customizedpillow

General Discussion on any topic relating to CPAP and/or Sleep Apnea.
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carbonman
Posts: 2524
Joined: Wed Jun 25, 2008 7:57 am

Re: customizedpillow

Post by carbonman » Sat Oct 04, 2008 9:03 pm

DoriC wrote:Sounds like a plan, now we just have to borrow an electric carving knife. Stay tuned.
DoriC, I couldn't wait to find an electric knife......so I put a new blade in my
utility knife. It was easy. Just made shallow cuts and kind of peeled the
foam back as I went deeper......sort of like filleting halibut.

Good luck!
"If your therapy is improving your health but you're not doing anything
to see or feel those changes, you'll never know what you're capable of."
I said that.

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DoriC
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Location: NJ

Re: customizedpillow

Post by DoriC » Sat Oct 04, 2008 9:13 pm

Oh Carbon, we have one of those, what a great idea. Tomorrow will be the day for trial and "error"?? thanks for the good suggestion. I didn't want to wait to find a carving knife either.

_________________
Mask: Mirage Quattro™ Full Face CPAP Mask with Headgear
Additional Comments: 14/8.4,PS=4, UMFF, 02@2L,
"Do or Do Not-There Is No Try"-"Yoda"
"We are what we repeatedly do,so excellence
is not an act but a habit"-"Aristotle"
DEAR HUBBY BEGAN CPAP 9/2/08

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Babette
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Re: customizedpillow

Post by Babette » Mon Oct 06, 2008 9:11 am

Dori, I sleep on it normally. I prefer the higher side under my neck.

All, I used to sell foam for a living. Foam is foam. You can get foam that is squishier and more "human like" than other foam. And theoretically, this foam is more expensive, thus creating a spendier pillow. But it all degrades and breaks down over time and with exposure to body heat and oils. Recently, the Tempurpedic brand has seen lots of inroads from competitors to the market. I advocate taking advantage of this competition and finding the pillow at the price point you're comfortable with.

I have slept on the fancy schmancy $70 pillows, and the $19 pillows from Target. It really is about learning the "feel" of a pillow and then you can decide if you want to spend $70-$150 dollars, or $12 at Big Lots. Feel the pillow. Not all $12 pillows are worth even $12 to me.

However, the current $12 Big Lots pillow is suiting me JUST FINE.

Your mileage may vary. See if you can lay down on that $70 pillow before you buy it.

Cheers,
Babs

_________________
Machine: PR System One REMStar 60 Series Auto CPAP Machine
Additional Comments: Started XPAP 04/20/07. APAP currently wide open 10-20. Consistent AHI 2.1. No flex. HH 3. Deluxe Chinstrap.
I currently have a stash of Nasal Aire II cannulas in Small or Extra Small. Please PM me if you would like them. I'm interested in bartering for something strange and wonderful that I don't currently own. Or a Large size NAII cannula. :)

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Re: customizedpillow

Post by Guest » Mon Oct 06, 2008 10:40 am

carbonman wrote: I found or did not find in this case, the old "foam rubber" pillow
does not exist anymore.

......and thanks for the electric knife idea.
Foam pillows are hard to find. Search for latex pillow instead. I bought two from this place and had no trouble, they were very fast. I think I saw them on Amazon too. I remember seeing some fancy name too - it is latex foam.

http://www.smartbargains.com/go.sb?page ... d=3&isrw=4

ps. I think scissors would work better when cutting. Babs must be laughing at that carving knife idea. Hey try a saws-all too.

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Babette
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Re: customizedpillow

Post by Babette » Mon Oct 06, 2008 10:52 am

Actually, scissors are a royal pain in the ass for cutting foam.

Professionals use something like a band saw. I recommend an electric carving knife.

Cheers,
Babs

_________________
Machine: PR System One REMStar 60 Series Auto CPAP Machine
Additional Comments: Started XPAP 04/20/07. APAP currently wide open 10-20. Consistent AHI 2.1. No flex. HH 3. Deluxe Chinstrap.
I currently have a stash of Nasal Aire II cannulas in Small or Extra Small. Please PM me if you would like them. I'm interested in bartering for something strange and wonderful that I don't currently own. Or a Large size NAII cannula. :)

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imsleepynomore
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Location: winston oregon
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Re: customizedpillow

Post by imsleepynomore » Sat Oct 11, 2008 8:25 am

a quick update on my pillow custom job I'm enjoying much fewer mask leaks and no longer bump my mask on my pillow sometimes you have to take a risk , this web site has helped me with sooooooooooooo many ideas and saved me a bundle with my machine purchase

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stage 4 kidney disease caused from long term use of ibuprofen!!, diabetic ,asmatic and severe sleep apnea love my cpap wouldn't go to bed without it

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DoriC
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Location: NJ

Re: customizedpillow

Post by DoriC » Sat Oct 11, 2008 10:21 am

Just to update, I checked with an upholsterer and Babette is right of course, the pros use a carving knife to cut foam. Finally got a knife at Walmart for $9.99 and a cheap foam pillow, will experiment today. Am also going to try the PillowPal which I hear is great. Our last obstacle to overcome is the mask leaking so hopefully all these "inventions" will do the trick.

