is perfect for me. It's exactly like the buckwheat one, but without the buckwheat. (It's all shredded/cut pieces of foam. So you can mold it to the shape you want.) It's not as moldable as the buckwheat pillow, but it's softer.

[Melman]

I also use a buckwheat chaff pillow. I can be formed as I need it and holds the shape to maitain my head and neck position. It can be reshaped at any time. It is very firm but I like it that way.

[PaulaO2]

Did you check out the review section? Part of it is for accessories like pillows.
http://www.apneaboard.com/forums/Forum-O...ct-Reviews

I use a buckwheat pillow and love it.

[MitchS]

Another buckwheat pillow fan here. I tried several pillows before I found it.

[lemonbomb]

Thanks guys, it's definitely cheaper too at $10-$20! Seems like alot of sellers here in Asia too.

[lemonbomb]

what size are your buckwheat pillows?

[lemonbomb]

Also it seems there are options of what type of buckwheat shells to fill the pillow up with? It's either bitter shells or sweet shells. What did you guys pick?

[PaulaO2]

Not a clue! LOL didn't know there was a difference.

Okay, Googled. There is no difference. There's two strains of buckwheat but neither are known as "sweet" or "bitter". I did find a few places that said they used "sweet" buckwheat but I think it is hype. Still researching, though! Either way, the hull for both are the same.

"There is only one grade of buckwheat hulls, because all buckwheat hulls are the same. The buckwheat hulls that claim to be organic have been harvested, process, and prepared without using any chemicals or pesticides."

Edit to add: there does seem to be a difference in condition of the hulls, depending on where they were grown and how they were processed. If the hulls came from the same country you are from, they will most likely not arrive crushed (happens due to decontamination when crossing borders). "Roasted" hulls have been heated and will be more brittle which means they won't last nearly as long.

I've got several buckwheat heat packs (put in microwave, heat, apply to body part). One of them I got with lavender mixed in. But they aren't considered sweet.

Oh! And just get whatever size of pillow you like. I got standard. Actually, the one I got is one side is millet, the other is buckwheat. We didn't know which type would work for me and the manufacturer produces this pillow for folks who either want to try both or they like to switch between.

[PaulaO2]

OH OH OH!! Found it. One species is know as "common" buckwheat. The other species is differentiated by being called "Bitter" because it is indeed kinda bitter. It is grown mostly in Asia. Since you won't be eating the hulls, I would guess there's no difference for what you want it to do.

Common

Buckwheat (Fagopyrum esculentum), or common buckwheat,[2] is a plant cultivated for its grain-like seeds and as a cover crop. A related species, Fagopyrum tataricum, is a domesticated food plant raised in Asia. Despite the name, buckwheat is not related to wheat, as it is not a grass. Instead, buckwheat is related to sorrel, knotweed, and rhubarb. Buckwheat is referred to as a pseudocereal because its seeds' culinary use is the same as cereals', owing to their composition of complex carbohydrates

source: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Buckwheat

Tartary (bitter)

Fagopyrum tataricum, also known as Tartary buckwheat,[2] green buckwheat,[3] ku qiao,[3] or bitter buckwheat,[4] is a domesticated food plant in the genus Fagopyrum in the family Polygonaceae. With another species in the same genus, common buckwheat, it is often counted as a cereal, but unlike the true cereals the buckwheats are not members of the grass family. Thus, they are not related to true wheat. Tartary buckwheat is more bitter and contains more rutin than common buckwheat.

source: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Fagopyrum_tataricum

I love looking stuff up. This was fun!