Bed Question

Cora11

Curios to know what decision people have made regarding elevating the head of the bed. Did you buy an actual bed like a sleep number, use a wedge, build an incline, use blocks, or risers? Just wondering? Our doctor is insistent that we have something beyond a wedge to get a 30 degree angle.
Thanks,
Cora

cher76

We have an adjustable bed
We have an adjustable bed that is made by Sealy. We actually put two twin size adjustable beds together side by side and use a king size headboard/footboard. This way we can sleep at the adjustments that are comfortable for both of us. Sealy offers a choice of either latex foam or memory foam mattresses, and the beds can adjust both at the head and feet. We use twin size fitted sheets for the mattresses and a king size sheet for the top. This way we still feel like we are sleeping in the same bed. When the bed is made no one can tell it is anything but a king size bed. Hope this helps!
Cheryl
Wife of Rickie, dx Stage IV EC, Oct. 2010

paul61

I also have an adjustable bed
Cora,

I originally slept using a wedge, a couple or pillows, and four inch blocks under the head of my bed. I found I could not keep myself from moving around in my sleep and sliding off the wedge. I would keep waking up every couple of hours in the wrong position. I finally purchased an adjustable bed that allows me to elevate both my head and my legs. This makes sleeping much more comfortable. I still kept my wedge for traveling but the investment in an adjustable bed was well worth it.

Best Regards,

Paul Adams
McCormick, South Carolina

DX 10/22/2009 T2N1M0 Stage IIB
12/03/2009 Ivor Lewis
2/8 through 6/14/2010 Adjuvant Chemo Cisplatin, Epirubicin, 5 FU
Two year survivor

Life may not be the party we hoped for, but while we are here we might as well dance!

Daisylin

paul61 said:

I also have an adjustable bed
Cora,

I originally slept using a wedge, a couple or pillows, and four inch blocks under the head of my bed. I found I could not keep myself from moving around in my sleep and sliding off the wedge. I would keep waking up every couple of hours in the wrong position. I finally purchased an adjustable bed that allows me to elevate both my head and my legs. This makes sleeping much more comfortable. I still kept my wedge for traveling but the investment in an adjustable bed was well worth it.

Best Regards,

Paul Adams
McCormick, South Carolina

DX 10/22/2009 T2N1M0 Stage IIB
12/03/2009 Ivor Lewis
2/8 through 6/14/2010 Adjuvant Chemo Cisplatin, Epirubicin, 5 FU
Two year survivor

Life may not be the party we hoped for, but while we are here we might as well dance!

Bed
Lee bought a wedge, but found it really uncomfortable. He decided instead to rent a hospital bed. Even though he's only used it twice so far, he really loved it. It has a memory foam matress and adjusts both head and legs. It cost about $150. A month, but i think that our insurance will cover that cost.
Chantal

Cora11

Daisylin said:

Bed
Lee bought a wedge, but found it really uncomfortable. He decided instead to rent a hospital bed. Even though he's only used it twice so far, he really loved it. It has a memory foam matress and adjusts both head and legs. It cost about $150. A month, but i think that our insurance will cover that cost.
Chantal

Thanks everybody for all
Thanks everybody for all the good tips!
Cora

mruble

The wedge didn't work for my
The wedge didn't work for my husband. He'd slide down during the night and frequently aspirated. I finally put a few pillows between the mattress and platform and that has worked very well. Personally, I think an adjustable bed would be a better way to go but he loves our current mattress and he won't consider changing.

Mary

cjmac49

I bought a "bedge".
I bought a "bedge". http://www.bedge.com/

Works for me.

Jim

Ginny_B

cjmac49 said:

I bought a "bedge".
I bought a "bedge". http://www.bedge.com/

Works for me.

Jim

I think bed wedges need to
I think bed wedges need to be purchased in combination with the knee risers. I have one that has the head very elevated and/or sitting up. Under the knees, however was a dome-ike half pillow. So if when the knees were over the hump and the head on the riser, I'd stay the whole night w/o moving and it was very comfortable. I think I paid $129 for the 2 pc set. Many folks have used it since.

