Bed wedge recommendations please

[Bronchiectasislady69]

Hi there again everybody and hope all keeping well even though it’s raining here in Somerset.

I am trying to help myself with everything. I have Asthma Bronchiectasis and Emphysema. I am thinking of buying myself a bed wedge as I am waking up at 6 in the morning very phlegmy and I also have acid reflux. I am just beginning to realise that the two are connected. I have a Hyetus Hernia so I do take Omeprazole in the morning before doing anything else with my puffers etc. my question is has anybody bought a bed wedge? There are loads on Amazon ranging in lots of prices so do not want to waste my money. My bed has not got legs so cannot buy bed blocks.

Anybody got one they would recommend?

Thanks in advance

Mona xx

[Dottie11]

I use a company called Putnams. Very well made.

[Bronchiectasislady69 in reply to Dottie11]

Hi Dottie11

Thank you for your reply. I have been looking in earnest on Amazon and noticed the Putnam ones. Thanks for the heads up. I could see they were a little bit more expensive but reassuring they are well made! Thank you Dottie xx

[Dottie11 in reply to Bronchiectasislady69]

I use the company direct. Think they are based in Devon. Have a range of products that I use. They are more expensive but are very well made and last a long time. Good luck.

[Ern007]

Hi Bronchiectasislady69

I have COPD and Asthma and I have to take Omeprazole for reflux - It did not do much then my GP gave me,

One Omeprazole at morning and one Omeprazole in the evening, it did help.

[Bronchiectasislady69 in reply to Ern007]

Hi Ern007

Yes I think I may be heading that way. Extra Omeprazole. I need another Doctors appointment if I can get one to discuss. It was only reading a post on here that I made the connection between reflux and my lung conditions. I believe the acid drips onto the lungs and aggravates them! Bad enough without the acid added!,

Thanks for replying and stay well x

[Ern007 in reply to Bronchiectasislady69]

Worse than that if you inhale acid. I feel better and safer with one in morning and one at night. Good luck x

[Bevvy]

Hi. I have a firm foam wedge and wouldn’t be without it. Get one with a cover to go over it and you’ll be fine. One thing is that it can take a little time to get used to it. I kept rolling off it in my sleep!!!! But I got used to it in a matter of days and find it’s very comfy now.

Mine came via Amazon and I think I’ve only had to replace it once in a good number of years!!

[Bronchiectasislady69 in reply to Bevvy]

Hi Bevvy

Thank you for your reply and yes I have been looking on Amazon for one. That was my thought though will I roll off of it!! Thank you for telling me it was the same for you but with perseverance it works! I think I must get one as the acid and mucous in my chest is waking me up every morning.

Think I will get on Amazon tonight and order one with a cover

Many Thanks and stay well xx

[Izb1 in reply to Bevvy]

I have one and ended up putting it under my mattress as I kept rolling off and then found I was slipping down so needed a pillow under my knees lol , it takes a while to get used to x

[Patk1]

I dont have one but use a pile of pillows.some people also use a "V" pillow x

[Izb1 in reply to Patk1]

My friend bought me a V pillow when i had a shoulder op and found this to be very comfortable x

[strongmouse in reply to Patk1]

I use three pillows and place them in a V-shape. Two vertically at an angle and one across the top. I find this works well and is comfortable.

[gbn_]

Bronchiectasislady69. Saw this post, yes, try a wedge. A recliner type chair, if you can get used to it, would help also with sleeping being propped up, I sleep up-right on my sofa with my feet propped up on a table for years now.

[strongmouse in reply to gbn_]

My dad developed bad emphysema and then lung cancer and sleeping on a recliner was the most effective for him. Definitely worth doing when your breathing is affected. x

[Cruise1]

I got an adjustable canvas one from a charity shop. Works well when I need it.

[Nula2]

Hi Mona, I use a bed wedge pillow from amazon. I bought a 'Millards bed wedge pillow'. It does help. I put two soft pillows on the top of it and it's very comfortable. I was worried it might affect my back as I get a lot of back pain but in fact it seems to help that too. You can turn it round and use it as a back rest if you're sitting up in bed and it has a removable cover.🙂

[Bronchiectasislady69 in reply to Nula2]

Hi Nula I think the one I have just bought is Millard’s it looked the most comfortable. I did think that I will need comfy pillows too and I did buy two quite expensive duck feather ones that felt lush but was told by somebody I should not have feathers with my lung condition?? Would you know if that is true . I find the normal pillows uncomfortable.

