Can a Wedge Pillow Treat Apnea, UAR, OSA etc?

[Hopefullady]

Hi all.

I was told by several docs over the years that I have "mild" sleep apnea or OSA (I don't know all the terms or differences).
In fact I barely qualified for my CPAP through insurance (although I didn't sleep on my back during studies, which is when I have 99% of my problems breathing - I think).

Anyway, during this past week I've tried to sleep on my back three times for the first time in 30 years - but ELEVATED my self using pillows.

Last night was actually okay. No "choking" while breathing out that I can remember. I did however feel I was sleeping "gingerly" (carefully?) and got a lighter sleep - but I feel a hellovalot better than many mornings. The light, "ginger" sleeping could be due to me "trying to be watchful as I slept" or it could be that I wasn't breathing very well (?) or it could be other reasons.

I am considering purchasing a wedge pillow and just spoke with these people: ($89.99)
http://www.medslant.com

Actually, this one is cheaper and has 3 different heights up to 12":

http://m.kohls.com/product/prd-2172637/ ... NwodDVkPOg


I understand the importance of being sure in am elevated beginning at the waist etc.

My questions:

- Are there people with more "mild" apnea or UAR etc - who find they don't need CPAP if they use a wedge pillow?

- Is there anything more you would like to add? Thoughts about what I've described?
I appreciate any input.

Thanks much.

[LSAT]

Hi all.

I was told by several docs over the years that I have "mild" sleep apnea or OSA (I don't know all the terms or differences).
In fact I barely qualified for my CPAP through insurance (although I didn't sleep on my back during studies, which is when I have 99% of my problems breathing - I think).

Anyway, during this past week I've tried to sleep on my back three times for the first time in 30 years - but ELEVATED my self using pillows.

Last night was actually okay. No "choking" while breathing out that I can remember. I did however feel I was sleeping "gingerly" (carefully?) and got a lighter sleep - but I feel a hellovalot better than many mornings. The light, "ginger" sleeping could be due to me "trying to be watchful as I slept" or it could be that I wasn't breathing very well (?) or it could be other reasons.

I am considering purchasing a wedge pillow and just spoke with these people: ($89.99)
http://www.medslant.com

Actually, this one is cheaper and has 3 different heights up to 12":

http://m.kohls.com/product/prd-2172637/ ... NwodDVkPOg


I understand the importance of being sure in am elevated beginning at the waist etc.

My questions:

- Are there people with more "mild" apnea or UAR etc - who find they don't need CPAP if they use a wedge pillow?

- Is there anything more you would like to add? Thoughts about what I've described?
I appreciate any input.

Thanks much.

. IF you really do have SA, the treatment would be CPAP. The elevation may help a little, but the treatment recommended for SA is CPAP.

[PEF]

The answer to your question is a resounding "NO". If you have even mild sleep apnea, you should not be sleeping on your back. I fell for the propaganda about wedge pillows and bought one, thinking maybe I would not need CPAP. Was I wrong. It did not help at all and I could not sleep comfortably on my side, wedge pillows are not for side sleepers and they actually encourage back sleeping which is a no no for anyone with sleep breathing problems. You need CPAP.

[Hopefullady]

The answer to your question is a resounding "NO". If you have even mild sleep apnea, you should not be sleeping on your back. I fell for the propaganda about wedge pillows and bought one, thinking maybe I would not need CPAP. Was I wrong. It did not help at all and I could not sleep comfortably on my side, wedge pillows are not for side sleepers and they actually encourage back sleeping which is a no no for anyone with sleep breathing problems. You need CPAP.

That's interesting, because I am reading all over the net this morning including on this site that others with mild apnea have used a pillow and gotten rid of their CPAP machines. I also talked to a friend this morning who said she did that as well. What gives?

[Julie]

They're in denial, ignorant or very badly informed!

[49er]

The answer to your question is a resounding "NO". If you have even mild sleep apnea, you should not be sleeping on your back. I fell for the propaganda about wedge pillows and bought one, thinking maybe I would not need CPAP. Was I wrong. It did not help at all and I could not sleep comfortably on my side, wedge pillows are not for side sleepers and they actually encourage back sleeping which is a no no for anyone with sleep breathing problems. You need CPAP.

That's interesting, because I am reading all over the net this morning including on this site that others with mild apnea have used a pillow and gotten rid of their CPAP machines. I also talked to a friend this morning who said she did that as well. What gives?

Did they have a sleep study to confirm their apnea is gone by using a wedge pillow? Otherwise as Julie said, they are in denial.

49er

[Pugsy]

If the bulk of your "mild" OSA is happening when on your back and IF (big IF) sleeping partially upright prevents the airway from collapsing then maybe just a wedge will help. There's a lot of IFs though and some are pretty big IFs.
If it were that simple then we would all be going out and buying recliners and wedges instead of cpap machines.

Ideally you would need another sleep study using the wedge to see exactly how much it may or may not have helped. I know of only one person who actually went through the process to get another sleep study while sleeping semi upright though and found he could get buy without cpap.

It wouldn't work for me though...been there and done it though by accident...fell asleep sitting upright on the couch and snored and gasped and woke myself up.

Sorry...can't offer any ideas as to which wedge pillow might be better than the other. When I tried it (for GERD issues) I found that it caused too much back pain for one thing and also found out the darn thing kept sliding a round on the bed and most of the time I ended up with it somewhere other than under me.

