Pillow to Elevate Head to Prevent Snoring or Adjustable Bed Base

Hi all, I did a Snorelab test for a week and found that elevating my head slightly reduces my snoring significantly - Snorelab score of 1-5.

My partner has concurred the elevation helps, as previously my snoring was an issue. However, I am stacking a soft pillow on top of my memory foam pillow. It works but I wake up with a sore neck.

Has anyone used any single pillow which elevated their head enough but not cause sore neck? I have saw the wedge pillows, but was thinking of traditional pillows first.

Alternatively, I have considered an adjustable bed base. Currently considering the King Living Jasper bed. The adjustable one is $1.5k more than the standard base. Pillows are cheaper so keen to try that out first.

Any recommendations appreciated, thanks.

Comments

  • I wish I could find a solution to this.

    But for a completely different medical reason.

    The sphincter at the stomach end of my oesophagus was damaged by a side effect of medication, and when I lie down and try to get to sleep I get gastic reflux that causes enough pain in my throat that its hard to get to sleep. I only can by going to sleep for a couple of hours in a reclining armchair, until my stomach empties, then moving into bed.

    I've come to suspect as I get old that the reason old people take so many different medications is that doctors really don't give a stuff about what side effects they have, they just look at whether it improves whatever they prescribed it for. They give you one medication for something, it causes something else, so they give you something for that, but that causes something else again, so they give you another something for that, and it goes on.

    • Sounds like you have it pretty bad but have you tried eating dinner a lot earlier before bed and sleeping on your left side?

  • +1

    If you watch a couple of YT videos on sleeping posture you'll get a basic understanding (and that using too many pillows is bad for your neck and back).
    https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6SCB-RbpH6E

    I also used to stack pillows together but all that causes is you having to tilt your head far forward, straining your neck muscles.

    The wedge pillows lets you sleep without bending your neck, and also without bending or curving your spine. The downside of wedge pillows is that you can't really adjust / fine tune and find the perfect angle to sleep on… and that's where your super expensive hydraulically adjustable bed base comes in.

    If your snoring was a long term problem, you may also have sleep apnea and might want to consider doing a sleep study. You could either have classic Obstructive sleep apnea or chronic nasal obstruction (or combination of both), which is either solved by using CPAP machine or even surgery (e.g for people with deviated septum or those with enlarged turbinates). Consult your doctor and ENT for advice.

    • This, no point screwing around with "as seen on TV!" products, it's a medical issue and needs a proper medical attention. Sleep apnea is pretty dangerous, I was doing real damage to my health by letting it go and trialing cheap products (pillows, mouth guards).

      I'm think about going down the surgery route, even though the CPAP doesn't bother me (I know some people hate it) it's such a nightmare while travelling.

  • I'd like to find a pillow that doesn't turn into a postage stamp once you put your head on it..
    Only ones I've found reasonable so far are Bamboo pillows but they were $$$.

  • +1

    A midway solution between a wedge pillow and super expensive hydraulically adjustable bed, is a mattress foam wedge.

    https://www.foamsales.com.au/products/mattress-elevator-bed-…

    As the name implies, it's a foam insert that goes between the base and the mattress to elevate the entire mattress. This might be what you're looking for.

    • +1

      Totally agree with this: I also use a travel ring pillow ontop of the Wedge-shapped pillow.
      I also have had sinus operations and done almost everything to address my SLEEP APNEOA.
      My snoring was near chain-saw volume levels.
      My apneoa was extreme.
      See this Dr's advice: really excellent.
      @VikVeerENTSurgeon
      https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wNscQ3bGxNk

  • +1

    Got one of these last week, not for snoring issues but it might do what you need it to.

    https://www.abcaustralasia.org.au/product/adjustable-pillow-…

    I seem to be sleeping better but am still tweaking the pillow to find that perfect spot.

  • Seatec Chin Strap.

    You can get them online and at various chemists. Amcal has them, IMSMR.

    • This device for stopping your tongue falling into the back of your mouth (and blocking your airway)
      from any cheaper website like temu or ebay or a "medical grade device" at 6 x the price.
      https://ortorex.au/p/anti-snoring-tongue-retainer-silicone-s…
      I believe this is more effective than a chinstrap: don't forget the good standard is a CPAP machine (if you can tolerate it).

      • I don't recommend. Necrotic tongue from those devices isn't all that uncommon.

  • Some people sleep with less apneas lying on their side. Some people may even use a tennis ball placed in the small of their back to help them stay on their side. Being overweight for some people may contribute to their problem.
    https://www.theguardian.com/lifeandstyle/shortcuts/2018/oct/…

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