EasyCare™ Double Edge PAPillow Now Available

Elizabeth Johns and Tracy Nasca, co inventors of the PAPillow product line announce the launch of their newest pillow called EasyCare™.

The same successful design as the Double Edge™ PAPillow, this pillow satisfies the need for a hospital grade medical pillow for use in hospitals and nursing homes that require a pillow shell that meets safety, disinfectant and flammability standards. 

For over four years, our PAPillow products have helped thousands of people achieve better sleep.  Initially designed for side or stomach sleeping CPAP users, the pillow has proven itself a popular choice in the mainstream market.  “It’s just a darned comfortable bed pillow for anyone who prefers side or stomach sleeping” says Tracy Nasca.

The new design is the result of receiving requests from patients and hospital sleep labs. Sleep technologists were reporting that they saw the benefit of the Double Edge™ pillow to aid patients in CPAP compliance and wanted to use the pillow during the CPAP titration process.  In the sleep lab, patients are asked lay in all four sleeping positions while the sleep technologists trial and determine which CPAP pressure is required to reduce or eliminate apnea episodes.  The problem with side or stomach sleeping, the preferred position for CPAP patients, is that the mask worn over the nose, often gets buried in a regular bed pillow and can cause mask movement and mask leak or uncomfortable pressure point soreness on the face or nose bridge.  Another problem of using a regular pillow can be blocked exhalation ports which can cause dangerous carbon dioxide levels within the mask.

Tracy Nasca reports, “It has been an interesting journey since PAPillow was launched in 2002.  The customer feedback has been enlightening and overwhelming.  Liz and I focused solely on resolving a very real and serious compliance problem for the sleep apnea patient.  Both of us had our own compliance difficulties with bed pillow and mask problems and we decided to solve the problem.  Both of us are patient advocates and felt that if we could design an accessory that would improve the devastating 50-60% CPAP failure rate, it was the responsible thing to do.”

“The Double Edge PAPillow has proven itself a successful compliance aid for CPAP users.  Liz and I are so pleased to know that our PAPillow line is helping so many people.  Sleep labs were the first to request a fluid proof shell for the pillow.  Then we started receiving requests from patients.  Many reported they were droolers and wished we had a pillow with a protective shell that could easily be wiped clean.  We have since learned that 20% of the population drools, who knew! Many people were buying the pillow for their loved ones in nursing homes and requesting a fluid proof pillow shell.”

“The most interesting reported use for PAPillow has come from pregnant women.  Studies have shown that during pregnancy many women experience obstructive sleep apnea and the preferred sleeping position after the 13th week is side sleeping.  Callers have told us that after they delivered their babies, they still use the pillow for sleeping, but also when nursing or bottle feeding.  They report that they lay the pillow in the lap with the shoulder curve facing the waist to support their arms and the baby.  Women have called to tell us that the height and shape of our PAPillow is a much better fit and support aid for nursing.  One noted she had received another pillow named “boppy” that is marketed as a nursing aid and that she much preferred our Double Edge PAPillow.  She now gives our pillow as a baby gift to all of her friends and family members.  It could only be better, she said, if we provided a pillow surface that could be easily wiped clean and disinfected.  She also appreciates getting double duty from our Double Edge PAPillow. 

Elizabeth Johns says, “Customer feedback is very important and we listen. After a year of planning and development, the EasyCare™ Double Edge PAPillow is now available.  It is the same size and shape as the popular Double Edge design and still comes packaged with the same wonderfully soft interlock knit case.  The pillow shell is made of Derma Plush fabric which is a medical grade approved material that meets all hospital requirements.”