(Part 2) Reddit mentions: The best bed wedges & body positioners

I have GERD (I'm 27, not overweight) verified via an endoscopy and over the past few years the tooth decay has gotten really bad... I'm averaging 2-5 cavities per year right now but I'm trying to treat the GERD now because "enough is enough". Even before I had GERD I would get cavities even with good dental hygeine (I think I inherited this from my mother), but GERD makes it much worse. It used to be maybe 0-2 cavities a year. Now it feels like I'm lucky if I only have 2.

The dentist told me 2 weeks ago, "If I were to guess your age based on your teeth, I'd say you were 20 years older."... :| Ouch.

My GERD involves occasional burping (not "wet burping", which is when stomach acid comes up with it) and that's about it. I don't get painful heatburn or anything like that. If not for the dentist pointing out when I came in with 4 cavities one day that the culprit was acid erosion and recommending that I see a gastroenterologist, I would have never known. I just thought that I burped a lot. But when I go to sleep it's likely that small amounts of stomach acid are being deposited on my teeth, which is the cause of most of the dental complications I believe. Not enough to notice, but enough to do damage.

To treat this I need to treat my GERD I think. An elevated wedge pillow such as this one is something I picked up recently that I hope helps with the acid depositing on my teeth while sleeping. You won't like hearing this but I've also recently tried out a vegan diet (and basically no sugar) for all but 2 meals per week (those 2 meals I have lean chicken - I work out a lot and need the extra protein) and the belching has subsided quite a bit. Eating slow and making sure you chew your food thorougly is also very important. I used to eat faster than anyone I knew, but focusing on chewing and eating slow has helped a lot as well. Along with this, I stop eating 4 hours prior to going to bed and stopped drinking alcohol altogether. PPIs such as omeprazole work in the short term but have lots of side effects in the long run, so I try to avoid them. Regardless, it really sucks. I worry about what complications my GERD will cause in the future, but all I can do is try my best to treat it with diet, good dental hygeine, that wedge pillow I linked above, and staying healthy otherwise. Feel free to check out /r/GERD for more info. It sounds like your situation is much less severe than mine, but it's always good to be aware of potential complications! I'm early in my treatment process so I'm still optimistic that I'll be able to get a hold of this through lifestyle changes.

If any dentists can weigh in on my situation or have any advice for me I'd greatly appreciate it!

i'm 2-days post-op and this was my 2nd surgery -- in addition to all the prehahbing (working out your legs, getting full ROM, getting the swelling down), think about practically what will help after surgery when you're stuck in bed or at home:

for me, this has been a life saver -- also, i bought this table/bed desk and some natural recovery supplements.
Not sure what your snacks look like, but also helps to have a lot of snacks handy (but a lot of fruits and veggies, too!)

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Good luck!

I tried a wedge pillow and hated it. I ended up settling on a "wellness wedge" plastic bed lift that you stick under the mattress to lift the actual head of the bed. Then I stack some pillows so I have one behind my upper back and 2 transitioning up to behind my head so I'm rather upright. It works really well for me. This is what I got: https://www.amazon.com/gp/aw/d/B008JH4L6K/ref=mp_s_a_1_1_a_it?ie=UTF8&qid=1485122623&sr=8-1&keywords=bed+wedge+lift

My stomach-sleeper husband HATED this, but for back sleeping and even side sleeping it's a pretty comfortable option.

It's probably too late, but I purchased one of these: https://www.amazon.com/Mattress-Genie-Lift-System-King/dp/B000CAAZSA

It made getting in and out of bed the first few days much easier, plus it forced me to sleep inclined which helped with the pain. I still use it when I have a cold or if I want to read sitting upright. It has a remote and basically turns your bed into an adjustable bed.

As for the first few days, I had a friend stay with me to help me get in and out of bed and also do things like cleaning my cats litter and feeding them.

Pain wasn't too bad (I had an ovary and both tubes removed). I personally didn't have issues with gas pain but I did have issues with constipation due to the meds. A little mineral oil worked when nothing else helped.

By day three I took a short jaunt to Walmart. Probably should have waited a week to do that as I did have some pain after, but I was feeling a little cabin fever. Mostly just hung out in bed and watched Netflix and slept a lot.

I am sure your lap will go great! Touch base and let us know how you are doing!

A huge pillow on an incline to help keep the acid down while you sleep.

I think this has been posted before in another thread but anyone looking to dip toes without breaking the bank should check this out on Amazon. generic wedge for $20 you can’t go wrong. We ordered on and it’s awesome.

Here you go :)

https://www.amazon.co.uk/dp/B007ZXYQL4/ref=cm_sw_r_cp_awdb_t1_X0ISCb9T3Z59T

I'm also curious about this. I've been sleeping with this recently due to back pain, but can't tell if it helps my apt or not. I kind of feel like it makes my hip flexors shorter and stiffer.
https://www.amazon.com/dp/B009SYIGEG/ref=cm_sw_r_cp_apa_i_vIVEDbMP70P4D

I have hip arthritis, I use this and it helps https://www.amazon.com/dp/B07KGLLD9G/ref=cm_sw_r_cp_apa_i_xKjRDbYFTM3MB I had another cheaper brand before and it didn't cut it.

https://www.amazon.com/dp/B07JLKLFLW/ref=cm_sw_r_cp_apa_i_hJm0CbHY1FZXK

I bought this one. So far, so good. I'm sleeping much better.

