Wedge support

[Bingo88]

Hello everyone. Looking for your thoughts and experience of using the above to help to try and get rid of this morning coughing from lying flat. If I drop of to sleep in the chair I don't cough on waking up. I am using the wedge with 2 pillows as well. But I have never slept on my back in bed. Always on my side. I have tried it for 3 nights but still struggling to get a good night's sleep. I think the different angle is causing the problems. Any suggestions. Brian

[Oshgosh]

I’m a side sleeper,I bought a side sleeper from Dunelm,it wasn’t cheap,but it’s worth it, sometimes I have 1 ordinary pillow on top of it,sometimes 2.

I can’t sleep directly on the side sleeper pillow, find it a bit hard.sometimes I roll my dressing gown up and use it in place of a pillow.

It seems to depend on how my lungs are,it also depends on how my rheumatoid arthritis is.

I’m finding that things vary from night to night. If. Do fall asleep in the chair,it means that I ache when I wake up.

I hope you manage to get comfortable.

[Bingo88 in reply to Oshgosh]

Thanks for your reply. Brian

[Swizzy in reply to Oshgosh]

Can you tell me how a side sleeper pillow is different?

[Oshgosh in reply to Swizzy]

the one I’ve got is harder and firmer than my ordinary pillows.

It acts,for me as a base for my other pillows.it cost me £20, from Dunelm.

My neck doesn’t hurt any more since I’ve used it .

[Swizzy in reply to Oshgosh]

Thankyou Oshgosh

[Oshgosh in reply to Swizzy]

sorry I forgot to mention,I was so pleased with my side sleeper pillow,I went to buy another one.

The checkout lady said.LEAVE THE PLASTIC ON,in case It didn’t suit.

I did leave the plastic on,2 side sleeper pillows together didn’t help me.

I returned the still plasticised pillow and got a refund.

[Ern007]

I just use two soft pillows you can beat back into shape, I sleep on my side for two reasons, I can't breath proper and also I get nightmares, I have tried near everthing, so with me it's two large soft pillows, I often don't dropof before 4 am - There seems tobe nothing I can do about it.

[Bingo88 in reply to Ern007]

Thanks Ern007. I usually sleep on 2 pillows but I was trying to get my head and chest area slightly more of an upwards angle to see if it would help. Will just have to keep trying things. The pillow wedge was 20 quid. Brian

[AngieB72]

I only sleep on my side - I use a wedge pillow, it took a couple of purchases till I found the one that is the right angle for me, the first one wasn’t steep enough. I also use Cushtie pillows/cushions with my wedge as these mold to the right shape. I buy both my wedges and my Cushties from Amazon as it is easier for me. Good luck.

[Bingo88 in reply to AngieB72]

Thanks for your reply

[Swizzy]

I know they are really expensive but I have had an electric bed for 20 years. I can vary the height that I sleep at. Sometimes I use a pillow as well and sometimes not, depending what I need. If you consider getting one never consider paying the price that they first ask you and remember to get the vat off.

[whit in reply to Swizzy]

I bought one a few years ago, can sleep easier now. expensive, but worth it.

[Bingo88 in reply to Swizzy]

Yes I was thinking about an Electric bed. But I wanted to see if it was going to cure the coughing before spending all that money if it didn't help. Brian

[Swizzy in reply to Bingo88]

It's difficult. It helps me but we are all different

[Bingo88]

Thanks for your replies. Brian

[peege]

Hi Brian, I've read in the past that people put a couple of telephone directories under the legs at bed-head end. Or bricks, or hefty books. You can also purchase bed-raisers but you'd need some help , one to lift the bed and one to shove the raisers under the bed end.

I hope you find something that works. I sympathise, I'm a dedicated side sleeper too. P

[Bingo88 in reply to peege]

Thanks for your suggestions. I will look at trying that. Brian

[Izb1]

I am a side sleeper but when I had my hip done I had to sleep on my back for months before I could bear to put weight on my hip. I bought allsorts but found a v pillow the best for comfort. Nothing worse than not getting enough sleep and constantly coughing x

[Bingo88 in reply to Izb1]

Thanks for your reply. I sleep pretty well and don't cough much in the night. Its just when I get up from lying flat in a morning that I have my coughing episodes and then get breathless through the coughing I thought raising my head and chest area might help. Brian

[Izb1 in reply to Bingo88]

I think it does help Brian, by raising your head and chest it will stop the mucus settling in your head and top of the chest. One of the reasons we cough is to clear the mucus. I had a wedge under my mattress for a couple of years to help with this. I hope you find something to help you too x

[Bingo88 in reply to Izb1]

Thanks so much. Hope your keeping as well as possible. Brian

[Dottie11]

