Can anyone recommend a good pillow for a side-sleeping CPAP user?

Hi all, first time poster here, just joined the forum. I have a full face CPAP mask and have been finding it difficult to sleep on my side, as the mask will shift (despite being pretty secure) and push into the side of my face, which is very uncomfortable. I've been looking at some pillows designed for side -sleeping CPAP users and was wondering if anyone has had any experience using them and could recommend a good one. I have a pretty big head, so it would need to be comfy and provide a lot of neck support. Thanks in advance!

I found that a soft, moldable pillow worked for me;
but quitting full face masks worked better.

I primarily use a FFM and have a memory foam pillow that has worked well with any mask I’ve tried.

I love my buckwheat pillow because I am a side sleeper and I can push the pillow around the mask away from it and it stays that way. I never thought I would buy one, but I am glad I did.

scf wrote: ↑

Mon Dec 06, 2021 1:21 pm

I love my buckwheat pillow because I am a side sleeper and I can push the pillow around the mask away from it and it stays that way. I never thought I would buy one, but I am glad I did.

Yes, buckwheat pillow works very well. I also found that goose down pillows can also be effective.

For me, the buckweat pillow is like sleeping on a rock.... Fred Flintstone style. I am on my second Contour Cpap pillow. You can get it on Amazon.

Sheriff

Sheriff Buford wrote: ↑

Tue Dec 07, 2021 4:27 am

For me, the buckweat pillow is like sleeping on a rock.... Fred Flintstone style. I am on my second Contour Cpap pillow. You can get it on Amazon.

Sheriff

Wuss. I have used a buckwheat pillow longer than I have used cpap.

To the OP here....bed pillows are another one of those things that come with a big YMMV sticker. What one person might just love to use the next person (or even that person's spouse) might hate it with a passion. Everybody is different...their bodies are different...their necks are different...their shoulders are different....they have different preferences, wants and needs.
We can tell you what we like but our needs may not match your needs.
Sheriff's much loved pillow above...the contour cpap pillow is much too big for my small body doesn't fit my body/neck very well at all. I can't use any pillow that is very "tall" at all. It puts my neck in a bind or awkward position that is uncomfortable for ME....and if I am not comfortable I am not going to sleep very well at all. I don't sleep so great if my neck hurts.

I am betting Sheriff is a bit larger than me though...he's male for one thing and going to have a bigger body with bigger shoulders and a bigger/longer neck. He doesn't like a firm pillow....I find that firm feels really good to me. I like the support...he doesn't. We have different wants, needs and preferences. It's okay and normal and to be expected.

We can tell you what we like but it's just like cpap masks....one man's treasure is another man's trash.
You are going to just have to try something to see how it meets your wants, needs and preferences.

But...since you asked...and maybe some of my wants, needs and preferences are the same as yours...
I am female...small...4 ft 11 and small boned...not very big or wide shoulders...you get the idea.
Also have a really bad arthritic neck...so bad I have had major surgery on that neck and a metal plate in it...gives you an idea why neck comfort is critical for ME.
I have used a buckwheat pillow longer than I have used cpap. My neck needs the proper alignment and support.
I sleep primarily on my side...always have because sleeping on my back causes pain....neck isn't the only part of the spine eat up with arthritis.
I sleep close to the edge of the buckwheat pillow...it doesn't get squished down flat at the edge like other pillows will do sometimes. Remember I need consistent support but not tall support.

I have tried some memory foam pillows but while they initially do feel good and I like the support they offer...they are always a bit too tall for my neck. Eventually it causes a problem for me. If I was a bigger person with a longer neck...probably would work out well.

So long story to tell you that you are just going to have to try the bed pillows to see what works well for YOU.
It really is irrelevant how well it works for me. You are the one who has to be happy with anything.

You had to be there at Bed, Bath, and Beyond to see me testing pillows
for comfort over the handle of my cart.

My neck is short, so any pillow thicker than my neck length is a torture device.
Torquemada would die laughing.

I'm exclusively a full face mask user and had a very good experience with a memory foam contour pillow. One I've bought from Amazon is by Royal Therapy. When rolling to my side my mask doesn't press oddly on my face to the point that it leaks. The pillow seems supportive. I hope this would be of help to you. https://www.amazon.com/Royal-Therapy-Ph ... 665&sr=8-5

CPAPCyborg wrote: ↑

Tue Dec 07, 2021 1:42 pm

I'm exclusively a full face mask user and had a very good experience with a memory foam contour pillow. One I've bought from Amazon is by Royal Therapy. When rolling to my side my mask doesn't press oddly on my face to the point that it leaks. The pillow seems supportive. I hope this would be of help to you. https://www.amazon.com/Royal-Therapy-Ph ... 665&sr=8-5

So that is a basic neck pillow. I saw some pillows with a kind of cutout on either side to keep the mask from pushing against anything. I think the Contour is like that.

When I had a mask with the tube coming out of the front, I got the Endurimed CPAP pillow. It's little indentations to accommodate the tube seemed to work alright.

But now that I'm using the AirFit F30i, I find that pillow doesn't accommodate the mask well.

So, I'm in the same bucket as OP and searching for a better pillow.

Btw, Sheriff, did ya catch Smokey yet?

I'm a side sleeper. My full face mask is a Philips Dreamwear (hose connects at top of head). I use a CPAPfit Pillow that I purchased at pur-sleep.com. It's filled with buckwheat hulls and foam.