Falcon Sleep Position and Acid Reflux - Question!

Hi All

The Falcon position certainly looks worth trying out, and I thank Rooster for his post on Aerophagia.

viewtopic/t43663/Aerophagia--How-It-Was ... -Case.html

However, before I do try it I wonder about one aspect that I cannot find mentioned.

Does the Falcon Position (either right or left) make it easier for acid reflux to move up through an impaired lower esophagal sphincter, and so impact upon my Barretts Esophagus condition, my esophagus, throat and mouth in general.

Anybody any knowledge or ideas about this?

Thanks

Mars

Hi, it's probably better than being on your back, but the real 'fix' is to raise the head end of your bed about 4-6 inches, which apparently makes all the difference, though what it does in terms of comfort for tummy sleepers I'm not sure.

Mars,

Hi. You asked if sleeping in the Falcon position might make it easier for stomach acid to move up/reflux through an impaired lower esophageal sphincter (and impact your Barrett's Esophagus condition).

If you were to sleep flat on your abdomen this would put pressure on the stomach, and likely raise the risk of stomach acid moving upwards ("refluxing") through an impaired lower esophageal sphincter, due to the increased pressure below.

The idea behind the Falcon position, however, is to minimize the pressure put on the stomach, while at the same time maximizing the benefits of (partial) abdominal sleeping. Therefore, if you try the Falcon sleeping position and feel any significant pressure on your stomach, then it means that you should make more adjustments with the position, until the pressure is relieved.

You can see my description of this sleeping position, along with photographs, on this thread:

viewtopic.php?f=1&t=36738&st=0&sk=t&sd=a&start=15

or at:

http://www.uarsrelief.com/sleeppositions.html


Here are some tips that I find helpful when using the Falcon sleeping position, to ensure that there is minimal-to-no pressure placed on my stomach, when I'm in this position (which I use every night):

a. Be sure that the bent leg is close to being a full 90 degrees bent (please see the photos); this has the result of cocking your body sideways up off of the bed, so that you're not lying flat on your abdomen;

b. I use a pillow under half of my chest and my shoulder (as you can see in the photos) so as to reduce pressure on my stomach. When I place a pillow under half of my chest and my shoulder, it serves as kind of a lever, so that the body weight of my torso is supported by my chest and not my abdomen; (For the lady readers - Sorry, I know that sleeping with pressure on your chest is problematic for some of you, and so this might not be a feasible sleeping position for some of you.)

Best regards!

Falcon1 wrote:......Here are some tips that I find helpful when using the Falcon sleeping position, to ensure that there is minimal-to-no pressure placed on my stomach, when I'm in this position (which I use every night):

a. Be sure that the bent leg is close to being a full 90 degrees bent (please see the photos); this has the result of cocking your body sideways up off of the bed, so that you're not lying flat on your abdomen;

b. I use a pillow under half of my chest and my shoulder (as you can see in the photos) so as to reduce pressure on my stomach. When I place a pillow under half of my chest and my shoulder, it serves as kind of a lever, so that the body weight of my torso is supported by my chest and not my abdomen; (For the lady readers - Sorry, I know that sleeping with pressure on your chest is problematic for some of you, and so this might not be a feasible sleeping position for some of you.)

Best regards!

And I need to add something to my post about aerophagia and the Falcon position. When I first starting trying to use the Falcon position, I was sleeping directly on a mattress with no pillows. My mask was pressing into the mattress and causing neck pain.

So I imagined if a section of the mattress was cut out just where the mask would rest, things would work fine. Well cutting up the mattress is not too easy, so I did something more practical. I use two standard three-inch soft pillows (synthetic down). One is placed in the normal position. The second pillow is placed about four inches below it. I lie on my tummy with the mask in the gap. The part of my head from my brow up rests on the first pillow. My chest from about the collar bone down to the bottom of the chest rests on the second pillow. You may have to experiment with the pillow position to get it just right for you.

With this arrangement there is no strain on my neck; the exhaust ports of the mask are clear; and there is no pressure on my tummy. And as Dr. Falcon says keeping the leg bent a full 90 degrees helps keep pressure off of the tummy which should help prevent acid reflux.

I suspect that the pillow under my chest helps keep the CPAP pressure from passing through the lower esophogeal sphincter.

