Pillows and Rocking

Does anyone use a particular type of pillow? I usually wear a full face mask (Ultra Mirage) and I like to sleep on my side. I can usually arrange myself fairly well but was wondering if anyone used a particular pillow.

And for my next question....from the time I was a baby up until I was 23 or so (I'm 40 now) I would rock in my sleep. I drove my ex-husband nuts. I would usually stop when he would put his hand on me but then I'd start up again. The rocking stopped when I got divorced and got a water bed. Has anyone else gone through this or even heard of it? I now suffer from Restless Leg syndrome and I'm wondering if any or all of this is connected. I haven't rocked since and I'm back in a regular bed.

Jeanne

Jeanne,

Since shortly after I began using cpap I bought a different pillow. It's one of those that has a "roll on the top and bottom edge and is hollowed out in the middle. It is made out of that memory foam stuff. The shape seems to accomodate side sleeping with the mask better for me. There is a link on the talkaboutsleep forum page to something called a papillow. I haven't really looked at them but I assume it's a pillow geared toward the cpap users needs. Take a look at it.

I can't help you with the rocking. I think I have mild RLS but it did not show up in my two sleep studies. My wife told from time to time I would jerk my legs repeatedly. She has not mentioned it since I've been on cpap... I'll have to ask her.

I am fairly sure you have Rythmic Movement Disorder. It is usually seen in children but also may last through adulthood. It is sometimes accompanied by head banging. It is usually considered harmless unless it causes sleep deprivation.

Here is a website with info about it.

http://sleepdisorders.about.com/cs/rhyt ... ocking.htm

Hi Jeanne,

I use a thin tempurpedic pillow with another thin soft "regular" foam pillow stacked on it. The tempurpedic underneath gives a firm ledge yet the top feels like a normal pillow. I sleep on my side, turning from side to side. This arrangement keeps my nasal mask (Activa) hanging out over "open space" fine. Actually the Activa's design makes it very forgiving if it's ever pushed to the side a bit.

With my favorite interface (Breeze/nasal pillows) any pillow is fine for sleeping on my side, but I like that particular combo of pillows.

I sleep on my side. I find I don't want any thick fluffy pillows. They tend to wrap half way around my head and press on the mask. Either that or they press on my cheek which in turn presses on my nose. I then wake up in the middle of the night with my nose closed off and unable to use a nose mask.

I use an old pillow that is both flat and fairly firm. It doesn't press on the mask or press as much on my cheek allowing my nose to stay open.