Replies to This Discussion

Permalink Reply by sleepycarol on November 14, 2009 at 6:42pm

Yes, there are a few and I will tell you my experience with the different pillows I have used.

Due to severe allergies I can not use a feather/down pillow. I grew up with those types of pillows and like them, but now have problems with them due to the allergies.

For years, I searched for a pillow that didn't smoosh down and become flat. I like a taller pillow and like the gusset side pillows, although I typically sleep on my back. I have problems with upper back and neck pain. About every six months, I would purchase a new pillow as I had become disenchanted with the one I was using at the time. I had used a king size pillow for approximately 20 years and didn't want to change and I liked the size offered in a king size pillow.

A few years ago, I was at our local railroad damaged/catalog return store. This is a locally owned store, not a franchise store. They had received a selection of various sizes of tempurpedic pillows of higher quality than that found in our local retail stores here such as WalMart. I purchased two of the king size tempurpedic pillows. I feel in love with those pillows. The foam didn't smoosh down like other pillows and kept their shape. I used those pillows for approximately 4 or 5 years. I do know a friend of mine had one similar and she took an electric knife and cut out notches in the sides of her pillows for her mask similar to those pictures on the speciality cpap pillows. She saved a bunch of money as she used a Big Lot's memory foam pillow and has used this pillow now for a couple of years.

Last winter, Bret (aka sleepguy) asked if I wanted to trial a new pillow he was producing. I had tried other products for him prior to him marketing them and so jumped at the chance to trial his new pillow. He calls his pillow the Regenisis Pillow. It is made from a nice tightly woven quilted cotton fabric, has buckwheat hulls for the filling, a four inch gusset runs around the sides of the pillows. I was a little hesitant as this is a regular size pillows. I had never used a buckwheat pillow and so didn't know what to really expect. When I received the pillow I was very pleased with the construction of it. I tried it out the first night and was very impressed with it. No morning achy neck and upper back. When tossing and turning no problems with the mask as the hulls sort of cradle your mask. I do not notice any rustling of the hulls during the night and I am a light sleeper. The pillow is priced for approximately $60.00 at www.pur-sleep.com. I have used his pillow since. I tried making a buckwheat pillow out of a quilted pillow cover I found at K-Mart for $5.00. I used approximately 7 or 8 pounds of hulls in the zippered quilted pillow cover (it was a queeen size). I found I didn't sleep as good on that pillow, it was heavier (due to the difference in size of the cover). It has since been thrown over the side of our cedar chest. I continue to use the Regenisis pillow and am still very pleased with it.

I tried a Side Solution pillow after responding to an ad placed here on this forum. I was sent the pillow at no charge in exchange for filling out a survey, which I never received. The first night I used the pillow I couldn't get comfortable and tossed and turned all night. Not a good mix when you have to work the next day. I then waited till the week-end to try it again. I tried the pillow over that week-end and found that the pillow shifted under me and didn't allow me to turn from side to side easily. I had to wake somewhat and switch the pillow since I was using the cutouts to support my shoulder and neck. The next night I tried the pillow sleeping on my back. It ended up getting shifted so that there was a bunch of filling at the top of my head, which would dislodge my mask (I use the Headrest). I would wake up and then have to adjust my mask. Typically my mask stays put through the night and I don't have to adjust it. This was annoying.

The Side Solution pillow is fiber filled with a lofty filling. It is made from quality cotton material. It has cut outs on both sides for either your mask or your shoulder, depending upon how you use it to sleep. There is approximately a 7 inch gusset around the sides making it a tall pillow. No case is included and unsure if a regular case would fit it.

Hubby doesn't have sleep apnea and so doesn't use a machine. He does snore like a freight train and I have asked him numerous times to get a sleep study done, and he refuses. He has since started using the pillow. He loves it and it has actually decreased his snoring. So although I didn't like the pillow, he is benefitting from it and as such I give it a thumbs up as well.

If you have more questions on either pillow let me know.

• ▶ Reply

Permalink Reply by BeeAsleep on November 14, 2009 at 10:26pm

I like the Oxygen Pillow, it is comfy and holds its shape. You can check it out on ApneaLife.com bee

• ▶ Reply

Permalink Reply by Mary Z on November 16, 2009 at 10:48am

Thanks to both of you. I'll have to put one of these on my Christmas list.

Mary Zimlich

• ▶ Reply

Permalink Reply by sleepycarol on November 16, 2009 at 7:24pm

Mary do a google search on the pillow you choose since there can be a significant price range available depending up on where you order it from.

• ▶ Reply

▶ Reply to Discussion