Any other solutions to GERD other than wedge pillow????

Hello Everyone- I have been using a wedge pillow for almost 2 years now with my nasal pillow and Auto machine. I have found that it has helped with GERD and also lowered my "nightly events", however I have also found it VERY uncomfortable!
I am constantly slipping down the thing and although I use a contour pillow on top of the wedge since I have neck issues with a flat pillow, I can NEVER get comfortable. Over the last 5 months I have begun to suffer with mid-back issues which I think are being aggrivated by the position I have to sleep in on the wedge. I know that raising the head of the bed with blocks is also a solution for many folks but my queen size poster bed is much too large to do that. I tried with some risers that I ordered on the internet and it appeared that leaving the bed hiked up like that for an extended time would be detrimental for the frame of the bed which consists of wooden slats.
So, I am trying to find another solution and wondered if any of you "long time" cpap users might have a better or at least different solution. I must admit that many nights when I wake up during the night I find myself longing to be able to change positions!! It gets to the point that I just get up and walk around for a while in order to stretch out some and "readjust". BTW- I have bursitis in my shoulders and cannot sleep on my sides,I also sleep with my legs raised a little to prevent lower back pain.
Well, after reading my own post it sounds like not only am I a physical mess but my situation is virtually hopeless. I'll submit it anyway just to see if there might by some chance be a suggestion out there that might save my aching mid-back!! Does anyone have any experience with a buckwheat pillow and wedge pillow together?? Wondered if the buckwheat pillow might save my neck without "jacking" my upper body up so much that my mid back suffers.
Thanks for any and all suggestions!!! GG

grumpygirl wrote:I am constantly slipping down the thing and although I use a contour pillow on top of the wedge since I have neck issues with a flat pillow, I can NEVER get comfortable

Grumpygirl - sorry, I don't have an answer to this problem but what you
can also try is eating a small apple before bedtime. ALL pills have side effects so I stay away from them.
I was amazingly surprised when, after I had an apple, the heartburn was gone. Truly hope other members
will give you more ideas regarding pillows, bed etc. I also suffer from neck and back pain from time to
time - just bought myself a massager - don't pack it away in a cupbourd - use it - it helps alot!
Good Luck, Grumpygirl!

Hi grumpygirl

The best solution is to have a fundoplication.

But the fundoplication has to work. Mine did not.

I suggest you look at the possibilities of making it possible to sleep on your left side. I know there are difficulties for you on this, but getting your esophegal sphincter directly above your stomach should keep you safe during sleep. Then in the morning I take a PPI to help me through the day.

I also use a wooden wedge, same size as Medslant, a hard pillow and a feather pillow, and it works well, but of course I am on my left side. And a pillow between my knees.

I too long to stretch out, and get on my back, so I put a small pillow next to my back, so I am still on my side, but my body twists straight, and I can stretch. But I soon have to get back on my side properly so I can go back to sleep.

I have Barretts Esophagus, which you do not want to get. So I applaud you in looking at all possibilities to minimise the reflux.

cheers

Mars

I had a successful nissen proceedure to cure my GERD/LPR, but my wife also suffers from GERD. We raised the head of our bed with 5" blocks 8 years ago...we don't even notice the slant and it doesn't affect my CPAP use at all. I'm a side sleeper.

I also suffer from GERD however, ever since I started on xpap I have had very little trouble with it at night. It seems that the pressure from the xpap keeps the reflux from happening when I sleep. One of the main things to do is not eat anything within a few hours of going to bed. I also take a prilosec equivalent every day. I have been on xpap therapy for 10 years and have not had any surgery or other procedures.

Another thing you might do is check with your Dr. and get tested for H. Pylori. That is a bacterial infection that can cause major acid reflux and ulcers.

grumpygirl....on looking thru the web sites I came across this "wedge" that looks awsome.
http://www.mediwedge.com/ It would do about the same thing as using blocks under the head of the bed but would look a whole lot better.

Wes

LSAT- What kind of blocks did you use to raise your bed?? Wooden, bricks? How did this work with your bed frame? Did it put extra pressure on the slats or frame itself?? Would LOVE to find just the right blocks for my bed if possible. Thanks-GG

OH MY GOSH- That MediWedge looks awesome!! I might have to talk with the hubby to see about ordering one of those!!
It looks like the perfect solution!!! THANKS!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! GG

The only REAL solution is a laparoscopic ( preferably ) nissan fundoplication.

Had mine done at Mayo in '99. I would be dead by now if I hadn't.

I used to wake up choking on aspirated yuck. Sandy almost had to call 911 several times because I couldn't breathe.

The operation was fairly simple and completely cures your GERD. I was surprised to see someone here say theirs didn't work!!
I'd see a different doctor --- they didn't do something right.

Nowadays I've heard they do the operation a bit differently, they use a band like on the weight loss surgery and it can be adjusted tighter or loser.

But if your GERD is bad enough that you wake up in the night ( especially if you inhale the stuff that comes up and choke ) get to a surgeon pronto.

Well, get this- my Internist told me that because I have sleep apnea and use a cpap machine that I am not a candidate for the surgery to alleviate GERD. He says that the surgery will not allow me to burp and that the air that passes from the cpap will cause me to have stomach aches and gas pains. I have "gas" pains anyway because of aerophagia !! Anybody else been told this?? GG

grumpygirl wrote:LSAT- What kind of blocks did you use to raise your bed?? Wooden, bricks? How did this work with your bed frame? Did it put extra pressure on the slats or frame itself?? Would LOVE to find just the right blocks for my bed if possible. Thanks-GG

We have a steel Queen frame. I made blocks out of 3 pieces of 2x4. I put blocks under the headbpard legs and the center mattress support leg. They have been there for 8 years.

grumpygirl wrote:Well, get this- my Internist told me that because I have sleep apnea and use a cpap machine that I am not a candidate for the surgery to alleviate GERD. He says that the surgery will not allow me to burp and that the air that passes from the cpap will cause me to have stomach aches and gas pains. I have "gas" pains anyway because of aerophagia !! Anybody else been told this?? GG

You have 2 testimonials right here. Arizona Willie and I each had the surgery. He in 1999 and mine in 2002. WE do not seem to have trouble using a CPAP.

Prilosec or something similar works wonders.

I can burp if I want to. Hmmm reminds me of an old song.

I believer that having the valve tighter prevents air from going into the stomach from CPAP.
I've had no problem with pain in my stomach from air. Been on CPAP since 2006.

But, that might vary from person to person and the skill and experience of their surgeon.

However, I wasn't on CPAP when I had the surgery --- no doubt I should have been but I had never heard of it at that time.
So my surgeon never asked about cpap as far as I can remember.

Grumpygirl, are you on proton pump inhibitors?