change mattress / bedding?

[awakeinnj]

Hi. I'm currently thinking about how my sleep environment might be impacting my treatment. I am...

- a stomach sleeper
- with controlled acid reflux
- a CPAP user with a nasal mask (no problem here)

My mattress is just a few years old, comfortable, but I always wish I bought something a bit more firm. A while ago, I already elevated the head of the bed by about 5" with bricks. Thing is, sometimes I'll switch to side-sleeping during the night and I feel like I'm "too flat" and that my insides are being sunken and compressed (apneas are definitely worse on side/back, but that's no surprise).

Does anyone have any recommendations to try to improve my bedding? I'd hate to go through the expense of replacing everything (mattress is queen size) when there might be cheaper, more convenient things to try first.

Thanks.

[Darth Lady]

I use a bed wedge. Mine is fairly high (at least 12"), but they come lower than that, maybe 5" or so. They're pretty cheap. More height than a few inches would be murder on your back if you tried to stomach sleep, but the small additional height might help that squashed feeling (if I try to lie flat I feel like my lungs are totally squashed and my head's gonna explode ).

Not sure what to do about the mattress firmness though.

[awakeinnj]

Thanks. Do you mean those inserts that go under the mattress or one of those longer pillows that you lie on from the waist up? I was looking into both of those a while ago, before I settled for bricks.

[Julie]

People raise the heads of their beds on 5" blocks to relieve GERD, though stomach sleeping might not be very compatible with that!

[M'ohms]

If you feel that your bed is too soft, you can firm it up with a piece of plywood between the mattress ans box springs. I have done this on 2of my beds with good results.

[Jay Aitchsee]

If you feel that your bed is too soft, you can firm it up with a piece of plywood between the mattress ans box springs. I have done this on 2of my beds with good results.

What thickness of plywood did you use?

[Darth Lady]

Thanks. Do you mean those inserts that go under the mattress or one of those longer pillows that you lie on from the waist up? I was looking into both of those a while ago, before I settled for bricks.

The ones on top of the mattress.

I actually jam my hosehanger between it and the mattress, and then fasten the hanger stem to the headboard. Gets a better height that way.

[awakeinnj]

Good ideas -- thanks!