Looking for a pillow...with a difference!

Jojo_the_Tightfisted

jenniewb wrote: »

OMG- That falling asleep in random places isn't just fatigue? (I can easily fall asleep on buses and trains if I'm not careful- had thought it was just lack of sleep as its not abnormal for me to just not be able to sleep a few nights each week due to insomnia- and the not being able to fall asleep because of my throat feeling like its closing in!).

Now I have more to mention I'll go back to the GP asap and ask specificly for a referal. I hope they don't think I'm making it up or something, surely they must know this exists- it can't be that rare that they've never seen it before-surely! If I've mentioned the throat thing, -GP looed down my throat with that odd microscope thing they use for ears and said everything is fine- am just concerned they'd think I was making it all up as I've already had so many referals to specialists for different health problems already (sports injuries, gyno, back pain). Fingers crossed.

No, it most certainly is not normal. Still not diagnosing you here - but it certainly sounds like what I know of OSA. Take a print out of the NHS page (expect an idiot GP to laugh at you diagnosing by internet, but believe me, when they meet something they haven't heard of before, that's exactly what they are doing the moment you leave the room).

A specialist sleep study through a sleep clinic - not a crappy wrist oxygen monitor from ENT - will be able to establish whether you do have apnoeic episodes, how many and the air pressure needed to maintain your airway as you sleep.

Admittedly, it took me dragging a boyfriend into the consultation at my local hospital ENT department to get me referred on. He did a rather unpleasant impression of what I sounded like at night and from there, I was referred to the sleep unit at a big hospital instead of being told there was nothing wrong.


And if your GP dismisses you, well, find another GP. If this is OSA, you must get it diagnosed and treated.

Nile

devildog wrote: »

Hi Nile,

Have taken a look at your link and it is not similar (barr the width)
The one I saw was a distinctive 'wedge' shape, the front side literally being down to less than 10mm(guestimate) and the rear of the pillowbeing about 6"(again a guess) but you get the idea of the depth difference.
The Ikea appears to be 'wave' shaped-same depth front/back with a hollow in the middle.

Hi devildog

I have the Ikea 365+ pillow and it has two different depth/heights.;) At one end the depth is ~8.5cm and at the opposite end the depth is ~11cm.............so the pillow is like a slope with a hollow in the middle.

Regards

Nile

jenniewb

Jojo_the_Tightfisted wrote: »

No, it most certainly is not normal. Still not diagnosing you here - but it certainly sounds like what I know of OSA. Take a print out of the NHS page (expect an idiot GP to laugh at you diagnosing by internet, but believe me, when they meet something they haven't heard of before, that's exactly what they are doing the moment you leave the room).

A specialist sleep study through a sleep clinic - not a crappy wrist oxygen monitor from ENT - will be able to establish whether you do have apnoeic episodes, how many and the air pressure needed to maintain your airway as you sleep.

Admittedly, it took me dragging a boyfriend into the consultation at my local hospital ENT department to get me referred on. He did a rather unpleasant impression of what I sounded like at night and from there, I was referred to the sleep unit at a big hospital instead of being told there was nothing wrong.


And if your GP dismisses you, well, find another GP. If this is OSA, you must get it diagnosed and treated.

Thanks, tried for an appointment this morning but they were all fully booked, will be trying again tomorrow and friday, apparently fridays are easier to book for!

Know that most of the GPs in my surgery are the same (when I had anorexia at 18, my BMI was just a fraction below 14, I stated I wanted to be put in the waiting list for the Eating Disorders hospital, the response I got back was "do you think thats really necessary?"! The stress fracture I was diagnosed with April last year was hurting for the previous 2.5 years because I hadn't been referred, by GP saying simply "don't run then". I've had so many other issues and very little actually gets done unless I push for it or have a clear idea what I am asking for but if I have some NHS info I can at least ask and see what happens.

Just the chance to have one less thing keep me awake would be enough- I think I must be getting old- years ago I was fine with little sleep now and then but right now it seems even just the 1-2 nights a week is having a huge impact on the rest of the week.

