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+--- Thread: Pillow on a wedge pillow? (/Thread-Pillow-on-a-wedge-pillow)
Pillow on a wedge pillow? - Teddysjam - 02-16-2018
I’ve been using a wedge pillow for like a year. My cpap settings were adjusted to 5-20 auto like a month ago. With just the wedge pillow my AHI would hover around 5-7 staring putting a regular pillow on top of wedge pillow last 5 days now it’s like 2-3 AHI’s. Any reason why? Or the extra added elevation makes it easier for me to breathe so in turn my events come down
RE: Pillow on a wedge pillow? - Walla Walla - 02-16-2018
I would guess that the position does help you. Advice often given to people without a CPAP is to try sleeping in a recliner to help lessen the apnea.
RE: Pillow on a wedge pillow? - Gideon - 02-16-2018
A better guess may be able to be provided if you post Sleepyhead charts. Data always helps, even if it's just to say not that.
Also 5-20 is typically an auto starter setting, We frequently get better results after tweaking settings, but it is an excellent place to start. (added this line)
Fred
RE: Pillow on a wedge pillow? - Sleep2Snore - 02-16-2018
The more elevated you are the easier it tends to be to breathe for most people.
5 might be a bit low if sitting more upright is helping, I would tend to raise it a little to see if that helps get rid of some of the apneas.
However, without charts it is hard to say what is going on.
RE: Pillow on a wedge pillow? - sptrout - 02-16-2018
A little off subject, but a wedge pillow is not intended to be used alone and its name confuses many people. Even with the wedge, you should continue to use your desired standard pillow on top of the wedge. Think of it this way, the intent is to raise your upper body a few degrees above horizontal usually to help with some medical problem such as GERD or SA in this case. Many people with GERD prefer to just place blocks under the bed frame to get the desired effect without having to mess with an additional pillow on the bed. There are blocks available many places that are designed to do just this; raise the head of the bed (inclines the entire bed actually).
A little farther off topic; there is now research that says inclining the entire bed has many health benefits. This does not mean a power head lift, which is commonly available (we have one), but inclining the entire bed a few degrees (as blocks would do). It will be interesting to see if that takes off and becomes common.
RE: Pillow on a wedge pillow? - greatunclebill - 02-16-2018
the entire bed on an incline didn't work for me or my wife. if you want to test it put phone books or something under the bed legs before investing in the bed raisers. to me it was almost like sleeping on a roof.
i have about a 4" wedge with pillow on top of that that i lay on with another little pillow. works good. started out for gerd so i've been using it a long time.