[neverending]

A few months ago I bought a very nice 12 pound weighted blanket.

Unfortunately I have quite a few physical problems. Very overweight (thank you psych meds), degenerative disease lower back, asthma, sleep apnea, GERD and others not related to this post.

Just realized that my 12 pound blanket was aggravating my back pain and breathing problems. I use a ventilator type cpap machine. I had a very bad reflux incident during my sleep a week ago and had trouble breathing even with my automatic adjusting machine (am also on oxygen) whenever I rolled onto my back.

I have a hospital bed I sleep on with my head inclined. Today I realized a lot of my recent back pain/reflux/breathing problems are due to the extra weight of the blanket!

Am trying to lose weight. Yeah, seroquel, in spite of you! But would have to lose 40-50 pounds before I would try sleeping with my blanket again.

So for now I will just use the blanket for my feet or if I have the need to wrap up in it but not sleep with it.

I am posting this in case someone else runs into the same problems. And if they have a weighted blanket they are using they might consider that that could be causing them problems.

I also have a weighted eye mask but that DOES seem to help me sleep better.

[Tucson]

This is important news for CPAP users. I have over me two 15 pound blankets. Fortunately, this does not affect my back problems. I wonder if a weighted mask might help? It may apply pressure to relieve the tight muscles of the face.

[Victoria'smom]

My son has a weighted blanket, may need a cpap and has asthma. I'll let him know thank-you.

[bpcyclist]

So sorry you had such trouble with something that was supposed to help you. Glad you posted this.

I have only had mine for some weeks and have no physical health problems, just endless psychiatric ones. I feel like I still don't know how to use it really, so I guess I am kind of having my own issues.Hope you feel better soon!!

[neverending]

Tucson--I am using a weighted eye mask and yes it does help.

I have an appointment with the CPAP clinic today. So I will be talking to my clinician this afternoon.

I made the appointment because I thought my pressure ranges were wrong. Also because buspiron (sp?) had been added to my med coctail and that could have possibly changed my sleep pressure needs.

Now I have realized it was the blanket. I slept much better last night. And don't need my emergency inhaler. Over the past week I was having to use it quite often.

[Tucson]

Thank you for the info. I will purchase one using my next check. I hope the trip to the CPAP clinic works for you,

When I got mine it came with a warning not to use it when you're sleeping so I just use it when I'm trying to relax or fall asleep (and kick it off before I actually fall asleep). Now I know why. Thanks!

Idk. I've been sleeping with mine everyday for like 2 years. No problems here.

I think the existence of these effects is highly dependent on the person, especially since some kids with autism actually sleep with one every night because they can't sleep without something to calm them down. I also think that the weight of the blanket matters too. Mine is 15lbs (because it is the smallest weight offered by my blanket's manufacturer), but I can imagine something like a 20lb or 30lb blanket could cause breathing problems, for example.

But yeah, some people are fine with it and some are not. It's like eating food before bed. You're technically not supposed to do it because it can cause reflux etc., but some people don't have reflux problems even if they eat something and then doze off literally 1 minute later. (I get reflux, though, so I can't eat before bed.)

But you are 100% right that a weighted blanket can cause the problems you mention. It's just a luck of the draw if you'll get the effects or not.