I am now 31 months post oesophagectomy and doing fine. But I am still having trouble finding a comfortable sleeping position. I had always been a left side sleeper, which is now impossible. I have tried bed wedges , V pillows , different combinations of normal pillows. I purchased an electric adjustable bed last year and it is absolutely brilliant and very comfortable. But the problem have is I start off on my back with the bed slightly raised , but I end up on my side (now right side). As the bed is raised this is putting me in a sideways curved position and am waking up with all sorts of aches and pains and discomfort in my neck, back and abdomen (from obviously sleeping in twisted position). I have tried to sleep all night on my back with head raised but always end up on my side. If I lay completely flat either on back or side I get the dreaded reflux!
Unfortunately this is a problem we all share and you will experience all kind of sleeping positions. It will never be perfect due to the operation we have had but in time you will find a solution that suits you. My Oesophagectomy was over 14 years ago and I have tried everything including an electric bed. But a couple years ago I settled for a solution that suits me. We have a memory foam mattress and I have a wedge pillow from the OPA. A further two pillow one under my back to stop slipping down and a water pillow under my neck.Its trial and error but you will eventually get there
Thanks Phil, I think if I could sleep permanently on my back I would be fine , but I always end up on my side, and with the electric bed raised, I end up curved sideways like a banana lol which I guess is not for for the spine/ posture therefore wake up with aches an pains . I will keep trying
Hi Roger - Im 5yrs on and have tried everything - the only place I can get some sleep is the sofa ! Not ideal but only option for me - I know a lot of people sleep in recliner chairs - all the best
I have an electric bed and sleep in the zero gravity position which elevates the bed under my knees and raises the head some.
This gives me the required elevation to prevent reflux and also the right support so I do t slide down the bed or have a sore tailbone. I used to be a side sleeper as well and can’t spend more than 10 minutes in that position anymore. I miss it but I sleep well in zero gravity. Good luck
Hi Janashlin, that's exactly the position I put my bed in, and I am fine while on my back, but by default I end up turn on my side and that when it all goes wrong lol. I'm sure we all all get there in the end. 😉
Thank you for raising this question, its been 35 months for me , similar sleeping problem.I normally take 3 to 4 pillows, but early morning around 6 am i am able to sleep on left side for little bit of time.
I'm one year on from my oesophagectomy and I still have problems finding the right position. I was advised by my upper GI nurse to put bricks under the head of my bed as in normally a front sleeper then I should be ablt to sleep in my favoured position without putting my spine in an uncomfortable position. I can't say if this will work as I need someone to help move my bed. Keep trying I'm sure you will find a solution. I look at all the challenges that my operation gives me as the price for being here.Good luck.
If you don’t have to consider a sleeping partner, perhaps bricks (blocks, whatever) to raise the whole bed to ~7 degrees (I heard to be the recommended) might let you enjoy back and side without ending as banana
I am 16 years post oesophagectomy. I use a combination which involves 4" blocks under the head of my bed, a 4" wedge under my mattress and lying on my back on a firm pillow plus a large square soft pillow. This probably sounds complicated. The benefit of raising the head of the bed is that, otherwise, you get too sharp an angle in the mattress itself which is not good for your back and can cause rolling. There is no one size fits all but, by experimentation, you will find your remedy.
Eight months after Ivor Lewis and I sleep well in electric recliners with some small cylindrical pillows. I have two different recliners, different size and slightly different modes of adjustment.In bed I slide down out of position after a time. I have found a full length body pillow helps me maintain a side position long enough for a nap.
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