Which side is more comfortable to sleep on for you?
When a person with COPD sleeps laying down which side is more comfortable to sleep on for you ? I have worked on this same theory for 3 years now. I need information from people who have felt the slow progression of this condition.
Hi shwifter and thanks for posting your question. I'll be curious to see what the responses indicated as people begin to provide their answers.
I'm also curious as to what your 'theory' is - are you able to share it with the community?
All the best,
Leon (site moderator)Thank you for your reply. I have already looked into both of your suggestion. I have also tried to contact different leaders in the field. I know your not a Dr but I believe if your have a passion for healthcare you may not have the title but you are a physician in my eyes. As was Vivian Thomas a brilliant man who wasn't a doctor but was major factor in where we are today in the treatment of heart conditions. He eventually got an honorary doctorate from John's Hopkins in Baltimore.
Well, shwifter, all I can think for you to do is to keep trying. As long as you have the drive and the energy, just keep at it!!
We're always here for you.
All my best,
Leon (site moderator)
I also am beginning to realize that as constipation gets worse anxiety gets worse. Here most people like myself got on anxiety meds to help. I now think I was interrupting my body's natural reset process. Anxiety leads to panic attacks which leads to hyperventilating. Hyperventilating is you body trying to catch up but with dehydration too this can be difficult as with ever breath you loose moisture. Again this is a theory. I hope it helps others as much as it's helped me.
I'm in the end stage 3. I have found that sleeping on my left side is ok. But if I roll over to my right side instantly I can't breath. Something new has started with me. When I wake up I have to run to the bathroom because I have to start like throwing up liquid from my lungs.Its just clear and full of tiny bubble's and it's probably about a 1/2 to 1 cup of liquid. I don't know why it is happening. I'm to nervous to go find out. All it's going to be is bad news.
Unfortunately, while not all doctors, being morally judged by medical professionals is something I have dealt with myself. Not with smoking but with pain medicines. I have been on pain meds for two decades or more and when they see that they instantly judge me as an addict, even though I've never, ever, not even once, got in trouble or taken my medication wrong, etc. Still though, doctors and pain specialists, especially young ones, love to march into the room and start telling me what they can't do for me and how I shouldn't be taking this much medicine etc. I would often say, "I've been taking these medications longer than you've been alive," but I realized that never went over well and set my cause back immensely. 🤣 Sufficed to say being judged by the white coats is nothing new and the only solution I've found is to find new doctors who don't because even if you prove them wrong they only just make things more difficult unfortunately. It's another added headache to our ever-growing list of tasks we must do to get the treatment we need! Just know we will never judge here, life is messy and complicated. By the way I am sorry to hear about your husband but it takes time to learn how to speak up to doctors and I'm sure you did your best at the time. Keep on keepin' on, DPM Thank you so much for your reply. I agree .
For what ever the reasons so many doctors have completely lost touch with their patients. I do not considered them doctors really . They practice nuts and bolts medicine. They are like mechanics.
But I do have to say that very surprisingly the ER doctor who I was rushed to on this 15th of January 2025 was / is a great ER Doctor . Very grounded yet shows much concern and compassion . I was lucky in that dire emergency meeting. His name is Doctor McAtty. . I was lucky to be in under his care.
First, to the original question, I sleep on my left side habitually, and always have. My wife did some research and found that it is a preferred position with folks that experience breathing issues. I have made no attempt to confirm this through research, it works for me and if my wife as done the leg work I trust it.
The curious thing is, when I awake, it is always on my back, propped up high on my wedge pillow. I do on occasion roll to my right, just to see if I can. It is harder to breath when I do, but, being un natural to me, It seems to loosen up any heavy phlegm build up I have. Curious.
The conversation seems to have been redirected, to a point, of medical support or ability. I am not on that band wagon, and will stay the course of the original line of questions.
Hope it helps.
Adding your voice to the conversation always helps, so thank you! I do find this an interesting conversation. I'm not a medical expert, but I've seen that sleeping on the left side is encouraged for all kinds of people. My mom friends were encouraged to do it during pregnancy, and I've also heard it's good for people with heart issues. Sleeping on the left is supposed to be good for circulation and take the pressure off of some of your organs.
My philosophy: Listen to your body and do what feels right. I would love to see more research done on this for people with respiratory issues, though! -Melissa, team member (and left side sleeper!)