Thanks everyone for replies

Mona x

[Nula2 in reply to Bronchiectasislady69]

Hi Mona, I don't have feather pillows because I always felt they could be a problem for lungs but don't know for sure. I have 2 'Slumberdown front sleeper soft support pillows' (although I sleep on my side) and find them very comfy 🙂xxxx

[Bronchiectasislady69 in reply to Nula2]

Hi again Nula thank you for your helpful reply. I think I will have to change the feather pillows so thanks for your advice about some comfy ones that aren’t feather Thanks and stay well x

[Nula2 in reply to Bronchiectasislady69]

You take care too 🙂xx

[Lutontown]

I have slept fairly upright for many years, as if I lay flat, I tend to fill up with muck. I started sleeping in the lounge in an easy chair then had a chaise and now use an adjustable bed. I've also been on Lanzaprozole for many years. I understand that stomach acid finding its way into the lungs can cause damage such as bronchiectasis. I believe my bronch was caused by a long chest infection by Staphylloccus Aureus. Before I bought the adjustable bed, I made my own version with a large sheet of plywood, hinges and custom made foam squabs. As this was fixed in the flattened Z shape, it was difficult for me, a beached whale, to get in and out of.

[Buzzytruk]

Have had reflux for more years than care to admit, so that the head of the bed was raised, two bricks on their side makes the recommended 9 inches height .They were and still are placed at the corners of the head of my bed. Covered in pretty plastic .......... It works but is much better if you last eat and drink early about 5 pm . ish .

Me ....I need a cuppa about 8-30 pm.

I find this way much easier than the struggle with pillows.

Jo. ☺️

[Buzzytruk]

Have had reflux for more years than care to admit, so that the head of the bed was raised two bricks on their side makes the recommended 9 inches height .They were and still are placed at the corners of the head of my bed.

It works but is much better if you last eat and drink early about 5 pm . ish .

Me ....I need a cuppa about 8-30 pm.

I find this way much easier than the struggle with pillows.

Jo. ☺️

[ladygigger]

My lung condition is mostly sorted (they removed top right lobe, 40%) but I do still have mild COPD so haven't left the forum yet.

My need for being elevated when sleeping is because I also have polymyalgia rheumatica (PMR) which is like rheumatoid arthritis of the muscles and tendons and meant that I couldn't get up from a bed when laying flat(ish). I slept for 6 weeks on a reclining sofa but then bought a bed wedge from Amazon (mine was the Byre 5-in-1, although I've only ever used it in 2 configurations). After my lung operation it also helped when I had to sleep virtually sitting up and made it much more comfortable. Currently using it in downward wedge configuration.

[MoyB]

Hi! I tried the wedges for the same reason as you. I put them under each side of the mattress as I share the double bed with my husband.He was fine with it but as I am a side sleeper, I found it aggravated my hip and caused me pain. I couldn't get comfortable sleeping directly on it.

I have silent reflux and was advised to raise the head of the bed. Our bed is a divan with drawers under. We managed to get the bricks under and put a couple of small wedges along the edge for support but now can't move the bed! I'm thinking of buying a bedstead instead which will accommodate the proper bed raisers that you can get.

If you can get on with the bed wedge it will really help you, but I don't think I would go for hugely expensive one unless you can try before you buy to make sure you can sleep comfortably.

Xx Moy

[ladygigger in reply to MoyB]

That's interesting... The first symptom of PMR was pain in my hips which was eventually diagnosed as bursitis and I was sent off for physio. That obviously stopped when PMR was diagnosed later in the year. However, I've noticed that I'm not able to sleep on the side with the bad hip when I'm using the bed wedge. That made things difficult after my lung operation as I'm also a side sleeper: the bad hip is on the left, my lung operation was on the right!

I'm now able to sleep on the right, the left occasionally - depending on the pain in my hip. However, if I do I often wake up during the night in pain which only tramadol or co-codamol can ease. I'm having a cortisone injection tomorrow (it was recommended by the rheumatologist in January but got sidelined when the growth was found in my lung).