Just asking because you seem to have more knowledge on this then I do- would getting a pillow with the ability to prop up my head do anything or is it not going to help? I sleep on my side at the moment but twist and turn a lot when I sleep, I can end up on my back and then wake myself up because my throat feels like its closing in. Only happens when my head is flat so just assumed my muscles were weak, if its something else other then that then the idea od propping my head up isn't going to make any difference as it would still happen anyway.

usignuolo

OH had similar problems dramatically improved by use of a Silentnight Memory Foam pillow. They were stocking them in larger Tescos recently on special.

Jojo_the_Tightfisted

jenniewb wrote: »

Just asking because you seem to have more knowledge on this then I do- would getting a pillow with the ability to prop up my head do anything or is it not going to help? I sleep on my side at the moment but twist and turn a lot when I sleep, I can end up on my back and then wake myself up because my throat feels like its closing in. Only happens when my head is flat so just assumed my muscles were weak, if its something else other then that then the idea od propping my head up isn't going to make any difference as it would still happen anyway.

If you turn onto your back when you sleep (like most of us) there isn't really a great deal you can do about that. I had the IKEA pillow because it was more comfortable for my neck after a couple of nights - I'm considering buying a similar pillow with a side cut out to allow for the CPAP mask. Propping your head up too much could just end up giving you neckache or you'll wake up to find you've turned sideways off the pillows

Maybe one of those long body pillow/bolster thingummies behind your back would help to keep you on your side more. But I don't know.


Is there really only one doctors' surgery where you live? Even a bus ride away?

mogwai

My chiro recommended royal rest pillows, £38 from one click pharmacy. I already had a memory foam one but found it too hard, this one is made of foam and is so soft yet supportive, been getting a better night sleep as has my husband with his..

jenniewb

Jojo_the_Tightfisted wrote: »

If you turn onto your back when you sleep (like most of us) there isn't really a great deal you can do about that. I had the IKEA pillow because it was more comfortable for my neck after a couple of nights - I'm considering buying a similar pillow with a side cut out to allow for the CPAP mask. Propping your head up too much could just end up giving you neckache or you'll wake up to find you've turned sideways off the pillows

Maybe one of those long body pillow/bolster thingummies behind your back would help to keep you on your side more. But I don't know.


Is there really only one doctors' surgery where you live? Even a bus ride away?

This is the exact thing I'm struggling with at the moment- I have three pillows slatted over each other to get a sort of pyramid effect but for some reason my neck doesn't like it and it aches! I then move/roll and the whole carefully balanced pattern falls apart- pillows 'bounce' out of order and it all goes flat.

I'm going to take a trip to Ikea this weekend and see what they have- ideally I'd be going to visit somewhere with more specialised options but I don't know of any stores within London and travellable by public transport.


If anyone knows of anywhere I'd be really grateful if you could mention it.

Will be writing to my GP and hand delivering a letter tomorrow after not being able to get an appointment as I think I can say more in a letter then an appointment gives time for and make sure I also say everything and everything I've tried as I always seem to miss major bits out!

jenniewb

usignuolo wrote: »

OH had similar problems dramatically improved by use of a Silentnight Memory Foam pillow. They were stocking them in larger Tescos recently on special.

I have these- got them two years ago and still going strong! They are flat though, my head lies flat and as they have so much bouce they move from my back when I fold them up and have them propping my head up. They are good quality don't get me wrong but I need something that helps keep my neck on a gradient rather then flat and can do so all night, something that supports my neck when its like this is also going to be helpful but tbh I just would be happy to get rid of the choking thing, I'm sure I'd get used to everything else eventually even if I don't like it!

jenniewb

mogwai wrote: »

My chiro recommended royal rest pillows, £38 from one click pharmacy. I already had a memory foam one but found it too hard, this one is made of foam and is so soft yet supportive, been getting a better night sleep as has my husband with his..

Is this the one?:
http://www.amazon.co.uk/ROYAL-REST-STANDARD-PILLOW/dp/B0036E6T7K/ref=sr_1_cc_1?s=aps&ie=UTF8&qid=1327030883&sr=1-1-catcorr

(Know its cheaper on the oneclick site but wanted to see a picture) is it raised or on a gradient? Not sure if it would help to keep my head above my chest and on an incline (seems to be the main issue) looks like an interesting pillow though- would be great if a real rather then virtual store sold this so I could get a better look.