CPAPtalk.com

I normally sleep on my stomach with the left side of my face pretty much buried into my (normal) pillow. I nearly always have my arm under my head and stretched out. I wear a FF mask and really all I do is shift the pillow a bit so the mask vent is not blowing off it and making a lot of noise. I do have problems with my shoulder getting quite sore after a few hours, so I generally roll over a couple of hours before I get up. I don't even like to lie on my back, much less sleep that way.

OntarioKevin wrote:3) Most sleep on their sides. I have a real question about this - my shoulder ALWAYS hurts after about an hour sleeping on my side. Where are you putting your arms and hands to enable sleeping on the side without it hurting? I've tried multiple pillows so that some of the weight of my head is off my shoulders, but I haven't gotten that straight yet.

I use 2 pillows under my head so it is elevated such that my shoulder lines up . I also hug a pillow which is where my arms go. Plus, I have a tempur-pedic mattress, so even if my shoulder is pressing into the bed, the mattress gives and is still comfortable. I've never been able to sleep well on my back.

I started sleeping on my stomach with one leg pulled up and my arms crossed after my wife passed away from diebetes ten years ago. Getting a FF to stay sealed hasn't been very hard to do, not as hard as I thought it would be. In fact I think that helps it seal some.

OntarioKevin wrote:Given that most people on this board seem to have branched far beyond what's covered by their insurance or government, I'd have to conclude that many of you have tried a CPAP pillow and just decided that a normal pillow was fine.

I'd say that's a leap in judgment. First of all, I'm not sure that "most" of the people on this board is accurate. I know there are members who have spent a lot of "personal, out of pocket" money to get the things they need/want to make this therapy work for them. But I would bet there are also a whole lot who have not put out a lot of money, either because they simply do not have it, or because they do not find those things necessary for themselves.

Second, of those who have "branched" out, I'm not sure all would consider what they have spent as being "far beyond what's covered". Is a single $50 pillow really that far? I realize there are many who have bought multiple pillows/masks/etc. But I would bet there are others who have bought one or two items only.

Personally, while I may be willing to pay more than what my insurance covers, I have not tried any other pillows. I thought about it early on, but decided I would give my own pillow a try. I have a pillow I really like, and with very little changing, it works just fine for me. I also have not found the need to buy any of the other items that are commonly recommended by members here, such as a hose management system, hose cozy, extra straps, or even extra masks. I have been able to get three masks from my DME, and am now very happy with my current mask. So, I really have not "branched" beyond what my insurance covers simply because, for me, it has not been necessary.

jbn3boys wrote:

OntarioKevin wrote:Given that most people on this board seem to have branched far beyond what's covered by their insurance or government, I'd have to conclude that many of you have tried a CPAP pillow and just decided that a normal pillow was fine.

I'd say that's a leap in judgment..

Fair enough.

One of the core elements of this forum does seem to be experimentation with various masks and accessories, though, so if so many people aren't using a CPAP pillow (which, as you say, isn't hugely expensive), then it certainly suggests it's not a must-have.

Just trying to get a bead on what some of the most common variations seem to be, so I can try those things in a quest to finally actually sleep for more than an hour or two at a time.

OntarioKevin wrote:Just trying to get a bead on what some of the most common variations seem to be, so I can try those things in a quest to finally actually sleep for more than an hour or two at a time.

And that's the beauty of the forums! We can learn from others!

I sleep in all positions, and use all 3 style masks. I use a cpap-ish pillow, normal down alternative with a space in the middle for head kind of like a rectangular donut.

Like most, I'm using nasal pillows and on my side - although I do also swap between my left side, right side and back throughout the night.