Cervical Collars

[DariaVader]

Several people have mentioned using cervical collars rather than chin straps to keep mouth closed, and given neck issues anyways, it sounded nifty to me and I bought and tried one - does help with the neck pain! weird thing is that whenever I use it my pressures go up 3 to 4 points.

Anyone else seen anything like that?

[Beej]

Which pressure - your PAP or your blood pressure?

[DariaVader]

pap pressure

normal median is 10 to 11. Cervical collar pushes it to 14 or 15 which means i am maxxed all night

[cate1898]

DV are you referring to a hard rigid plastic Cervical Collar or a soft-ish one?

[Sleeprider]

Is the leak rate similar with and without the soft cervical collar? Do you sleep in the same position with and without, or does the collar tend to make you favor your back?

[OpalRose]

I stopped using a cervical collar because I just couldn't take the feeling of that collar wrapping around my neck. I am a bit claustrophobic.

The other item I am trying is a neck pillow for Toddlers. It is shaped like a half moon and approximately half the size of an adult neck pillow. The toddlers pillows are made to be used in car seats.

Anyway, I use it by placing it under my chin, and since it is small and a half moon shape, it doesn't wrap around the back of my neck. It seems to stay in place most of the time. This helps to keep my chin from dropping, and my AHI stays low. Haven't noticed any big difference in median or 90% pressure readings though, but leaks are non existent.

[SideSleeper]

I use a soft cervical collar. I just wasn't getting along with the 3 different chin straps I used--unless cranked up pretty tight they didn't work to stop mouth leaks. My mouth gets blown open--seldom mouth breathe. The collar nearly eliminates leaks or keep them very low--once in awhile a major leak sneaks in--have never had a large leak recorded. I get nearly equal results from my Wisp or Dreamwear masks. I have an Amara View mask also but haven't been able to adapt to it--it would eliminate both the collar and the strap. At the moment I'm having great results--last week average AHI was 0.43 (that includes a 0.00!) and a 30 day average AHI 0.68. I don't think I could wear the collar in warm weather--it does get warm.

[mcsheltie]

Several people have mentioned using cervical collars rather than chin straps to keep mouth closed, and given neck issues anyways, it sounded nifty to me and I bought and tried one - does help with the neck pain! weird thing is that whenever I use it my pressures go up 3 to 4 points.

Anyone else seen anything like that?

My pressure went up also. Unfortunately it did not help with mouth breathing and I woke up with a stiff neck, that got worse each day I used it. Back to the tape!

[PaulaO2]

I wonder if it is holding tissue in when it usually relaxes out? It can't get moved out of the way or allowed to fall out of the way at night because it is being held in place? So more pressure is needed to shove it out of the way.

Just a theory.

[PaytonA]

I do not know about the cause of cervical collars not helping to prevent mouth breathing/leaking. It worked well for me for the short trial that I have given it so far. One thing that I do know, however, is that I do not ever want to try a rigid cervical collar again. Could not stand it at all.

Best Regards,

PaytonA