Vertical or Horizontal ? .....

[vittorio]

I have read many articles by people advocating sleeping in the Vertical position, with many pillows to aid their breathing etc, , BUT with me its the opposite ! , If I lie with just the one CONVENTIONAL pillow , in the Horizontal position my breathing is TRANQUIL, MEASURED, AND ABSOLUTLEY NORMAL ! , so much so I often wonder at night if there is anything wrong with me at all ! , BUT , immediately I sit up in the Vertical position, the problems with breathing starts again , and I puff away with the best of them , and the COPD AND EMPHYSEMIA ETC RETURNS !! - so what on earth is going on ? , don't the lungs like being in a Vertical position when damaged ? , is it to do with gravity pulling the lungs down when in a vertical position , and therefore not functioning properly ? ......any answers to this phenomenon please ? endless thanklies ! - wouldn't it be marvelous if it was the other way around for me, , I could carry on with my normal activities and SLEEP STANDING UP breathing NORMALLY ! - just a thought ! - Happy New Good Breathing Year to other patients ! ...ZZZZZZZ ! ..

[stone-UK]

Hi

I believe it’s all to do with space and position.

Your lungs are surrounded by the rib cage attached to your spinal column.

As you lungs become enlarged the space becomes restricted. Adjusting your position can ease that restriction. Make breathing easier.

Similar bending can compromise your breathing, as your lungs are compressed by your diaphragm.

Bloating is also similar, a full stomach pushes your diaphragm up into your enlarge lungs so restricting your breathing.

Originally I could not sleep on my left hand side. Lying completely flat without pillow presented no problem, but over the last year or two I found I could not sleep lying flat. So a use a device which raises the pillows.

Members who are more bronchi find extra pillows or raising one end of the bed helps with movement of mucus, so aids there breathing.

I tried the bed raising, but your body is still lying flat to the bed. So did not work for me Emphysema.

If you are outside and have a breathing episode, one suggestion is to lean against a wall, feet slightly forward and lean forward slightly hands on hips. head down, apparently that angle gives your lungs the best inhale and exhale.

[Annie31 in reply to stone-UK]

Thanks for that Stone, sound reasoning which makes so much sense to me atvleast!

[Annie31]

Hi Vittorio

I am exactly and I mean exactly, the same as you and if I could spend the rest of my life in bed and could get away with it, I would!! Lol! When I wake in the morning, I could almost kid myself that this is all a horrible nightmare! Then I sit up and the rest is history.......

I think Stone has it absolutely right and am glad someone has an explanation for this. Some days I Spend most of it standing, even to eat when its more comfortable to do so. I have admittedly wondered If it was something to do with posture on more than one occasion as I have had recurring back pain for many years and some days I have a job to stand up straight, hence cramping my breathing style! What I don't understand is why we all seem to have better or worse days. On days when my back is not playing up it is more comfortable to stand up and on the days I have to sit because of it, my breathing is definitely worse and it does feel as there is not enough room within my ribs to do so properly especially if I find myself slouching which does happen a lot because you can only sit up to attention for so long.. No wonder we suffer from tiredness, it's just hard work doing right from wrong!

I am so glad to hear from someone else on this as it a bit of a conundrum to me as well All the best for the New Year!

[Hidden]

Recent discussion about this healthunlocked.com/blf/post....

And here's a link to the Inclined Bed Therapy site inclinedbedtherapy.com/

[Lizzab in reply to Hidden]

I now use inclined bed therapy and use a 6" raise - 5% incline of the whole bed. My lungs are somewhat clearer. I won't be putting the bed back down. (Asthma and bronchiectasis). Try various things I guess and find what suits.

[Hidden in reply to Lizzab]

Hi Lizzab. I'm doing the same (also asthma & bronchiectasis.) I was using a wedge under the top of the mattress but have changed to a whole-bed tilt and the improvement is quite noticeable (& that's even though I've been struggling with a persistent chest infection.) Less congestion & coughing during the night, reflux much improved, and also fewer morning headaches.

[Lizzab in reply to Hidden]

That's great news. Hopefully once the infection is gone you will see more improvement and less infections over time.

[mskpjb in reply to Hidden]

Very interested in the inclined bed therapy idea Hidden . The reverse worked when many years ago my 5 year old son had whooping cough. The poor mite coughed day and night till he was red in the face. This went on for 18 months with antibiotic after antibiotic proving useless. Finally I demanded an xray and a consolidated patch on his left lung was found. A specialist again prescribed antibiotics but told me to put bricks under the foot of the bed to allow the consolidation to drain. It worked. But I'm going to try the inclined for myself, Sheila x

[lKeith]

vittorio

Hi, In a way it is good you can lay in that horizontal position, at least you probably get a good night's sleep. I am one of the other type & need pillows to keep me upright and therefore get little sleep as it is overall uncomfortable & less normal. I need to sit upright to get relaxed then may have a half chance of sleep. Even getting up in the night I still need to return to the upright posture. Have you tried sleeping in a chair, keeps you half & half or do you still get puffey ? Don't try sleeping standing up it's not sustainable you fall over.

Have a breath easy new year.

IKeith

[mikeadams51]

I sleep better with one pillow. If l sleep with two or more or in a chair I find mucus slips down my throat more making me cough thus keeping me awake. I sleep on my left side and find one pillow supporting my neck just right