If you had significant desats during your sleep study where the oxygen levels dropped quite a bit...I would at least want to confirm that the oxygen levels weren't dropping with the use of the wedge. They make relatively inexpensive pulse oximeters that will record all night...and if I were in your shoes I would want one to make sure that oxygen levels were okay. While it isn't all about O2 levels...I feel that if your sleep study levels showed much of a drop and since there is a way to measure O2 that I would want to make sure that at least that problem isn't happening if you decide you don't want to do an in lab study using the wedge.

[Hopefullady]

Pugsy...what about the pillow hurt your back?

What I do remember is falling asleep a few months ago easily on a friend's recliner for hours with no problems. The recliner was reclined but not flat, but still fairly far back.

Yes I believe this is about personal need. I don't know about my oxygen levels during study, will have to look at that again, but basically I almost didn't qualify for CPAP. on all 3 studies over 15 years I was told I had mild apnea or UAR.

I'm someone who does very well on my side and stomach but I do choke a LOT on my back, like almost every breath breathing out. For years I managed on stomach and side (but would need a lot of hours of sleep - that may be emotional though, not sure). I have developed fibromyalgia now though after a chemical exposure so I can no longer sleep on sides for more than 3 hours at a time - and my spine will no longer allow stomach sleeping. So on my back for at least half the night it it.

[Pugsy]

Pugsy...what about the pillow hurt your back?

General position and firmness and the inability to do much tossing and turning and side sleeping.
I have a history of old back fractures and my pelvis was essentially crushed (MVA) and my back in general is just tempermental with some significant arthritis issues. If I lay in one position very long it hurts...if I change position it hurts...so damned if I do and damned if I don't.
Sleeping on my back hurts the worst though and sleeping any other way when using a wedge just doesn't work well for me. My spine has to be pretty much straight...from the lower to the cervical and the bending associated with any wedge puts the spine in a not so comfy position for me.

Never really thought about trying a wedge for OSA since I already knew that even sleeping totally upright wasn't enough for me but my OSA is in the severe category.
Since the wedge didn't really help my GERD issues either...I never really went to deep into the wedge experiments. I figured that if I slept better without the wedge (because it wasn't comfortable for me) that was my number one goal and dealing with GERD became a secondary goal because if I slept horribly I still felt worse than I did with my worst GERD days.

[Hopefullady]

Pugsy, sorry about these issues you had with your back and pelvis. I wondered if you might say that the firmness of these wedge pillows was a problem, yep. I also feel instinctively that I would not only need a softer one if I try one, but also a lower one due to any potential crushing of the lower back and hurting of rear-end if elevated too much. They have ones that start flat right at the waist and incline slightly up to about 7". That's what I'll try - but it needs to be soft.

Also I want to acknowledge that I believe that what PEF (and others) said here sounds exactly right too - that sleeping on our backs is not the best position for breathing when you have this thing. Thanks for your help and patience with me as I go through this experience

[Too tall]

The answer to your question is a resounding "NO". If you have even mild sleep apnea, you should not be sleeping on your back. I fell for the propaganda about wedge pillows and bought one, thinking maybe I would not need CPAP. Was I wrong. It did not help at all and I could not sleep comfortably on my side, wedge pillows are not for side sleepers and they actually encourage back sleeping which is a no no for anyone with sleep breathing problems. You need CPAP.

IMO, this is the right answer. Either sleep on your sides or use the CPAP. A wedge is more for acid reflux issues.

[SewTired]

Wedge pillows don't work for apnea. They can, however, help you breathe in other ways. On the other hand, sleeping at an angle can cause new problems, such as with the back. Sleeping on your side is the only thing that actually helps with apnea and that isn't completely effective either. Sleeping in a recliner can REDUCE the apnea, but won't eliminate it.

Wedge pillows work for acid reflux. Acid reflux can cause post-nasal drip which can affect your breathing (and blood pressure). Improved breathing can improve hypopneas and RERAs, but not apneas. This is why some believe wedge pillows help apnea. It doesn't really. I gave my acid reflux meds a break for a week (ran out, needed new prescription) and my overall pressure went up 1 cm. Don't know if it's come down yet (switched to the new Dream Nasal mask).

[Hopefullady]

Well, I can only sleep on my side for 1-3 hours due to fibro pain now, which is why I had to give in and add back sleeping in (hence my finally getting CPAP). So I have to sleep on my back part of the night.

It stinks because I have to move around etc.

Dr suggested today that I actually do raise myself a bit to alleviate apneas. But it has to be done the right way so as to not cause spinal problems etc

I also have a little acid reflux coincidentally, so it's important that any wedge pillow start at the tailbone. The incline has to be straight up to head and fairly subtle but enough to make a difference in breathing. It does make a difference for me in apneas. The trick is to get a low wedge pillow, then you can add to it if you need to.

I'll report on how this goes.

[Julie]

Your doctor is fueling the flame of your not wanting to use Cpap... shame on him!

[Too tall]

Well, I can only sleep on my side for 1-3 hours due to fibro pain now, which is why I had to give in and add back sleeping in (hence my finally getting CPAP). So I have to sleep on my back part of the night.

It stinks because I have to move around etc.

Dr suggested today that I actually do raise myself a bit to alleviate apneas. But it has to be done the right way so as to not cause spinal problems etc

I also have a little acid reflux coincidentally, so it's important that any wedge pillow start at the tailbone. The incline has to be straight up to head and fairly subtle but enough to make a difference in breathing. It does make a difference for me in apneas. The trick is to get a low wedge pillow, then you can add to it if you need to.

I'll report on how this goes.

I know what you mean, I've got a cervical disk injury that makes it really difficult to sleep on my side. My daughter's in law has one and really likes it for acid reflux. I've heard of people reducing apnea by sleeping in recliners and upright positions. If your doctor suggest trying it, that's what I'd do. Nothing ventured, nothing gained.