PAPillow

General Discussion on any topic relating to CPAP and/or Sleep Apnea.
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PAPillow

Post by Guest » Fri Jan 28, 2005 3:47 pm

has anyone ever tried to use a PAPillow? if so, what do you think of it? is it something worth purchasing so that i can finally get a good night sleep without mask leaks!

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wading thru the muck!
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Post by wading thru the muck! » Fri Jan 28, 2005 5:48 pm

I'm curious about the texture of the PAPillow. Is it firm, fluffy, thick, resilient?
Sincerely,
wading thru the muck of the sleep study/DME/Insurance money pit!

bozmon
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PAPillow

Post by bozmon » Fri Jan 28, 2005 5:55 pm

Yes, I use it. It is a quality pillow (shaped kind of like an Abe Lincoln top hat) and is rather on the expensive side. I have the larger pillow (approx. $60US) which is not that large at all. Does it work? I say a cautious yes. My sleeping habits are such that I am a 3/4 stomach sleeper, with my head turned to the side, and I hug the pillow. As I relax (after I have fallen asleep), my head turns slight towards the pillow. With a regular pillow, my mask comes into contact with it 100% of the time, thus causing air leaks. With the PAPillow, it is noticeably less.

I don't use the pillow as it is shown in the ads. Rather, I turn the PAPillow so that the "bottom of the top hat" is parallel with my body. I then throw my arm underneath it, and rest my head on the "upper brim of the top hat". That gives my head a firm resting spot and the psychological feeling that the pillow is larger. At the same time, my mask (and hose) hang off "the brim" right next to the left side of the "top hat". (I hope you can picture all this - LOL). Anyway, that allows me to fall asleep peacefully without air leaks. Of course, after I'm asleep, that's a different story...if I toss and turn (as I usuallly do) and subconciously reposition the pillow like a normal pillow...I inadvertantly get leaks, which wake me and require the resetting of the pillow as mentioned above.

Bottom line: don't expect miracles. It helps me in one area...getting to sleep...and falling back to sleep. As you know, the name of the game with cpap'ing is to find the right combinations, with the right tools (i.e., masks, machines and pillows) to get you the best possible sleep.

Good luck and let me know if you have other questions about this pillow.

bozmon
Posts: 40
Joined: Thu Jan 27, 2005 10:32 am

Post by bozmon » Fri Jan 28, 2005 5:56 pm

wading thru the muck! wrote:I'm curious about the texture of the PAPillow. Is it firm, fluffy, thick, resilient?
It is all of these...except fluffy!

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rested gal
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Post by rested gal » Fri Jan 28, 2005 6:56 pm

I don't have one. Quite happy with my current pillow arrangement. I've read mixed reviews about it. Some people love it, others find it much too hard. I like my soft thin pillow stacked on a thin Tempurpedic pillow, so that's why I never tried it. If you get a PAPillow and find it to be too hard and firm, here are a couple of tips I've read on the TAS message board about making it less hard:

Toss it in a dryer on cool, along with some tennis balls or a sneaker or two. Let it tumble awhile.

Remove the stitching from one end and carefully remove some of the filler. Stitch it back up. Save the filler in case the pillow softens with use over time and you want to put some back in.

bozmon
Posts: 40
Joined: Thu Jan 27, 2005 10:32 am

Post by bozmon » Wed Feb 02, 2005 11:43 am

Just wanted to share this with those considering a PAPillow...as previously mentioned, I use one and like it very much. Last night, however, my wife and I spent more time than usual in bed before sleeping (NO, it's not what you're thinking!) We ate take-out Chinese food in bed, watched a bunch of shows that we recorded and hadn't gotten to in awhile, and had some meaningful conversation...all with REGULAR bed pillows piled up and supporting our backs. When it finally came time to go to sleep, the regular pillow felt so comfy, that I decided to just throw on my mask, rev up the old cpap, and fall asleep. BIG MISTAKE! My mask leaked all night, and somewhere (don't know when), I must of pulled it off, as I found it on the bedroom floor this morning. I never realized how important that the PAPillow has become in my cpap sleeping rituals. I'll never go without it again!