Cervical neck collar

have been using a cervical neck collar with my Wisp mask for about three months now. I just wish it war not so hot. I have been "looking" around and was wondering about the Airvance THS (formally known as REPOSE). If having this surgery would eliminate the need for the neck collar. I am compliant with using my CPAP but every night I dread bedtime. have been o for a little over two years. I am 5'5" tall and 125 pounds., so loosing weight will not help. I think I would feel less "pained" at bedtime if I could just get rid of th eneck collar. have tried chin straps and they caused me neck pain. Any suggestions? A cooler cervical neck brace???

I just wish it war not so hot.

Goodness! Wouldn't it be so much easier to turn down the A/C as compared to surgery that may or may not work?

I find even if we have the AC on it is VERY hot....I don't WANT surgery (have had septoplasty & turbinate reduction already) but I keep on thinking, this is for the remainder of my life...however long that may be. I would not have done if physician did not feel good about outcome. Have not spoken to my sleep doctor about it yet.

I have read that some doctors that do apnea surgeries, first do an intensive examination of the patient's airway structure and make an estimate of the probability of success. Then the patient and doctor decide together whether to proceed.

Do you know if Airvance THS does this thorough examination beforehand?

I am not against surgery if it has a decent chance of success and the potential permanent complications are minimal.

I just checked the Airvance THS website for a surgeon in my state and two bordering states. None.

It is a fairly new procedure even though they claim to have done 15,000 surgeries.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UMjsa_X9YW8

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dIdBL6i_BYo


Double ouch!

I would try this first:

http://curemysleepapnea.com/radiofrequency-ablation/

It looks like this group is only in the South. But there may be other doctors doing similar procedures across the country.

Sleep Apnea Treatment Centers of America performs a highly advanced, minimally invasive radiofrequency procedure to treat Obstructive Sleep Apnea. The procedure takes place in a physician’s office over the course of five to eight treatments. Each treatment is 2-5 minutes long. All patients are able to drive themselves home or back to work immediately following the procedure. Radiofrequency Ablation is safe, effective and has shown to be a great alternative to CPAP.

Chester's Mom wrote:have been using a cervical neck collar with my Wisp mask for about three months now. I just wish it war not so hot. I have been "looking" around and was wondering about the Airvance THS (formally known as REPOSE). If having this surgery would eliminate the need for the neck collar. I am compliant with using my CPAP but every night I dread bedtime. have been o for a little over two years. I am 5'5" tall and 125 pounds., so loosing weight will not help. I think I would feel less "pained" at bedtime if I could just get rid of th eneck collar. have tried chin straps and they caused me neck pain. Any suggestions? A cooler cervical neck brace???

Consider this smaller, narrow depth collar:
http://www.amazon.com/OTC-Cervical-Coll ... cal+collar
I found the three inch warmer, stiffer and not as comfortable. Your slender, so the smaller sizes might fit with using only half the velcro tab. Keeping the collar looser seems to help. After wearing (& training) the collar eight months, even if I skip a night, I still seem to keep my mouth shut and my chin up.

Kitatonic wrote:

Chester's Mom wrote:have been using a cervical neck collar with my Wisp mask for about three months now. I just wish it war not so hot. I have been "looking" around and was wondering about the Airvance THS (formally known as REPOSE). If having this surgery would eliminate the need for the neck collar. I am compliant with using my CPAP but every night I dread bedtime. have been o for a little over two years. I am 5'5" tall and 125 pounds., so loosing weight will not help. I think I would feel less "pained" at bedtime if I could just get rid of th eneck collar. have tried chin straps and they caused me neck pain. Any suggestions? A cooler cervical neck brace???

Consider this smaller, narrow depth collar:
http://www.amazon.com/OTC-Cervical-Coll ... cal+collar
I found the three inch warmer, stiffer and not as comfortable. Your slender, so the smaller sizes might fit with using only half the velcro tab. Keeping the collar looser seems to help. After wearing (& training) the collar eight months, even if I skip a night, I still seem to keep my mouth shut and my chin up.

The ones I use are 2.5". Do you think the one you linked me to is smaller? Thanks!

Chester's Mom wrote:have been using a cervical neck collar with my Wisp mask for about three months now. I just wish it war not so hot. I have been "looking" around and was wondering about the Airvance THS (formally known as REPOSE). If having this surgery would eliminate the need for the neck collar. I am compliant with using my CPAP but every night I dread bedtime. have been o for a little over two years. I am 5'5" tall and 125 pounds., so loosing weight will not help. I think I would feel less "pained" at bedtime if I could just get rid of th eneck collar. have tried chin straps and they caused me neck pain. Any suggestions? A cooler cervical neck brace???

You don't say why you are wearing a cervical neck collar - is it because of a neck injury or an attempt to stop mouth breathing or what?

Best wishes, Nate

When I previously took my mask off unintentionally, I was still keeping the neck collar on. But interestingly, it also came off last night along with the mask.

Not sure whether to blame ambien or my extreme dislike of the neck collar that is getting worse. Hopefully, the quattro air will enable me to run a higher pressure comfortably that will let me get rid of the neck collar. I had been using it because it keeps the AHI and pressure needs lower.

49er

NateS wrote:

Chester's Mom wrote:have been using a cervical neck collar with my Wisp mask for about three months now. I just wish it war not so hot. I have been "looking" around and was wondering about the Airvance THS (formally known as REPOSE). If having this surgery would eliminate the need for the neck collar. I am compliant with using my CPAP but every night I dread bedtime. have been o for a little over two years. I am 5'5" tall and 125 pounds., so loosing weight will not help. I think I would feel less "pained" at bedtime if I could just get rid of th eneck collar. have tried chin straps and they caused me neck pain. Any suggestions? A cooler cervical neck brace???

You don't say why you are wearing a cervical neck collar - is it because of a neck injury or an attempt to stop mouth breathing or what?

Best wishes, Nate

I don't actually "mouth breath" but it seems my mouth/tongue relaxes as I fall asleep and then a "puff" of air will come out of my mouth that awakens me. Early on I tried a FF mask (never found one to fit as my face is small) but during th ebrief times a seal was obtained I still had my mouth do the same thing. So luckily...no neck injury!!! Just "puffing"!

NateS wrote:
You don't say why you are wearing a cervical neck collar - is it because of a neck injury or an attempt to stop mouth breathing or what?

Best wishes, Nate

No. It is something else.

The reason that people with OSA wear these collars is explained by the old "towel habit" of the Chinese:

Roll up a towel to just the right thickness. Put it under the back of your neck. The reason this may help you sleep is that when your head is cocked back slightly when sleeping (unlike softer, down pillows that end up bending your head forward), the space behind the tongue opens up significantly, preventing frequent awakenings at night.

A cervical neck collar holds the head in the same position and more securely.

I was given this information when I started using CPAP. It is very helpful.

Christine L wrote:The reason that people with OSA wear these collars is explained by the old "towel habit" of the Chinese:

Roll up a towel to just the right thickness. Put it under the back of your neck. The reason this may help you sleep is that when your head is cocked back slightly when sleeping (unlike softer, down pillows that end up bending your head forward), the space behind the tongue opens up significantly, preventing frequent awakenings at night.

A cervical neck collar holds the head in the same position and more securely.

I was given this information when I started using CPAP. It is very helpful.

Great explanation! I am going to start using a soft cervical collar regularly.

Thanks Christine!

An old thread but the idea is still interesting... think I'll try it out when the weather gets cooler.