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Does sleeping elevated cause more muscle/joint aches at night?

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GERD & Acid Reflux
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Posted 2/6/2018 3:39 PM (GMT 0)
Hi all,

I am in perimenopause and sleep has become a big problem for me, as seems to me true for many women at this stage. I've been waking pretty regularly around 3 AM. At the same time, I am dealing with a bout of reflux/LPR. I've had it before (though it's been a couple of years) and taken PPIs, but would really like to try to address it without going that route this time if possible.

My question is this: Once the reflux started, I began sleeping as I'd done before on a custom-designed staircase-shaped stack of three pillows that elevates my head and chest at an angle. (I have tried real wedge pillows and could not deal.) This can help a lot with the reflux. The problem is that menopausal night wakeups often entail very bad muscle/joint aches/pain (hips especially)-- another common problem many women share. I am worrying that the elevation may actually be worsening these. Curious if anyone else has found this to be so.

Thanks!
Posted 2/8/2018 5:34 AM (GMT 0)
How is your Vit D and calcium intake? If the base of your neck is not well supported, yes the pains can travel to your back, hips, knees. Stretching exercises will help. Try looking some up on YouTube and see if you can do some. Start with easier ones and don't overdo or stress any bones, muscles or ligaments till you've built some stamina. This will also help with the reflux.
Posted 2/8/2018 12:59 PM (GMT 0)
The pillows help, but not as much as if you can actually elevate the bed about 6 inches. Some people have had success with using blocks for this. I found the pillows stacked and wedges caused me more pain in the neck and back. I totally understand the menopausal issues, they aren't necessarily something exercise will help with. You might want to try taking some Pepcid before bedtime to lessen the reflux symptoms, and try not to eat for 3 hours before you retire at night.
Posted 2/8/2018 3:44 PM (GMT 0)
I am with SharonZ on elevating the bed. The pillows & wedges did not help me at all. I had horrible GERD for years. I would wake up at night & throw up acid & bile a lot. I was having some other issues & ended up sleeping in a recliner for 2 years. I did not recline all the way back either. It hit me one day that I was not having all of the GERD issues after sleeping in the recliner a few months. Look for some risers or even blocks & elevate your bed.

As for the other issue & beginning menopause. once I was taken off of HRT I felt like I had hit a brick wall. A friend suggested an OTC product called Estrovent or Estroven, been a long time so I cannot remember the correct name. They have many different type depending on the symptoms. I bought a box & took it to my dr as I take several medications. She looked at the ingredients & said give it a try, it may help. She said there is nothing in the ingredients that will cause harm. It is cheap enough & can be bought anywhere, so you may want to check it out.

Take care.
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