[split] Rice95 Therapy [positional apnea, help with collars]

[Gideon]

There is a thing called a body pillow. It is something that many pregnant women have found helpful to their sleep.

[Rice95]

Thanks Gideon. I would try that but my head has to be flat because of my chin tucking issues. All the ones I’ve found are very high at the pillow area. I bought a foam wedge last night to try to keep me on my side. 
If anyone else out there has had luck with side sleep devices that stay in place let me know.
Thank you

[Rice95]

Good afternoon!



The foam wedge to keep me on my side came in. I have the last 2 nights posted. It definitely has improved my positional apnea coupled with the collar I wear. This one was a winner. It has to be adjusted when I turn over on my other side in the middle of the night, and I am aware enough to make sure the wedge is back in place.

[Rice95]

[OpalRose]

Looks like a winner!

[Rice95]

Thank you Opal!

The pillow is a ‘medical wedge pillow for patients after surgery.’ It doesn’t have a specific ‘name’ but you can search that description and find it. It is blue. It stays in place pretty good as long as you begin the night with it wedged in place under your side, but not too much or it’s uncomfortable.

[Rice95]

 
Good morning !

We are replacing our downstairs floors all the way to the slab. Dust everywhere. I’m at my mother in laws house (who is away)with our Pomeranian to escape the workers and demo. 

I downsized the Sleep wedge so it’s more manageable at night. My positional clusters were going up with the old wedge and unfortunately with the smaller one the positional clusters were still present, and I know I’ve been staying on my side. 

This new one is still the shape of a wedge but more like a throw pillow size. It has a velvet cover so it really grips the bed at night and does what it is supposed to do …but my numbers were still going up. I know I’ve been staying on my side. SO …I tried something. With the collar on it’s raising my head too high on my pillow I think.  My pillow is only 2 inches thick , but when I sleep with the collar on the pillow itself , it defeats the purpose of a skinny pillow. I did an experiment the last 2 nights. I tried only allowing my head to be on the pillow and the collar was off the pillow , so all I did was moved my head down enough so the collar was not in contact with the pillow…and I’m sure my neck and spine are more in alignment. 

Boom….positional clusters significantly improved. Numbers went from the teens to 1 and 2 the last 2 nights. 
For now this is Gold. I hope I’m on to something!

[OpalRose]

I did an experiment the last 2 nights. I tried only allowing my head to be on the pillow and the collar was off the pillow , so all I did was moved my head down enough so the collar was not in contact with the pillow…and I’m sure my neck and spine are more in alignment. 

Boom….positional clusters significantly improved. Numbers went from the teens to 1 and 2 the last 2 nights. 
For now this is Gold. I hope I’m on to something!

Positional apnea can occur even when sleeping on your side.  Thanks for explaining how you overcame sleeping with your collar and positioning your head correctly on your pillow.

Hopefully this will help others too.  

[Rice95]

Thank you Opal! Yes, you are correct. Side sleeping can still induce clusters. I’m a living example! Keeping consistent numbers below 3 are not as easy as I had hoped, but I’m starting to nail this down by trial and error …mostly error 

[Rice95]

Good Wednesday morning !

Another great morning! I kept the collar off the pillow again last night and yielded a 1.7 AHI. I’m still using the smaller wedge. It really keeps me off my back.

I will start posting my Oscar chart once all the flooring is installed. Right now I’m living out of a bag so to speak. They finish the floor demo today. Floor guy comes tomorrow to level the slab and then install the vinyl planks. 

Have a great Wednesday!