I have a reflux wedge from Putnam. Then a place a pillow down my side and just manage to tuck under my bottom. This keeps me raised and tucked so that I do not slip down in the night. I am a side sleeper and breath better in this position. If I need neck support I use a small under chin support as also keeps airways open. Best sleep this way. I suffer from sinus issues and this is also much improved regards night drainage. Good luck. xx

[Bingo88 in reply to Dottie11]

Thanks for your reply and suggestion. Brian

[Dottie11]

I will look into Angie advice as might also help me. Thank you for this post. xx

[Bingo88 in reply to Dottie11]

Your welcome it's all a learning process for us all to try and make things as easy as possible. Brian

[Dottie11]

Yes indeed. So glad we have this forum. x

[Nula2]

Hi Brian, I sleep with my wedge pillow in the sitting position with two pillows on top. This really helps with my breathing as I struggle with breathing even laying down using my wedge pillow. This does cause me pain in my coccyx because I'm very underweight and a bag of bones! So I tend to change it to a laying position for a while in the middle of the night. I wake every couple of hours in the night due to dry mouth and desperate for a wee!🙄so change it about 2 o'clock early hours just for a bit, then back into sitting position. Maybe the sitting position would help you with coughing - worth a try. Hope it works. 🤞😊xxxx

[Bingo88 in reply to Nula2]

Thanks so much for your reply and suggestions. Sorry to hear you have so much going on to try and get a good night's sleep. I usually sleep from midnight until 4 or 5 o clock when I need a wee. Its just when I get up to have a wash and get dressed that the coughing starts. If I sleep in the afternoon in the chair I don't cough when I wake up. Hope you get some more relief and a good night's sleep soon. Brian

[Nula2 in reply to Bingo88]

Thank you for your kind words. I've learnt to live with it now so just part of my daily routine, as is having a pillow under my feet as I have swollen feet and lower legs 🙄🤪. I hope someone comes up with a solution for you 🤞🤞❤️xxx

[Bingo88 in reply to Nula2]

Well because I also have kidney disease and had Adema in my lower legs. Water tablets are not an option so 10 days ago I had a Dopler test to check for blood pressure down to my feet and a few days ago I received my compression socks to wear. Just hope they could do something to help you sleep better

[Nula2 in reply to Bingo88]

Oh thank you will look into those. Hope they help you too. 😊xxx

[Bevvy]

I have used a wedge pillow with 2 regular pillows for a number of years now and wouldn’t be without it. I also sleep on my side and over time have become used to the position and it’s how I am most comfortable. It does take a bit of time to get used to a wedge. I remember I kept waking up because I rolled off it in my sleep! But now I wouldn’t be without it and have even been known to take it away with me on holiday.

[Bingo88 in reply to Bevvy]

Thanks for your reply. I think the slope on mine is too steep making it more like a back support. Brian

[Bevvy in reply to Bingo88]

Possibly but mine is quite steep as well. You have tried turning it over as one side is steeper than the other….

[Bingo88 in reply to Bevvy]

Yes I have tried that as well. Thanks

[Beth1949]

I bought a pillow wedge years ago. It's about 7 inches in height and taper down to 1/2 in. I used it for years when lying flat was impossible, due to coughing.

I sleep on my side, so I was able with the wedge. The only thing, I put a small round pillow (or a rolled up towel) under my waist to help keep my back alien and was more comfortable.

[Bingo88 in reply to Beth1949]

Yes I think mine must be 7 inches as well. I will persevere and get used to it. Brian

[Blackbird8]

If you raise the head of your bed with a couple of bricks ... Just the head lifting will help you sleep more upright than using extra pillows ...it will keep everything in your system down until you get up ...When you use extra pillows your body tends to get scrunched in places so your coughing and any bile that's present will keep coming up ...

I have new pillows every 6 months but though they are expensive they don't loose shape and quite comfortable x

[Bingo88 in reply to Blackbird8]

Thanks for your suggestions. Brian

[Patk1]

I've not used a wedge.im a side sleeper and have a pile of pillows,which r really comfy.B4 u go to get washed + dressed,it maybe worth sitting on edge of bed and using acbt( see aluk website-lung clearance)to bring up any mucous& may stop the coughing at inconvenient time - puts u in control.read up on controlled breathing technique too Brian, as it may help x

[Bingo88 in reply to Patk1]

Thanks so much for your reply. Usually the coughing loosens any mucus. But with my coughing I Usually then start with a blocked nose. And I do sit on the bed after having a wash to get my breath back before getting dressed. Thankfully my breathlessness Usually gets better in a couple of minutes. Brian

[Shirazmataz]

hi Bingo 88 - have you tried one of those V shaped pillows that support you sitting up in bed? That might work for you ?

[Bingo88 in reply to Shirazmataz]

Thanks for your suggestion. I am up to trying anything as long as I can get a good night's sleep. Thank you. Brian