Will a cervical collar help me?

[ABC123]

Couple things I've noticed about my apnea. If I sleep on my back, with my neck straight, it's terrible. I can't get any restful sleep.

If I sleep on my side, it's much better, but not perfect. I may be tucking my chin in and hindering my ability to breathe. I use a Sleepweaver Elan mask, and I use a velcro strap to keep my mouth closed, so I'm totally breathing through my nose with my CPAP.

I am without insurance and can't afford a new sleep study. I have noticed people saying a cervical collar helped to prevent obstruction and improved their quality of sleep.

Does it sound like I may be a good candidate for that? Is anyone like me in how their obstruction while flat on your back is worse? Did a collar help if you slept on your side or on your back?

One last thing: The first time I really noticed my apnea, before I was officially diagnosed, was an issue I woke up in a panic because I could not breathe. It was as if my tongue and my nasal passage had sealed up my air passsages and were stuck there not allowing me to breathe.

I was so scared I literally jumped out of bed feeling like I was going to suffocate, and before I made it a couple feet it opened back up and I could breathe.

Any insight into how to address this kind of apnea? I've been on CPAP for like 8 years, but it really has been up and down. In the last 8 years I can count on my hands the number of mornings where I woke up refreshed and obviously well-rested.

thanks in advance for your help

[Walla Walla]

It's normal for Apnea to be worse on your back for many people. The Soft Cervical Collar does help prevent chin tucking and also helps with preventing the jaw to drop open causing leaks. You can pick one up on line for $10 or so. I use one and it's really helped me.

[Sleeprider]

We have seen improvement in many people with the use of a cervical collar. I know money is tight, but you can purchase a fully data capable new auto CPAP on Amazon for a fraction of a sleep study cost. Either the Philips Respironics Dreamstation Auto CPAP or Resmed Airsense 10 Autoset will give you the kind of feedback you need to know exactly where you stand with therapy. Some call it a nightly sleep test. Note prices vary day to day, so wait until you see a good price (they are high right now).

It also might help to look into your current settings and increase pressure if you know you are having obstructions. For a cervical collar a loose fit is good enough.

[Apnea Infant]

I was a regular back sleeper.

Yes, OSA is worse sleeping supine. These days, I wear a cervical collar and try to fall asleep on my left side. I do find I may wake up on my back and at times, do awake to slight purr of air past my lips using the P10.

However my numbers are mostly below 1 now and my energy levels are up so I am happy with that.

[Hojo]

YES to the cervical collar.  I didn't have obstruction before using the full face mask and once I started wearing the collar, the obstructions went to zero.

[SideSleeper]

I use a cervical collar also to prevent leaks. Do fine with it on my side but more leaks when on my back. Before I was diagnosed with sleep apnea I sometimes could not exhale if lying on my back. I still don't sleep on my back very often--have more leaks than when on my side.

[trish6hundred]

Hi ABC123,
WELCOME! to the forum.!
Good luck with CPAP therapy and the soft cervical collar.