Mom is using 3 pillows to prop and the leg lift pillow. Then beside her another pillow to hold the chemo pump.

joniebraviisan

http://www.amerisleep.com
I have a memory foam mattress and love it. I don't think its very hot, but then again my house is really cold even in the hot summers. The first night I didn't really like it but now I really, really love it. I have had it for about a year. One thing you might not know is that when they are advertised, it may say something like temperature controlled. Ect. That just means that the spot you have been laying in gets really soft and comfy. The rest of the mattress will feet a lot harder and harder to the touch. Hope that helped and made sense!!!
http://www.amerisleep.com

NLMCEM

we bought a Tempur-Pedic
we bought a Tempur-Pedic and love it. It is two twin both adjustable and vibrate. They cost the same where ever you go to buy this. We buy our sheets at Bed bath and beyond as they have the xlong twin fitted sheets all year long that we needed. Then we use king top sheet and covers from our old king bed that wasn't old we just gave to our one son who needed an extra bed.
The cost was not as much more as others we looked at plus it has a 20year warranty.
Best part was a 5yr interest free financing.
This is so worth it for Nino and with my back and neck problems is also great for myself.
Nino disliked the raised old bed as so did I. The wedge was uncomfortable and pillows under his knees helped stop him from sliding but he then got to warm.
With the adjustable bed you can get whatever degree angle you need.
You say you pay $150 a month for a hospital bed?? Our cost is $125 for 5yrs on this bed plus 20yr warranty.
Hope this helps,
Carolyn

jim2011

wedge

I use a wedge and will soon be on an adjustable bed. Getting used to the wedge PLUS two additional pillows was great because I traveled a lot but now I am mostly at home and I think an adjustable bed will work good.

faithinlord

paul61 said:

I also have an adjustable bed
Cora,

I originally slept using a wedge, a couple or pillows, and four inch blocks under the head of my bed. I found I could not keep myself from moving around in my sleep and sliding off the wedge. I would keep waking up every couple of hours in the wrong position. I finally purchased an adjustable bed that allows me to elevate both my head and my legs. This makes sleeping much more comfortable. I still kept my wedge for traveling but the investment in an adjustable bed was well worth it.

Best Regards,

Paul Adams
McCormick, South Carolina

DX 10/22/2009 T2N1M0 Stage IIB
12/03/2009 Ivor Lewis
2/8 through 6/14/2010 Adjuvant Chemo Cisplatin, Epirubicin, 5 FU
Two year survivor

Life may not be the party we hoped for, but while we are here we might as well dance!

adjustable bed

Hello!Paul

Could you advise where to look for these adjustable beds. And if you have any helpful info you can share regarding sleeping and bed after esophagectomy.

Thanks

Ann

 

paul61

faithinlord said:

adjustable bed

Hello!Paul

Could you advise where to look for these adjustable beds. And if you have any helpful info you can share regarding sleeping and bed after esophagectomy.

Thanks

Ann

 

Most large furniture stores carry them

Ann,

Many large furniture stores carry adjustable beds. The one I purchased I bought from a large chain furniture store in the southern part of the United States called “Just Beds”. There are many brands and many mattress options. The important thing is to get a quality adjustable base. Leggett and Platt makes a good quality base and many adjustable beds use their base. Here is a reference to the one that I have: http://www.dealbeds.com/leggett-platt-s-cape-adjustable-bed-base/?gclid=CjwKEAiA_s2lBRCe1YPXxtSe-DcSJACCIh3LqKOw6I5S6Yeuam-FWR7m9YVvIOq75PGDYypmwRojkxoCk2jw_wcB

I have also read that many people have been happy with the adjustable bed they purchased from Costco, they have a range of adjustable beds as well: http://www.costco.com/adjustable-beds.html

These beds can be a bit expensive but if your surgeon will supply a letter of medical necessity your health insurance may cover some or all of the cost.

Best Regards,

Paul Adams

McCormick, South Carolina

DX 10/2009 T2N1M0  Stage IIB - Ivor Lewis Surgery  12/3/2009 - Post Surgery Chemotherapy 2/2009 – 6/2009

 

Cisplatin, Epirubicin, 5 FU - Four Year Survivor

Ray_D

faithinlord said:

adjustable bed

Hello!Paul

Could you advise where to look for these adjustable beds. And if you have any helpful info you can share regarding sleeping and bed after esophagectomy.

