RE: Pillows and Non CPAP Strategies?
(04-18-2016, 07:33 AM)MattyG47 Wrote: Yes, sorry I am referring to regular sleeping pillows; I didn't realize there were CPAP related ones.
I am definitely a chin to chest sleeper, I will have to find a way to correct that while sleeping on my side.
I've been thinking about re-testing, because the original clinic I went to a few years ago was closed and the doctor had their license taken away. It was the discomfort of sleeping on my side with a mask, always pushed it uncomfortable to one side and sometimes lost the suction. I would be up for hours unable to sleep.
Yes, there are nasal pillow masks, so when you said pillows, that's what some may think.
If you haven't used your machine for 5 years, you will find that a lot has changed.
Especially with mask choices. I'm a side sleeper and I use a nasal pillow mask.
It doesn't move at all when I turn in my sleep.
I hope you get re-tested. A lot of us here wished we had been diagnosed at a younger age. Untreated sleep apnea will do great harm to you physically...mabye not today or tomorrow, but your overall health will decline if you continue on this road.
Please keep us posted. Good luck!
RE: Pillows and Non CPAP Strategies?
Well, you could try buying 2-3 new pillows of different types and changing the type you're using every three days or so as an experiment.
Another sleep study would be a great idea if you have the means to do that.
(04-18-2016, 06:15 AM)MattyG47 Wrote: I was diagnosed with mild to moderate apnea 5+ years ago in college, tried the CPAP and had poor results. I wasnt able to sleep well with how irritating the machine was. I dumped the machine, started exercising more and my health improved greatly. Still felt sleepy but it was far more manageable.
Years later I finally got a new pillow (nothing special) and for a week or two I was waking up early, I didnt feel groggy, and I was full of energy. A few weeks later the feeling slowly faded. Got another new pillow a few months ago and felt the same feeling for about 3 or 4 days and it faded again. Is there anyone who knows why a new pillow would have such an effective yet short-term effect? Does it give any clues as to how I can mimic that effect for the long term?
Either people arent posting it or my google-fu is weak, as I cant seem to find similar stories. Thanks!
RE: Pillows and Non CPAP Strategies?
Hi MattyG47,
WELCOME! to the forum.!
Hopefully, you can get a sleep study to see what's going on.
Good luck to you and hang in there for more responses to your post.
trish6hundred
04-18-2016, 07:09 PM
(This post was last modified: 04-18-2016, 07:11 PM by BadGoodDeb.)
RE: Pillows and Non CPAP Strategies?
Note that "nasal pillows" are plastic things about 2" in size, that go between the CPAP hose and your nose. They do not go under your head, and bear no resemblance to what the rest of the world calls a pillow. They are merely kinda pillowy, in a way, as opposed to "full faced mask" things, or the third alternative (nose only) "nasal mask things", for CPAP.
The sleep studies that people are advising assume that you want to go back onto CPAP. You sound rather as if you don't. We tend to think that you ought to! But then, you are on *this* forum, so .....
If you use the word CPAP and google "nasal pillow" you could find a picture.
PS your new-bed-pillow better-sleep may be related to allergies?? Maybe?
04-18-2016, 08:52 PM
(This post was last modified: 04-18-2016, 08:52 PM by MattyG47.)
RE: Pillows and Non CPAP Strategies?
I always looked at it as a firmness/height thing: the newer pillow was not yet flattened and would hold my head up and keep a good neck alignment, but once the pillow had been used a while my head would sink and go back to being problematic.
I never thought of the allergy thing, but that might explain the frequent nasal congestion too. Good idea!