The comments below reflect the personal experiences and opinions of readers and do not represent medical advice or the views of this website. The information shared has not been evaluated by the FDA and is not intended to diagnose, treat, or prevent any disease or health condition. Always consult a qualified healthcare professional for medical concerns.
Acid Reflux
Posted by Judy (NSW Australia) on 09/30/2023
★★★★★
I've slept on an inclined bed for years - love it - don't like it when I'm compelled to go flat. I ached for a few days at most when I began but it was soon gone. I tell everybody about it. I've just put my 101 year old neighbour up on a 3" brick for her swelling ankles. The swelling hasn't gone down yet and perhaps wont until we go higher but she is sleeping better and not paceing the floor with restless legs. Another elderly neighbour tried it for painful and swelling legs and the very first morning after told me that her usual morning giddiness wasn't there... Persist and go have a Swedish massage to the aches! Maybe not so high. For slipping - get a footboard on the end of the bed. You can push up on that.
Acid Reflux
Posted by Wayne (Albonico) on 08/09/2020
★★★★★
Same here, however, after a couple weeks, no more pain!
PERSISTANCE BEATS RESISTANCE!!!
Nothing in this world can take the place of persistence.
Acid Reflux
Posted by D (Wisconsin) on 11/08/2016
★★★★★
Linann, when I first started the IBT I too had shoulder, back and neck pain for the first week to where I almost set my bed back down. Then it was gone! I can say I woke up one morning and had no pain at all. it was through researching I found out this is normal as sleeping inclined like that elongates and aligns the body. I started out at a 6" incline and when the pain started I put the bed down to 4" until it was gone, then went back up to 6" with no pain at all. Maybe you can tough it out for at least a week to ten days and, if your hubby can manage his gerd at the 4" raise for the week and then back up to 6". I so promise you the pain you feel will go away, and it is so worth the several days of getting use to sleeping like that and the aches and pains.
Acid Reflux
Posted by Linann (Newton, Nc) on 08/21/2016
★★★★★
Hi, my husband suffers gerd and we have raised our head of bed with bricks, he has no gerd now, but I cannot sleep like that, I wake every morning with shoulder/ low back pain, I told him I couldn't sleep with him after 24 yrs of marriage, lol I'm going to get a twin bed to put next to him so we can still be together, have you heard of anyone else not being able to sleep in an inclined bed? Ty
Acid Reflux
Posted by Anthony (Mysore, India) on 12/15/2014
★★★★★
In response to Saba from who wrote:
Question: About INCLINE BED THERAPY isn't it the same thing as what sleeping on pillows does? Will I have the same effect if I sleep on a firm pillow that is 6inches higher rather than having to raise my bed? Thank you if anyone has any answer
Saba, using a firm pillow will only bend your neck and raise your head. The rest of the body remains prone/flat. Inclining your entire bed by raising it at the head makes the entire body inclined. The feet are lower than the heart, the stomach is lower than the throat, etc. This is what gives you all the benefits being discussed here. I have been sleeping on an inclined bed since 6 months now, and my heart burn / acid reflux is gone! I was prescribed this by a gasteroenterologist as against acidity regulating tabs/syrups.
Acid Reflux
Posted by Laurie (Springfield, Va.) on 05/14/2008
★★★★★
Acid Reflux Remedies: Hi, In answer to Frank's question about sleeping positions, it is thought, though doctors aren't sure why, that sleeping on the left side is best for acid reflux. Re the bricks under the bed. As someone else on the site pointed out, it is imperative to raise the head of the bed, either by using bricks, or by purchasing a foam pillow that is raised at the head. The recommended height is from 6" to 8", depending on tolerance. My husband just put the bricks under the front legs of my bed, as I found the foam pillow to be uncomfortable, and I finally did not wake up with acid in my mouth, and a sore throat. I have not tried the natural remedies listed on your site, but I plan to! I HAVE used a drug called Zegrid, which is Omeprozole and baking soda in a long-acting capsule, but I think I might prefer to just try the baking soda and see how that does. Thanks for all the ideas.
Acid Reflux
Posted by Todd (San Jose, CA) on 02/12/2008
★★★★★
I have acid reflux only at night. I wake up with a sore throat in the morning. I put bricks under my bed making the head of the bed higher than the foot. (Actually I used one brick and one piece of plywood cut the shape of the brick. However the floor sloped from the foot of the bed down to the head. Thus the net effect was one brick. It was the sloped floor that gave me this idea.) My acid reflux went away. I no longer woke up with a sore throat. This worked for over five years. Then I slept without the bricks for a week. My acid reflux came back. I replaced the bricks. However, my acid reflux had grown worse. I now need two bricks, instead of one.
This might work only for mild cases. I tried it right away as soon as I got acid reflux.
Sleeping position might matter as to whether this cure works. I sleep on my back. I did not adopt sleeping on my back because of the acid reflux. I had slept that way most of my life.
Does anyone know whether some sleeping positions are better than others for acid reflux, i.e. back, left side, or right side? Which way does the connection between the stomach and the esophagus point? Is it the same for all people, or does it vary?
Acid Reflux
Posted by Susan (Concord, NH)
★★★★★
Elevating the head of the bed 2" (use 2 pieces scrap 2"x6' board to elevate head of bed) cures acid reflux when you awaken in the morning. Doesn't work all day but its good for a nice part of the morning when you first wake up.
