newbie question - CPAP pillows - worth the cost?

[orangeandferal]

Trying to adjust to sleeping with the CPAP, and am wondering about people's experience with the CPAP pillows. Do they really make a difference? Worth the cost? Got a particular brand/style you'd recommend? (Obviously it's an individual thing, but if there are really good brands - or conversely, really lousy ones - I'd love to know.)

Also, I'm not digging the smell of all the plastic. I see a bunch of overpriced essential oil products for sale on various websites, and I'm wondering what others have used to "scent" their CPAP experience, without risking damage to the machine/humidifier.

Thanks in advance for any advice you might have.

Laura
(OrangeandFeral)

[bap40]

For me no special pillows, my old feather pillow works just fine. As far as scents go try the "pur-sleep." I am sure there is a link somewhere on this forum. I have been using them for a couple of years now. Good product.

[STL Mark]

I enjoy using the buckwheat pillow. Never tried one until I began with PAP therapy. I like that I can punch it and make a spot for my mask to fall into. One vendor is in my signature, many others are out there. Good luck with your decision.

[nanwilson]

Welcome Laura
I do not use any special pillow, mine is an obusform, firm. I do however sleep on the edge of it with my mask hanging over slightly. As to the essention oils, most of us use "pur-sleep". We put a dab on a small disc and place it in front of the air intake filter of our machine. They even have one called "clear" which will help if you have a cold or are clogged up. Just look up Pur-sleep on this site you will get tons of info.
Cheers
N

[ccrappy]

Mine is the hard foam kind with indents on either side of a little ridge in the middle where I lay my big head. I like it. I paid about $50 from amazon, postpaid. The thing is, while I was poking around there in amazon, I found also the "cpap pillow accessory kit." For about $30 they send you 2 pillow cases for the cpap pillow and a zippered, 2-meter, cloth tube for the hose. This tube is worth the whole deal. The naked hose is after all, a noisy thing. As you move it around, it sounds off. My tube is nice and quiet now.

[rested gal]

You're right about it being very individual preference, ccrappy.

I've tried several different pillows designed for CPAP users. Haven't liked any I tried except one, which I love and have used for years:
The double edge PAPillow made by "PAPillow:
https://www.cpap.com/productpage/papill ... illow.html

Whenever I feel like a change, I use a very smushable regular pillow -- the "Shapeable Pillow" from Target.

[xenablue]

I use a CPAP pillow - with a "C" cut out of each side - more because I'm a stomach sleeper to stop the mask digging into my face. I think it depends on your sleeping position, how much you move around, the type of mask you use.
Before I bought a pillow, I messed around with some very small throw pillows for a few nights to see what kind of configuration was most comfy, which is how I came to end up with the "C" CPAP pillow.

Aromatherapy - I use a few drops of GOOD (top quality, ingestible) essential oil/s on a round cosmetic pad, which I place in a ceramic dish just big enough for the pad, which is then placed right where the filter is. Works perfectly, the pads are very cheap, but I do happily pay for the best oils. I switch between eucalyptus, lavender and lemon/sage, using a separate pad for each 'flavour'.

I honestly didn't notice any plasticky smell, but love aromatherapy and find it helps to relax me - plus hubby loves the smell in the bedroom

Cheers,
xena

[hannahF]

For me yes. I cannot sleep without the CPAP pillow. Regular pillows are uncomfortable for me, as I am a side sleeper. I definitely think it is a good investment. I have the contour CPAP pillow, about $60 us dollars, and I love it....I sleep very nicely with it.

[ugogirl]

I use the contour PAPillow and love it. I'm also a side sleeper. Got mine from Overstock...about half of what the usual price is and $2.95 shipping.

[orangeandferal]

Thanks so much for all the input - you guys are great.
It's kind of silly, but I'm so excited to be getting real sleep, that I want to spend some money "accessorizing" the experience... creating a lovely little sleep den and celebrating the better quality of life. A special pillow and nice smells might just be the trick. And I love the hose-cover idea - the plastic scraping on my headboard is annoying.
I'll check out the links you suggested.
Best,
Laura

[Jersey Girl]

Dear Laura,

I use a buckwheat hull cpap pillow from http://www.pur-sleep.com. I found that it was very helpful for me. Regular pillows gave me a "push back" affect, where as with this pillow I am able to make a spot for my mask and vent with out any push back from the pillow. I liked this pillow so much that I have one at home and at our camper so that I am never without it.

Best regards,

Jersey Girl

[dtsm]

I've read mixed reviews re the contour pillow, looked at it myself at a hospital store and passed on it.

I ended buying via buy.com, the Hudson Medical brand, delivered about $42.00. Only downside is the pillow case could be nicer -- fortunately my wife was able to get some nicer fabric and make a couple of backups.

After now having competed my 1st year of therapy, I still use the same cpap pillow. But to be honest, don't really need it. For instance, I travel extensively overseas and don't bring my own pillow. The ones in the hotel all work just fine. I think for many us, when we first start therapy, everything is strange and we try all the 'tricks' to make ourselves more comfortable......some work, others don't. It's very much different per individual.

As far as the pillow, when this cpap pillow dies, I'll probably just just a regular home version....

IMHO