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How important is the "right" pillow for Sleep Apnea treatment?

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I have actually purchased 3 "special" C-PAP pillows. I was motivated to try the special pillows because, being a side sleeper, I was waking up with stiffness and sorness in my neck. I have provided links to each of the pillows I've purchased and my comments about each:

This one is marketed well and seems like it would work but I found that it is not thick enough, and I was still experiencing problems with shoulders and neck stiffness.
http://www.cpapxchange.com/cpap-supplies-bipap/contour-multimask-cp...

The Double Edge and Mini Edge are thick enough and work very well.
http://www.cpapxchange.com/cpap-supplies-bipap/papillow-doubleedge-...

I'm sure that if you're crafty you can make something similar that works just as well for less $ but I will say that the Double Edge works for me.

Hope this helps.
Hi
Congratulations on finding your comfort with your mask and pillow, it took me about 4 years to find my comfort.
To find out more about the neti pot go to you tube and search nasal wash, you will get all the information you want there. I do a daily nasal wash, and I am clear as a whistle.

Claude said:
When we bought our intelligel mattress several years ago, we invested in the intelligel pillows to go along with it. By invested, I mean they were very expensive. When I went to a full face mask, I was worried about the pillow not being right and that I would have problems. To my surprise, it works great. The pillows actually have an adjustable air chamber, surrounded by a high quality foam, and the intelligel layer on top of that.
When my head hits the pillow, I'm usually out for the night, no leaks, perfect fit, and curves just right for total comfort. I'm a side sleeper, and haven't even tried anything else because I got lucky, I guess. By the way, it was here that I actually got advice about going to a full face mask, and I am ever grateful for that. I appreciate the help I get here on the sleep apnea forum.
I do have a question though: I see quite often talk about a 'neti-pot' (not sure on spelling). What is that and would it help me with stuffiness? Thanks.
Sounds like quite an array of interesting and creative design solutions. My CPAP pillow also resides in the closet. Waste of money. I did have a down pillow made for me (I have a friend who runs a pillow manufacturing business) and he customized it with 13 ounces of down. Just right. It is soft and shapable and seems to reduce markings on my face from straps.
Ok, this is all new to me. I never knew there was such a thing as a cpap pillow. I have been thinkiing I was going to talk to my doctor on the next visit about why I can not sleep in any position but my back with my cpap. Before I was put on the cpap I could not sleep on my back because I would wake choking on my sinus drainage. I would sleep on my side and try to be sure my nose was pointed down. I spent the night gong from shoulder to shoulder back and fourth. When my arm on the up side fell asleep I would roll over and sleep till the other arm fell asleep. I could not sleep on my stomach as it forced me to turn my head and I would wake with my neck hurting. I actually like to sleep on my stomach. Now that I am on the cpap the only position I can sleep with is on my back, I do not know why but with the cpap the sinus drainage went away. When I try to sleep on my side I wake up needing air. Why I can not get my breath on my side I do not know. I wake and my muscles hurt a little. I would like to be able to switch positions and give my muscles a change of position but I can not do anything but sleep on my back. I can shift toward one side or the other a little which relieves the muscles but shortly I will be back flat on my back. I sleep pretty well, but it would be nice to change positions once in a while. I also have a hospital bed which I have raised a little and a big pile of pillows as it seems I can breath better elevated. Sometimes it seems to help my breathing if I put my arms up over my head. I think I am really screwy. Lol
Charles, do you have COPD? This needing to sleep elevated with multiple pillows sounds you have other medical issues going on besides OSA.
Mary Z.

Charles Austin Beck said:
I use a pillow that is made from the same material as our mattress, which is a special rubber. This pillow helped the arthritis in my neck so I wouldn't think of switching to a new one. Having said that, it is almost impossible for me to turn on my side while using this pillow and wearing my mask. For me, it's a moot point since I also have arthritis in my hip and if I turn over, the pain wakes me up anyway. So for me, the special pillows, which I've looked at, are not a possibility.

I think, if I were a normal person, I might like the CPAP pillow because I like the way they're constructed to let one turn on their side. But I've always been slightly abnormal!
What is copd? I am not sure.

Mary Z said:
Charles, do you have COPD? This needing to sleep elevated with multiple pillows sounds you have other medical issues going on besides OSA.
Mary Z.

Charles Austin Beck said:
How important is bed comfort? If you are not comfortable you won't sleep right.
Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease, it includes chronic bronchitis, emphysema, or both. Can cause you to be short of breath or cough, can be disabling, but also can be treated. Often seen in smokers. People typically have to sleep propped up on pillows to breathe. If you're interested, google the term "COPD", there are a lot of good links out there. There is a short symptom checker compliments of the folks at
Of course your problems could be due to other health problems, but they don't sound like the profile of simple Obstructive Sleep Apnea. You must have other things going on if you have a hospital bed.
Good luck,
Mary Z.
Charles Austin Beck said:
What is copd? I am not sure.

Mary Z said:
Charles, do you have COPD? This needing to sleep elevated with multiple pillows sounds you have other medical issues going on besides OSA.
Mary Z.

Charles Austin Beck said:
I do not believe I have copd. I had noticed that in the evening my nose would plug up. The spray I was given did not help. They operated on my nose. Now my nose does nogt close up of the evening. It still will swell a little but not close. The spray is now very effective. I have noticed the last few weeks, while setting at the computer before going to bed I felt I needed air. Now mind you, I have never had any allergies of any kind. However, within the last couple weeks I made an observation. When My daughter does laundry that is when it happens. At night when she is drying clothes and I am sleeping that is when it happens. Well, I noticed she had taken to using fabric softener that comes in a cloth. why I do not know, because there is softener in the detergent. Now she stopped doing that, my problem has let up..I think I hit on something.

Mary Z said:
Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease, it includes chronic bronchitis, emphysema, or both. Can cause you to be short of breath or cough, can be disabling, but also can be treated. Often seen in smokers. People typically have to sleep propped up on pillows to breathe. If you're interested, google the term "COPD", there are a lot of good links out there. There is a short symptom checker compliments of the folks at
Of course your problems could be due to other health problems, but they don't sound like the profile of simple Obstructive Sleep Apnea. You must have other things going on if you have a hospital bed.
Good luck,
Mary Z.
Charles Austin Beck said:
What is copd? I am not sure.

Mary Z said:
Charles, do you have COPD? This needing to sleep elevated with multiple pillows sounds you have other medical issues going on besides OSA.
Mary Z.

Charles Austin Beck said:
Pillow? No one has told me about having a special. I still use the two that I have used for years. Different pillows, but two pillows. I have adjusted easily to my CPAP. I sleep on my back and on both side. A couple times I have slept on my stomach.

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