Tennis balls--what's the most comfortable method?

It took less time to wrap King Tut with linen cloths and turn him into a mummy than it takes me to get ready for sleep every night. I'm wearing a chinstrap ala Hannibal Lecter, a mask, wrist splints on my arms, etc. I don't want to add another uncomfortable accouterment to this!! But, alas, I still have the aerophagia problem, which is worse on my back. I don't normally sleep on my back, but on rare occasions I've woken up to find myself on my back. I'd like to be sure I'm not doing that. Fanny pack with a clip sounds uncomfortable around my waist. Wearing the same shirt every night--no. So what's the most comfortable way of doing this? I'm not looking for the balls to be comfortable, as that would defeat the purpose, just for the ball holder to be comfortable.

When I tried it before having my CPAP I toke a sock, I put (let's say) several tennis balls inside; then I attached it to the back of a T-shirt, high enough to keep the balls arriving between my shoulders.

I was going to try a piece of that floating tube the kids uses in the swimming pools because in my case I did't have tennis balls so I toke a towel I had roll. It was too heavy and kept pulling my big T-shirt against my neck. But it works and it was not hurting my back, the lump was big enough to make me roll to the side while asleep.

I understand you, we need to put so many things in place before going to bed I have started to open the mouth even using the mouth piece, the tape is ripping off my skin (maybe because of winter dryness) I thought at the possibility to try a chinstrap but MAN another part to add. What is the kind of chinstrap you use ?

All the best.

SU, what about double-sided velcro patches? It wouldn't cost all that much to buy some double-sided velcro tape and cutting a few squares and try it. Also - do you really think you need tennis balls? You might want to try just a couple of men's hunting socks, long ones, tied into a couple of knots letting the knots take the place of the tennis balls.

Slinky wrote:SU, what about double-sided velcro patches? It wouldn't cost all that much to buy some double-sided velcro tape and cutting a few squares and try it. Also - do you really think you need tennis balls? You might want to try just a couple of men's hunting socks, long ones, tied into a couple of knots letting the knots take the place of the tennis balls.

I'm confused... Are you saying the double-sided velcro patches would hold the tennis balls in place on my back? I'm not sure they would, but even if they did, I'd have to wear the same thing or re-do the velcro every night...

I always thought the tennis ball idea was counter productive because I wouldn't want anything to wake me up to tell me to move on to my side. My sleep was already too fragile to add more awakenings from tennis balls.

Back when I was experimenting to see if there was any real difference in pressure needs or whatever if I slept on my back...I used the buckwheat pillow as a back brace. Kept me on my side and when I tended to roll back onto it and onto my back, it was very comfortable. It didn't slide out of place like normal pillows and rolled up bed linens would.

It was determined that I saw so real difference with positional sleeping so I abandoned the buckwheat pillow as a back brace and it went back under my head. I am small person and one small low buckwheat pillow was sufficient to keep me from going over onto my back...someone larger might need a little taller "wall".

Just a thought if you happen to have a pillow that has some weight to it and thus won't slide around and out from underneath you.

I think they also make "wedge pillows" to keep you off your back. Unless your a real DEEP ACTIVE sleeper, I would think it would be hard to roll up hill.

Kody wrote:I think they also make "wedge pillows" to keep you off your back. Unless your a real DEEP ACTIVE sleeper, I would think it would be hard to roll up hill.

I tried one of those wedge pillows. It slid right out from under me and onto the other side of the bed. I have seen some contraptions where someone actually wears the wedge as a garment.
Not particularly appealing for someone who likes to sleep in the buff or is going through menopause and having hot flashes.

No, SU. Knots in the sox, velcro patches on the knots and ends of the socks. The buckwheat hull pillow as a wedge sounds like a reasonable and good idea too. The pillow won't/can't slide away - and the buckwheat hulls can only slide so far inside the pillow case forming a wedge that just is not going to let you roll over any further w/o your laying on a hump down the middle of your spine.

Pugsy wrote:

Kody wrote:I think they also make "wedge pillows" to keep you off your back. Unless your a real DEEP ACTIVE sleeper, I would think it would be hard to roll up hill.

I tried one of those wedge pillows. It slid right out from under me and onto the other side of the bed. I have seen some contraptions where someone actually wears the wedge as a garment.
Not particularly appealing for someone who likes to sleep in the buff or is going through menopause and having hot flashes.

Wow, glad you pointed that out I was thinking of buying one to try out. I guess one could move the whole bed sideways against the wall, then position one side of the wedge against the wall so it couldn't slide. Of course that would look stupid, let alone having to squeeze in the middle between the wall and your spouse without waking them all the time. Gee.... remember the good old day's when all you had to do was get in bed and go to sleep?..

Boy, do I ever, Kody!!!!! Sure wish they would come back! PAP therapy can be such a PITA some nights when you are exhausted and you just wanna crash on whatever is reasonably soft and handy.

And, SU, surely you meant most CONVENIENT method, NOT most comfortable method!!! There's nothing comfortable about rolling over on a couple, three, four lumps grinding into your back when you are trying to sleep!

After reading the thread about glaucoma and IOP being higher while sleeping on the side than on the back, I have decided not to worry about it. But my apneas are under control.... Just letting my body decide.

SleepingUgly, perhaps you could try getting one of those hoodie sweat shirts, even buy one at the second hand store, make sure it has those pockets that you can place your hands into that almost meet in the middle. Cut the hood off, even most of the top of the sweatshirt, cut the arms off, put a tennis ball in each pocket, put it on backwards, and there you have it. Of course you could always fashion a band type of thing out of stretchy fabrick and put the balls in that and whip it around, I would make it about 12 inches wide fold over the material and no sewing except for the ends to make a circle to slip over your head. Hope this helps

insert your own joke here

SleepingUgly wrote: I'm not looking for the balls to be comfortable, as that would defeat the purpose, just for the ball holder to be comfortable.

Looking at the thread title, I was indeed wondering if it wouldn't defeat the purpose if the tennis balls were comfortable
I have another solution, but not easy to do:
My cat (a wonderful siamese!) likes to sleep curled nice and snug against my back. I already always sleep on my side but if suddenly I decided to roll over on my back I would probably be reminded to stay on my side by a loud miaow! (and maybe feel a claw or two as I am not sure he would appreciate my weight rolling on to him )