For those who have sleep apnea or who snore, a new product has just been introduced to the public: SnoreSling.

SnoreSling uses lightweight, breathable material that slings the head and chin, possibly more comfortably than the  plastic mask of a CPAP machine.

Take it from one who knows: the mask and tubing of a CPAP machine can be cumbersome, although the CPAP works by forcing air into the nose of the patient, encouraging their continuous breathing throughout the night.  If you need this prescription-based product for a good night’s rest, the SnoreSling may not be for you.

However, some people with sleep apnea may benefit from this product, which reminds me of the slings used for patients of plastic surgery.

It may be worth a try.

Photo Credit: DrSleepGood

I have sleep apnea and I treat it with the help of a Continuous Positive Airway Pressure (CPAP) machine.

It’s brilliant, really. The machine forces air into your nose to keep the airway open during sleep. Your doctor actually “prescribes” the amount of pressure for you, based on the data gathered from your sleep study.

Of course, one uses a mask to do this. Which could be uncomfortable at best.

My own mask does not cover my mouth. I’ve been using it for a little over five years. The masks come in different sizes; even the petite one I buy is a touch too large for my face. This causes gaps during the night.

Noisy. I can snore. Or whine, like wind through a small tunnel. Or gurgle.

Drives my husband crazy.

I’m due for a visit to the doctor, to review my CPAP’s prescription. But I’m also going to check out what’s new out there for me in terms of masks. Perhaps if my mouth were also covered, I wouldn’t drive my husband quite so crazy.

Plus the whole contraption may work more efficiently in helping me to get my precious sleep.

Photo Credit: ~Twon~

Do you sleep alone or with a partner? Remember—this includes pets, and pillows!

I sleep with three other beings: my husband and my two cats. Yes, four of us share a king-sized bed with three pillows.

Please, somebody make a bed bigger than a king!

Sleeping alone lets a person move and position the body at will. There’s always room to toss, turn or stay still.

Sleeping with bedtime partners usually means you’re sharing space. Believe me, space is premium with kitties: the space right next to you, the space between humans; under the covers, on top of you—I experience it all. My human partner pretty much keeps to his own space—he is a very light sleeper. Even the sound of the cats purring can bother him. He’s prone to insomnia, too. He’s the one who uses the extra pillow—when our boy-cat isn’t already using it.

With his own sleep issues, it’s no wonder that is it my husband who alerted me to my sleep apnea. Totally freaked him out that I stop breathing during sleep.

I’m just lucky the sound of the CPAP machine doesn’t keep him awake. The kitties—they’re O.K. with it, too.

How do these circumstances affect the quality of my sleep? I need to be forceful sometimes with the cats. Their little bodies can constrict my space so much that I have trouble moving freely.

At first, I didn’t want to disturb them, so I’d contort in all these crazy ways to avoid it. Now, I make the kitties move out of the way of my restful sleep.

That’s working out pretty well, actually.

Janet Muniz

Photo Credit: soundfromwayout