Would something like this work?

I had the same issue, ordered this

InteVision Four Position Support Pillow (20.5" x 8" x 4.5") with 400 Thread Count, 100% Egyptian Cotton Cover https://www.amazon.com/dp/B00AWJC340/ref=cm_sw_r_cp_apa_.B4YzbX0J7D1B

When anything I do seems to torture my lower back, I find that laying on the ground with my legs up at a 90 degree angle on a chair helps relieve the strain. Like this: https://static1.squarespace.com/static/54eb923de4b0440df7ae7c7c/t/551aea79e4b02356b77db759/1428444860042/
It takes it from so bad I'm crying to just don't move and maybe I'll be okay.
They also put one of these https://www.amazon.com/Leg-Elevator-10-high-20-30-5/dp/B0008D7UKM under my knees when I had an MRI and it was very comfortable.
It seems my legs really need to be parallel to the floorto relieve the pressure from my back.

Pillows under the knees, elevate her as needed, or usually, I'll be at the end of the bed on my hands and knees, while he's standing on the side of the bed.

There are also things like
Elevating Wedge

Have you tried sleeping with your legs raised? Try something like this: Leg Elevation Pillow - https://www.amazon.com/dp/B07KFPQTM8/ref=cm_sw_r_cp_apa_i_d1iYDbRWC30T8

DMI Ortho Bed Wedge Elevated Leg... https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0008E95S6?ref=ppx_pop_mob_ap_share


I use a leg wedge it keeps me on my back while I sleep ( I have had 3 shoulder surgeries so side sleeping is out )

I would recommend going to one of those back health stores and finding the right wedge.

Well, just on my side. I bought this one: https://www.amazon.com/gp/aw/d/B004X7CBEY/ref=yo_ii_img?ie=UTF8&psc=1

May mabibikhan ba dito ng mobilization wedge?

https://www.amazon.com/OPTP-Original-Norsk-Mobilization-Wedge/dp/B002C9EVHA

Ang mahal I order mula pa sa US... Kelangan ko siya para sa rehab

Tnx

Well I say couch, but your legs stay on the bed instead of touching the floor. Look at this pic: http://www.amazon.com/gp/customer-media/product-gallery/B004EWG30Q/ref=cm_cr_dp_cust_img_see_all_img0

I have looked into this. While I do not currently own one, I would try this memory foam bolster setup first. It is my understanding it is manufactured by FXI, who produce this high-quality viscoelastic (memory) foam in the USA. I have had numerous mattress toppers from the same manufacturer (FXI, previously Foamex) and can attest to their quality/comfort, though I cannot attest to the design of this particular product as I have not tried it.

If money were no object, I would opt for one of these Ergoquest reclining desks and make sure it had an FXI-produced mattress on it.

https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B00NGKWKRC

Like this?

I haven't tried any but you could consider cheaper substitues depending on which model you wanted!

Actual model
http://www.amazon.com/Liberator-24-Inch-Wedge-Black-Microfiber/dp/B003P57DDE/ref=sr_1_2?s=hpc&ie=UTF8&qid=1369112478&sr=1-2

Cheaper options
http://www.amazon.com/Mabis-802-8026-0100-Foam-Wedge-Blue/dp/B0015KICLI/ref=sr_1_9?s=hpc&ie=UTF8&qid=1369112478&sr=1-9

http://www.amazon.com/Duro-Med-Ortho-Wedge-Polyester-Cotton/dp/B0009STNC4/ref=sr_1_14?s=hpc&ie=UTF8&qid=1369112478&sr=1-14

Put her at the end of the bed so you're standing up or get one of these and bend her over it.

Oh the honking and choking is from post nasal drip. It's likely GERD (silent reflux)

You'll need to have the ENT check you out and maybe try an antacid before bed. They told me to use a pillow like this to sleep to avoid the problem, but for me it's just weird...

The best solution I have been able to figure out for trying to sleep with chronic acid reflux is an extra large, wide, wedge pillow, which includes a non slip cover.

https://www.amazon.com/Overlay-Removable-Microfiber-Medslant-Recommended/dp/B00E3X5K6Y/ref=sr_1_1_sspa?ie=UTF8&qid=1527731612&sr=8-1-spons&keywords=medslant+big+wedge+pillow&psc=1

I've been struggling with this for a long time. Just raising the head of the bed, so that the whole bed slants up, ruins my back, hips and legs from the night-long pressure downwards and is seriously intolerable, but the wide wedge keeps my torso up just enough, and my lower half stays in a more neutral position. Works for me.