Also, Carbonman, it is shameful that they try to pass off that pillow you returned as a Cpap pillow, we tried it and it was horrible, we were lucky that our local medical supplier took it back reluctantly.

_________________
Mask: Mirage Quattro™ Full Face CPAP Mask with Headgear
Additional Comments: 14/8.4,PS=4, UMFF, 02@2L,
"Do or Do Not-There Is No Try"-"Yoda"
"We are what we repeatedly do,so excellence
is not an act but a habit"-"Aristotle"
DEAR HUBBY BEGAN CPAP 9/2/08

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carbonman
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Re: customizedpillow

Post by carbonman » Sat Oct 11, 2008 3:41 pm

DoriC wrote: Our last obstacle to overcome
DoriC, there are no obstacles, only opportunities.

LOOK OUT.....more slicing and dicing....

It lives....It lives.....I have created the perfect cpap pillow.
As you can see, I lowered the top of the back....it caused my neck to hurt,
because my head was at an angle.
Image

Image

Then, so it would support my jaw and stay in place, I created a "shoulder indention".
I under cut it so it would stay in place.
Image

With the very nice velour cover on it and a nice pillow case, it is........
the perfect cpap pillow.
"If your therapy is improving your health but you're not doing anything
to see or feel those changes, you'll never know what you're capable of."
I said that.

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DoriC
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Location: NJ

Re: customizedpillow

Post by DoriC » Sat Oct 11, 2008 5:45 pm

Carbonman, 3 pictures are worth a thousand words! I practiced with the knife on some old foam I had from a chair cushion but still don't have the knack yet,(don't know why I'm so chicken about all this stuff?), so I took the advice of someone here and tied some Saran Wrap pretty tightly around the pillow to create an indent and will test that tonight. It's so hard judging everything since I'm not the patient and my husband can't give me too much input. I know with your help we'll find the solution.

_________________
Mask: Mirage Quattro™ Full Face CPAP Mask with Headgear
Additional Comments: 14/8.4,PS=4, UMFF, 02@2L,
"Do or Do Not-There Is No Try"-"Yoda"
"We are what we repeatedly do,so excellence
is not an act but a habit"-"Aristotle"
DEAR HUBBY BEGAN CPAP 9/2/08

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carbonman
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Joined: Wed Jun 25, 2008 7:57 am

Re: customizedpillow

Post by carbonman » Sat Oct 11, 2008 6:31 pm

DoriC wrote: I know with your help we'll find the solution.
DoriC, you don't need my help.
Remember, it's only foam.
It doesn't matter what it looks like.
Once you put the velour cover on it, it is a beautiful pillow.
When I lay my head on it, with the cover and pillow case,
it feels wonderful.
Now that I have the cover on mine, no one will ever know
what it looks like.

Go for it.
Take charge.
It's only foam.

If I can help, please let me know.....I'll do whatever I can.
"If your therapy is improving your health but you're not doing anything
to see or feel those changes, you'll never know what you're capable of."
I said that.

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DoriC
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Location: NJ

Re: customizedpillow

Post by DoriC » Fri Oct 17, 2008 5:43 pm

For anyone having problems finding the right pillow, my husband has been sleeping much better since we found a standard size foam latex pillow at Walmart($20) and a carving knife ($10) and sliced the ends off at about a 45degree angle so his FF mask extends over the edge. Mask stays put and less leaks. We already had the contour one like Carbonman showed, but he was never comfortable using it. The bonus is that we're also now ready for the Thanksgiving turkey!

_________________
Mask: Mirage Quattro™ Full Face CPAP Mask with Headgear
Additional Comments: 14/8.4,PS=4, UMFF, 02@2L,
"Do or Do Not-There Is No Try"-"Yoda"
"We are what we repeatedly do,so excellence
is not an act but a habit"-"Aristotle"
DEAR HUBBY BEGAN CPAP 9/2/08

ractar28
Posts: 222
Joined: Wed Oct 01, 2008 3:06 pm

Re: customizedpillow

Post by ractar28 » Fri Oct 17, 2008 6:31 pm

carbonman wrote: Image
That there halibut has some bones in it .

By the way, where did you get that pillow? Everything I've found that looks squared off like that is "premium priced"

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carbonman
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Re: customizedpillow

Post by carbonman » Fri Oct 17, 2008 7:13 pm

ractar28 wrote:By the way, where did you get that pillow?
bed,bath and beyond.
On sale $40 at the local store.
It works very well.
"If your therapy is improving your health but you're not doing anything
to see or feel those changes, you'll never know what you're capable of."
I said that.