Tag Archives: sleep apnea

The Joys of Down Pillows

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In a previous post, I talked about looking for a new pillow since my old pillow had gotten very gross and very flat.  I was looking to start new, clean and fluffy.

At first I went with a pillow that was a synthetic fill but supposed to be “like down”.  I figured what the heck  After all down pillows are kind of expensive.  What I found was that the “like down” pillow was just as expensive as the down pillow.  What I also found out is that it really wasn’t as comfortable as real down due to the CPAP machine I need to attach myself to every night.

So, I went back to the store and bought myself I real down pillow.

Eureka!  The pillow was comfortable, flexible and helped me get a great night’s sleep. Lesson learned. Never accept a poor substitute. Go for the real thing. Even if it’s a little (or a lot) more expensive than the cheap imitation.

It’s kinda like ice cream.  Nothing really tastes quite so good as a bowl of Hagen Dazs or Ben and Jerry’s. So it is with pillows. Who knew?

In Search of the Perfect Pillow

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Frustrated patient with a CPAP machine maskMany years ago I was diagnosed with sleep apnea. As a result I now wear this ridiculous mask to bed so that air is pumped into my lungs while I sleep so I don’t inadvertently stop breathing for too long. The problem with the whole CPAP machine, in addition to being a real pain is that I can’t seem to get comfortable with one of those nice pillows that always “bounce back”.

These types of pillows are always some kind of synthetic material which in and of itself isn’t that bad. It’s the fact that they have no “give” to match the contours of the mask.

I found a down pillow once that worked pretty well.  The unfortunate thing with down is that it is

a) expensive and
b) goes really, really flat after awhile.

But down, seems to be the way to go.  I recently bought one of those “synthetic down” pillows that is supposed to act like down but really doesn’t I’ve been tossing and turning since I got it to replace my other pillow which had gone really flat and kinda gross with use.

So, off to the pillow store, again.  This time in search of a real down pillow.

Weight and Sleep Apnea

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As I mentioned in a couple of previous blog posts, I’m getting ready to go in for a little arthroscopic surgery on my left knee for a torn meniscus. I’ve been talking to some people who have undergone this little operation and they all seem to think it’ll come out fine.

No big deal.  In fact, when I talked to my orthopedic surgeon he made it sound like it was almost and in and out type of thing.  Sure.  A little pre-op preparation, the operation, a little post-op and home.

Sleep Apnea

What does this have to do with sleep apnea.  A whole lot.

While I was answering questions about my health for the pre-pre-pre surgical procedure, I answered “yes” ot the “Do you have sleep apnea?” question.  Well, that took me from the orthopedic guy’s little surgical center located in an office building to the hospital. No explanation other than it was because of my sleep apnea.

Then, during the pre-pre surgical procedure questioning (this time for the hospital), I answered “yes”, again, but it didn’t seem to set off any alarms. So far, so good.  I’m still thinking I’ll be in for 3 or 4 hours and then be able to go home and chill.

Finally, the pre-surgical procedure questioning and final instructions. This is when the truth came out. Come 2 hours before the surgery for pre-op (Check), the operating room has been reserved for two hours but probably won’t take the whole time (Check), recovery room time about 1 to 1 and a half hours (Check).  Let’s call that about 4 hours assuming the orthopedic guy is right and his job is only about an hour.

Here’s the kicker.  Because I have sleep apnea complete with the need for a CPAP machine, I’ll need to go into post surgical after recovery to be monitored for up to six hours. Six hours! Why?  Because they need to make sure the effects of the anesthesia have worn off enough for me to go home. In fact, I need to bring my CPAP machine to the hospital with me, presumably so I can put it on while I doze and such waiting for the anesthesia to wear off.

The Downside

I wasn’t expecting to stay in the hospital for close to 10 hours (and possibly longer). I wish someone had told me about this a little ahead of time so I could prepare myself a little more psychologically.  It’s a royal pain in the patootie.

What Does This Have To Do With Being Overweight? It turns out that of the possible causes listed on WebMD for sleep apnea being overweight is Number Two on the hit parade.  Number One is being male.

So, once again, my obesity is the cause for a health problem.  Sleep apnea itself is a health issue, now it is cause for an extended period in the hospital to monitor my anesthesia. On the website that got me started with this whole counting calories thing and the inspiration to keep going with the weight reduction, there was a commenter that mentioned that he was able to get rid of his CPAP machine after he lost a good number of pounds.

This is yet another reason to drop the poundage. Airline seats, movie theaters, clothes – all of that are good reasons to drop the weight.  This sleep apnea thing is another.