pillow to open the airway when sleep on my back

[mibbim]

I have to sleep on my back due to my neck and spine problem. I have both central and obstructive sleep apnea. I am still waiting for my appo with the specialist to review my case. I gave up the bi-pap last week. Looking for a pillow can allow my head tile and opening my airway when I sleep on my back. Any suggestions?

[Julie]

Do you mean head tilt? And what is it that is being reviewed, the machine type? When is your appt?

Apnea events are multiplied with back sleeping and we usually suggest that people do whatever they can to avoid it... but otherwise suggest using a recliner while awaiting machines. Bipap wouldn't have helped with your centrals, if in fact you do have 'real' ones and not just a handful when falling asleep and prior to awakening - those are normal and not considered valid centrals... only if you have many throughout the night, possibly in clusters, would they be called centrals. Tilting just your head may even block your airway further, but I could suggest a soft cervical collar which may use to keep their heads up, opening their airway more and keeping their mouths somewhat closed to avoid mouth breathing.

[Hawthorne]

A soft cervical collar can be a real help. I am a back sleeper (medical necessity too). I use one of those contour pillows - high at both sides and not raised in the middle.
I use the lower side because it is uncomfortable for me to have my neck too high and it works well for me. The contour fits nicely at my neck and my head is in the unraised part. I also make sure the pillow is not very firm. Might be worth a try for you.

[mibbim]

Hello, are you talking about the two end taller than the middle pillow, the two high end is one on your neck, and the other one on the top of the head direction? I have a small head, and my neck have problem, so when I use that kind of pillow, it makes me sick and headache. The soft cervical collar may worthy to try, any particular? They are very wide for my neck size. I tried the dreamstation bi-pap. The 60% is central, 39% is obstructive. AHI is 40. The doctor who did the report never seen me before just based on the sleep study. So the EPAP is 12, IPAP sets 17. I only have 82 lbs. So I can't sleep at all when I had the machine and mask on 4 hours every night, have to take it off so I can sleep a little. I work full time, and travel a lot. My app with a sleep apnea doctor is on 11/29. Still try to get into other appo, no luck yet.

[Guest]

You want your neck straight when sleeping no matter what position. You don't say what kind of problem with your neck. Can you try using a rolled up towel under the nape of your neck? You don't want anything that will push your chin towards your chin. This is cheap n easy to try. Use a rubber band to keep the towel from unrolling.

[Hawthorne]

I have a small head as well and, sometimes, some neck issues - so I chose my contour pillows very carefully. One of the raised sides is smaller (lower) and I put that part under my neck. I also look for one with that smaller side 4" or lower. Many of them are 5 "and that gives me real trouble. I can't have one that is too firm either. This type may help you, with those criteria. It is trial and error. A soft cervical collar may help but I find them to wide for me. My neck is not very long. good luck!

[jagzoo]

Hi, just FYI - I just ordered a new cervical collar from Amazon and saw that they have some that come in many sizes - from small 2.5 inch high to 5.5 inch high ones. So those of you who need short collars, they are available - just probably not in the drugstore (at least not mine).

[mibbim]

hi, thanks for the info, I am going to get one to try it. If you have one, could you tell me how to measure it so I will know which size I should order? I am 5 "2, only 82 lbs. So I have a small neck, I am thinking of the collar height of 2 or 2 and 1/2 inches, but not sure.

[Lucyhere]

hi, thanks for the info, I am going to get one to try it. If you have one, could you tell me how to measure it so I will know which size I should order? I am 5 "2, only 82 lbs. So I have a small neck, I am thinking of the collar height of 2 or 2 and 1/2 inches, but not sure.

That's a hard call. I'm 5"1' and 119lbs. I originally got a 3 inch collar, which was too large. I would probably try the 2 1/2 inches. Fortunately they are so inexpensive (Amazon or Walmart) that you could try both.

Also, check out the bed pillow (Amazon) that Brett offers from time to time on the forum. If someone has the link, please post it here. I'm not at all sure it would help, but it wouldn't hurt just to take a look. I have neck issues and have been very happy with his pillow. It surprised me how much it helps.


Edit:
https://www.amazon.com/CPAPfit-Pillow-- ... eep+pillow

[mibbim]

thanks for the pillow info, I currently use "My pillow" for my neck problem, it has been 6 years and help. I usually use one pillow under it, then use "my pillow" on top of that one half way, so it makes a "slop", that helps my neck and headache. However, not sure about if it helps my sleep apnea to open my airway or not. I tried to use my side to sleep these past days, I can only roll to my left side since I have a frozen shoulder on my right arm. I will wake up from time to time. But the most comfortable position is still sleeping on my back. I am looking into the soft form cervical collar, but a little bit confused about the size, so when they say 15 (L), 2 1/2 (W), 3 1/2 (H), means the 2.5 is the actual size between the jaw and shoulder, 3.5 is the thickness of that collar? Does the thickness affect anything? Thanks again!

[Julie]

The point is to keep your head up, your airway more open, so try different ones to see what works best for you... it's not something another person can guess at... but beware of wearing it too loosely or your chin may slip in and defeat the purpose.