Thanks

Ann

 

My sleeping/bed

Hi Ann,

Don't know if this helps or not: I'm a four year Ecancer survivor. I have the head of the bed elevated with risers + two pillows to keep the head high. Tried the wedge long ago and hated it. I got bile reflux fairly often after surgery (hurt like hell) but it has become more infrequent to the point where I only get it if I eat late in the evening. Time has really been helpful. I go to bed each night without worry.

 

Ray

faithinlord

Ray_D said:

My sleeping/bed

Hi Ann,

Don't know if this helps or not: I'm a four year Ecancer survivor. I have the head of the bed elevated with risers + two pillows to keep the head high. Tried the wedge long ago and hated it. I got bile reflux fairly often after surgery (hurt like hell) but it has become more infrequent to the point where I only get it if I eat late in the evening. Time has really been helpful. I go to bed each night without worry.

 

Ray

thank you

Thank you Ray 

For answering my question. Where do you get risers. How many inches long they are. I can't make up my mind if I should go with adjustable bed right away or wait  and see how risers and pillows to raise head end work. Do you mind sharing what stage were you diagnosed and where you got treatment. I don't want to be nosy in other people's affairs but knowing you have come this far with this cancer gives hope to me.

Ann

 

 

Ray_D

faithinlord said:

thank you

Thank you Ray 

For answering my question. Where do you get risers. How many inches long they are. I can't make up my mind if I should go with adjustable bed right away or wait  and see how risers and pillows to raise head end work. Do you mind sharing what stage were you diagnosed and where you got treatment. I don't want to be nosy in other people's affairs but knowing you have come this far with this cancer gives hope to me.

Ann

 

 

Hi Ann,
Someone gave me the

Hi Ann,

Someone gave me the risers a couple years ago. Seems like you can get them from many different stores for less than $20. Mine are about 6 inches high.

I think I was diagnosed (11/2010) with a T2N1 tumor near the bottom of the esophagus. I was pretty ignorant. I thought we could just cut that part out! So many people told me how fortunate I was to have my surgeon- Baiya Krishnadasan at Fransciscan Medical in Tacoma, WA. Very "powerful" and confident approach to my situation. It's a complex/long surgery and recovery is tough but four years later I eat almost "normal" sized meals, no swallowing or digestion issues and, like I said, no more bile reflux as time progressed. I can't over eat which is a blessing- keeps my weight exactly where it needs to be.

Ecancer is scary as you know. Easy to mis-diagnose. I had no symptoms- no heartburn, pain, difficulty swallowing. The tumor began to bleed a little so I was digesting blood which led to endoscopy/biopsy and diagnosis. Lucky I guess. Have lots of hope! There are a lot of success stories out there. And feel free to be "nosy". I am happy to share. Best wishes,

 

Ray

Bacchus

jim2011 said:

wedge

I use a wedge and will soon be on an adjustable bed. Getting used to the wedge PLUS two additional pillows was great because I traveled a lot but now I am mostly at home and I think an adjustable bed will work good.

Wedge

I use a wedge. I should say I use some wedges. When I first came home from my surgery I virtually lived in my recliner. It was quite comfortable and, like the hospital bed, it could be shaped to keep me more or less upright without sliding down and inviting reflux. Later, when I had healed sufficiently to sleep in a bed again, we looked at many adjustable beds. Ultimately, I ruled them out due to cost. I ordered a medical wedge with a 40 degree angle. I find the angle to be very comfortable but I was constantly sliding down into a more horizontal position. Then I began devising various ways of keeping myself from sliding. To make a long story short, I bought a second wedge that's only about 6 inches high at the top end. I slide the pointed end of it under the pointed end of the 40 degree wedge such that they form the shape of a recliner seat, thereby keeping me from sliding. I also learned that my body weight sitting on the juncture of the two pillows more or less anchored me and the pillows against sliding. I later began adding a flat bed-pillow under the 6 inch end of the smaller wedge. This improves the no-sliding aspect and is really comfortable. i'd be happy to answer any questions you may have. Hope this was helpful....

pkygola

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