If you try the pillows, make sure the second pillow is not under your tummy because this might worsen acid reflux.

although i am a dedicated side sleeper, i was curious enough after reading what everyone had to say about the Falcon position that i gave it a whirl last night. i don't have a lot of trouble with air in my stomach (little bit) but since sleeping in that position is also good for the back...i figured why not! i liked it more than i thought i would. the extra pressure on my jaw made me want to breathe through my mouth though....so i think a stronger chinstrap is in order. believe i'll wait until i order my papcap...and then will revisit the Falcon position again.

thanks for info...yet again! is there any end to the knowledge!!

SleepyT

I've experimented with Dr. Falcon's sleep position, but so far have found keeping my head turned to one side uncomfortable after a short while. I'll try your tip about pillows, Rooster, and see how that feels; thanks for the suggestion.

rooster wrote: And I need to add something to my post about aerophagia and the Falcon position. When I first starting trying to use the Falcon position, I was sleeping directly on a mattress with no pillows. My mask was pressing into the mattress and causing neck pain.

So I imagined if a section of the mattress was cut out just where the mask would rest, things would work fine. Well cutting up the mattress is not too easy, so I did something more practical. I use two standard three-inch soft pillows (synthetic down). One is placed in the normal position. The second pillow is placed about four inches below it. I lie on my tummy with the mask in the gap. The part of my head from my brow up rests on the first pillow. My chest from about the collar bone down to the bottom of the chest rests on the second pillow. You may have to experiment with the pillow position to get it just right for you.

With this arrangement there is no strain on my neck; the exhaust ports of the mask are clear; and there is no pressure on my tummy. And as Dr. Falcon says keeping the leg bent a full 90 degrees helps keep pressure off of the tummy which should help prevent acid reflux.

I suspect that the pillow under my chest helps keep the CPAP pressure from passing through the lower esophogeal sphincter.

If you try the pillows, make sure the second pillow is not under your tummy because this might worsen acid reflux.

Wow, sounds like a great tip. Thanks for sharing that!

I tried the falcon position last night - but ended up on my back again - after excuse me - lots of burping aerophagia! The only position which solves this is on my back? I'm assuming it was in the position correctly - and used the pillow under my shoulder/chest. I was lucky to have no issues with my mask and going to sleep was so easy in this position - until the burping began?

Suggestions? and I am being treated for GERD.

sleepyred wrote:I tried the falcon position last night - but ended up on my back again - after excuse me - lots of burping aerophagia! The only position which solves this is on my back? I'm assuming it was in the position correctly - and used the pillow under my shoulder/chest. I was lucky to have no issues with my mask and going to sleep was so easy in this position - until the burping began?

Suggestions? and I am being treated for GERD.

Sleepyred,

May I suggest that you try rooster's method, which entails the use of two standard three-inch soft pillows, placed in the positions he describes above?

Best Regards.

sleepyred wrote:I tried the falcon position last night - but ended up on my back again - after excuse me - lots of burping aerophagia! The only position which solves this is on my back? I'm assuming it was in the position correctly - and used the pillow under my shoulder/chest. I was lucky to have no issues with my mask and going to sleep was so easy in this position - until the burping began?

Suggestions? and I am being treated for GERD.

Are you comfortable on your back all night long? If so, and you are getting no aerophagia, you may just want to continue sleeping on your back.

I would sleep on my back, however I need a very high pressure on my back. On my sides or tummy, the pressure requirements are much lower.

Yes I am comfortable on my back, but much more so on my stomach. Do tend to wake up with a sore back when I'm on my back - thanks for the pillow suggestion - will try it!

rooster wrote:

sleepyred wrote:I tried the falcon position last night - but ended up on my back again - after excuse me - lots of burping aerophagia! The only position which solves this is on my back? I'm assuming it was in the position correctly - and used the pillow under my shoulder/chest. I was lucky to have no issues with my mask and going to sleep was so easy in this position - until the burping began?

Suggestions? and I am being treated for GERD.

Are you comfortable on your back all night long? If so, and you are getting no aerophagia, you may just want to continue sleeping on your back.

I would sleep on my back, however I need a very high pressure on my back. On my sides or tummy, the pressure requirements are much lower.

Always sleep that way anyway. Didn't know it was something everyone didn't do. Guess I'm a natural born Falcon.