Sleeping on the left side - newbie tip!

Lesley · Post by **Lesley** » Wed Oct 05, 2011 4:45 pm

I am bookmarking this thread so I can get to all the info easily.

I lay on my right side to sleep last night, and today my back is SO bad I can barely walk, but the GERD is a little better. What a choice!

So confusing - which side to sleep on. Conflicting opinions. I will try to get used to sleeping on my back. The only person I can wake by snoring is ME!

BTW - it is healthier for the heart to sleep or roll over to push up to sitting via the right side. This is something taught at medical school.

I clearly haven't been taking enough vit D, and need to get potassium powder and calcium carbonate on my next trip to whole foods. Thanks for those tips Gabes.

And yes, I have tried the raising the head of the bed thingy. I couldn't fall asleep. I felt like I was falling out of bed. Also the edema to which I am prone in my ankles got worse. So I prop myself up on pillows and get a bit of elevation that way.

So many things to learn and change! Thankful for your help!

sarkin · Post by **sarkin** » Wed Oct 05, 2011 4:55 pm

Lesley,

Maybe you can do the head-of-bed elevation in baby steps?

I wonder whether it's really true, about rolling to the right - or whether it's just been in med. school curricula since the dawn of time, and since everyone "knows" it, no one questions it? And if it's true, I wonder why that's so, and how they know.

Hope you get relief on all fronts,

Sara

Lesley · Post by **Lesley** » Wed Oct 05, 2011 8:32 pm

It probably is since the dawn of time since it is one of the principles in yoga, always to roll to the right.

I don't think we ever questioned it at school, but I am sure one of our teachers explained it to us. It must have been one of the classes I slept through.

Post by **tex** » Wed Oct 05, 2011 8:39 pm

Lesley,

I normally sleep on my back, (I developed that habit when the bloating and abdominal pain started, and I never changed back, after I acquired remission). The only times that I've had reflux problems, was when I slept on my right side. If sleeping on your left side hurts your back, then don't do it. Sleeping on your back will work almost as well as sleeping on your left side, and sleeping on your stomach might work, also, for all I know. The main point is to avoid sleeping on your right side - that's the worst position for someone with GERD.

Tex

Lesley · Post by **Lesley** » Wed Oct 05, 2011 9:42 pm

Can't on my stomach. Used to, but it doesn't work anymore. Too much nerve damage elsewhere.
So now to practice sleeping on my back. As I said, I will wake ONLY myself with my snoring. And I can put in ear plugs.

Gabes-Apg · Post by **Gabes-Apg** » Wed Oct 05, 2011 10:43 pm

Lesley

sleeping on the left side was not the best performing solution.

my suggestion with the myriad of stuff going on symptoms wise and while you are still figuring out what works for you and what doesnt, if you can increase your Vit d3, potassium and calcium carbonate intake you will get multiple benefits.

for me, with the increased Vit D3 intake and calc carbonate the symptoms went from chronic to minor in a week.

I use a Vit D3 in liquid form, each drop has 1000iu (so i do a dose in the morning and a dose late afternoon)
I got a calcium carbonate powder via my pharmacist - it originated from Houston texas. I sprinkle it over apple puree or mix it with a rice protein drink.
a heaped teaspoon is giving me 120% of my required daily intake of calcium.

these are very cost effective & easy solutions (they work out cheaper than the PPI meds)

Polly · Post by **Polly** » Thu Oct 06, 2011 5:31 am

I was a colicky baby, according to my mom. I wonder how many of us had issues right from birth that may have been related to food sensitivities and/or the propensity for later MC?

Polly

karenswans · Post by **karenswans** » Thu Oct 06, 2011 6:21 am

I wouldn't eat more than 2 ounces as a baby, and would scream afterward, according to my Mom. It's a wonder she didn't kill me!

Post by **tex** » Thu Oct 06, 2011 8:09 am

A poll on colic history.

http://www.perskyfarms.com/phpBB2/viewtopic.php?t=10327

Tex

Lesley · Post by **Lesley** » Thu Oct 06, 2011 1:12 pm

I bought my Vit D at Costco, so I can return it and get a liquid one. I will get the other stuff and get it going.
So do you do one drop in the am, and one in the pm? Or more?

This morning I had a D attack after a few days of C, and right now the GERD is making me more than uncomfortable. So I have to get it under control as soon as I can.
When I get off the prednisone (3 more days! YAY!!) I will do the food sensitivity tests. I am not really interested in genetic testing - well, I am, but I am more interested in what foods, beside gluten and casein, I am sensitive to. I want to get my diet under control. Then, maybe I can get a life!

Thanks so much for your help.

Gabes-Apg · Post by **Gabes-Apg** » Thu Oct 06, 2011 1:34 pm

Lesley
i started with a Liquid Vit D3 that was 300iu per drop, and started at 1 drop a day and worked up to the 5000iu per day
now i have the Liquid Vit D3 that is 1000iu per drop, i have three in the am and two in the pm

if you are in a flare and a bit sensitive i recommend starting with small dose and working up, that technique has worked really well for me when introducing supplements.

take a deep breath, you are on the right path, things will get better.

Lesley · Post by **Lesley** » Thu Oct 06, 2011 5:33 pm

*sniffle* I feel so weak and sick right now, and wouldn't you know it - my back is playing up badly. I go to the pool daily because if I don't I truly can't walk. I try to cut down on the Vicoden because it is the primary cause of the C, and I hate the way it makes me feel. I never exceed the prescribed dose, usually cut one out if I have managed to free my back enough to be able to walk from point A to point B.

I haven't managed to get out of this "flare" into remission yet. I'm still trying....

All your help is invaluable. I cannot believe I worked in hospitals and nursing homes for so many years, and never ran into this. Colitis, yes, and many other bowel problems.
Even though my doc couldn't do the tests for food sensitivities I am really glad that he diagnosed me, which lead me to find you guys.

sarkin · Post by **sarkin** » Thu Oct 06, 2011 10:06 pm

Lesley,

I have to agree - finding this forum is the absolutely best thing about this diagnosis.

Wish I could serve you up some homemade chicken soup, and hope you get this flare reined in soon.

All my best,
Sara

Lesley · Post by **Lesley** » Fri Oct 07, 2011 2:15 pm

So far I can't get the potassium powder. The liquid Vit D is so expensive it would be prohibitive if it wasn't that it's my health at stake, like the tests. I have to look online to see if I can find those things at a better price. Are they expensive in Oz too?
I will get my son in here to help with the bed issue.

Can I take potassium tablets and empty out the powder? I can't find it anywhere!

Gabes-Apg · Post by **Gabes-Apg** » Sat Oct 08, 2011 2:18 pm

Lesley
i am very blessed that one of my closest friends is a naturopath and I do get my supplements at cost price.
there have been times that i have run out and had to pay retail cost (my pharmacy has the exact same products)
the products i use are 'pure' and are classified as practioner issue only, so i cant buy them off the shelf or on the net

Retail - the VitD3 drops (300iu) are about $30 for a 50ml bottle (when i was up around the 2000iu a day this would last a month)

the potassium powder is a product called gastric buffer, this product is for acid reflux and also used by atheletes that due endurance type sports.
It has potassium phosphate, magnesium and citric acid
In Oz, the tablets that are potassium and magnesium all have lactose in them, which is why we went for the powder.

bang for your buck, spend your money on the Vit D3, it will help a multitude of stuff that is MC related.