Pillow for esophageal cancer patients

On Dec 17, 2018 4:02 PM bhewgley wrote:

I had read somewhere about a pillow that helps esophageal cancer patients sleep well. Can’t seem to find the post about it. Does anyone know what it is? Thanks,

Hi, It's a pillow thats like a wedge. If you google it you'll see what it looks like. 

Best of luck!

Val Staten Island N.Y.

Others on this site have recommended the Medcline Reflux Relief Pillow;  however, an adjustable bedframe may be your best investment.  My husband couldn't sleep with those wedges .. 

I love and swear by my Medcline wedge.  I had an esophagectomy in July 2015 and got the pillow in October 2016 (it was pricey and I think I was waiting to see if I survived long enough to justify it). I sleep with it every night and it has held up very well.  I did not get the body pillow, just the wedge and put my own pillow on top of it.  I find that I have the least reflux if I sleep on my left side.  I hope it will work for you.  I think they have some sort of money back guarantee for the first few months if it does not work for you.  Good luck!

I think the posting you want to read is about 20 posts down from here. It is called "A new pillow that really helped", dated Oct. 23, 2018. I use a six inch wedge pillow and I am good with it.

You've convinced me to give the pillow a try. I can't sleep on my left side, which was always my preferred side. I'll have reflux within an hour should I try. But I can sleep near flat on my right side which I don't understand.

I'm tired of being restricted to a single size hospital bed and would love to be back in my queen bed with a suitable pillow.

I'll  report back after I get the pillow and put some miles on it.

I don't think you will regret giving the pillow a try. The Medcline pillow is made of memory foam and is very comfortable.  Before I ordered it, someone lent me a hard foam wedge and it was not comfortable at all so I gave it back.

This has been a topic of conversation on the Smartpatients website also.  Some people can't sleep on their left sides and some can't sleep on their right.  It seems to be a function of how their surgery was done.  My Medcline fits very comfortably in my full size bed and bile reflux is thankfully pretty rare.  I am in the camp of people who find it works best to have a snack before bed and I also chew one Gaviscon tablet before bed.  Sometimes I wake up in the night and chew another one if my stomach feels like it might be going to give me trouble.  

Please do report back in a month or two.

Its called Medicline, It is costly but it has helped my greatly since I do not get asperation using it, you have to not eat 3 hrs before bed, stay off acid food, take you pills, do what you are supposed to do. I got it because I was asperation alot, and for those of you who have had that, its is something that is worse that inhaleing liquid fire. Go to the websit, and see, the dr. that designed it had EC. hope it helps 

PS Medicare does not pay for it, but I am glad I got it anyway. 

I have been a survivor of Esophageal cancer since 2006. I had the Transhiatal Esophagectomy which renders the sphincter valves useless so they remove them leaving a direct path up to your throat. I tried the wedge pillows for a while but always ended up slipping down and having aspiration that was always a horrible experience especially if it got into your lungs.

I eventually got my insurance to partially pay for an electric adustable bed that you could adjust head and feet.  I got my doctor to write a perscription for it, claiming it as a medical necessity. It is still an occasional issue since I move around alot at night. I had to learn to sleep mainly on my back with the legs slightly raised so it would put me in a slight valley that would keep me from slipping down at night.  If I don't raise the legs up, I tend to slip down a bit but I have learned to put my arm under the pillow which helps keep it under my neck.  I wake up at night and if I have slipped any, I reposition myself. It is quite an adjustment but after some experimenting, you will find what works well for you. 

1. I really suggest that you look into an adjustable bed frame. That has worked well for me.

2. Be very carefull about drinking or eating anything 2-3 hours before you go to bed or lie down.

3. Avoid foods in the evening that are hard to digest and create acid buildup like meats, etc.

4. Buy a wedge that you can take with you when you go on a trip or have to stay overnight somewhere besides your home.

Good Luck.  Be Well.