# Opinions on wedge pillows? **URL:** \ **Category:** In My Humble Opinion\ **Created:** [March 5, 2007, 5:18pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/opinions-on-wedge-pillows/394702 "2007-03-05T17:18:32Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 8\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![Sal\_Ammoniac](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/8dc957/32.png) [@Sal\_Ammoniac](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Sal_Ammoniac)\ **Post date:** [March 5, 2007, 5:18pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/opinions-on-wedge-pillows/394702/1 "2007-03-05T17:18:32Z")
I’ve been thinking of getting a wedge pillow to see if it improves the quality of my sleep. I have problems, of a fairly minor sort, with acid reflux, as well as sleep apnea, and supposedly these pillows are useful for just that. But before I plunk down $50, I thought I would ask if anyone here had any experience. The pillow I’m thinking of is an inclined plane long enough to accommodate your torso and your head, and has a maximum height of seven inches or so, plus whatever your regular pillow gives you. Opinions, anyone? ---
**Author:** ![wonky](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/wonky/32/393_2.png) [@wonky](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/wonky)\ **Post date:** [March 5, 2007, 5:23pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/opinions-on-wedge-pillows/394702/2 "2007-03-05T17:23:33Z")
I’m interested, too. My husband has both acid reflux and sleep apnea as well, and is just generally an insomniac. ---
**Author:** ![crowmanyclouds](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/crowmanyclouds/32/19884_2.png) [@crowmanyclouds](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/crowmanyclouds)\ **Post date:** [March 6, 2007, 3:56am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/opinions-on-wedge-pillows/394702/3 "2007-03-06T03:56:24Z")
Wouldn’t a couple of bricks under the legs at the head of the bed do the same thing? CMC fnord! ---
**Author:** ![Lynn\_Bodoni](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/e47c2d/32.png) [@Lynn\_Bodoni](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Lynn_Bodoni)\ **Post date:** [March 6, 2007, 5:40am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/opinions-on-wedge-pillows/394702/4 "2007-03-06T05:40:11Z")
I find that elevating my head and torso with regular pillows works well. I also take Nexium, avoid my “trigger” foods, and don’t overstuff myself. ---
**Author:** ![LurkMeister](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/3da27b/32.png) [@LurkMeister](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/LurkMeister)\ **Post date:** [March 6, 2007, 3:13pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/opinions-on-wedge-pillows/394702/5 "2007-03-06T15:13:08Z")
I also have sleep apnea, and used to have an adjustable bed. I found that I slept better with my head elevated. Unfortunately, I couldn’t take the adjustable bed with me when I moved from Chicago to NC, but I found that using a shaped foam pillow (I forget the brand offhand) with a regular pillow underneath it works well. ---
**Author:** ![Ceejaytee](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/ceejaytee/32/2956_2.png) [@Ceejaytee](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ceejaytee)\ **Post date:** [March 9, 2007, 6:24pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/opinions-on-wedge-pillows/394702/6 "2007-03-09T18:24:00Z")
Sorry I’m late, but I just got a wedge pillow (from [Medslant](http://www.medslant.com/)) a few days ago (they ship through Amazon.com–very fast shipping and good customer service). I really love it. I tried using lots of pillows to prop my head up, but I have neck and upper back problems, and that was aggravating them. The Medslant is 24 x 24 x 7, and is very comfortable. I have been sleeping better and haven’t noticed any acid reflux problems. The pillow folds easily so you can travel with it. I ordered an extra cover for it too. It wasn’t cheap, but since it’s stopping both the acid reflux _and_ the neck and upper back problems, it was well worth it. ---
**Author:** ![Sal\_Ammoniac](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/8dc957/32.png) [@Sal\_Ammoniac](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Sal_Ammoniac)\ **Post date:** [April 18, 2007, 6:25pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/opinions-on-wedge-pillows/394702/7 "2007-04-18T18:25:22Z")
I’m resurrecting this thread from hibernation, because **jsgoddess** had asked for some follow-up. I went ahead and bought a wedge pillow, the same one recommended by **Ceejaytee** , and while I can’t say anything against the pillow itself, it does nothing for my symptoms. In fact, I even suspect it’s made my sleeping worse, by preventing me from comfortably sleeping on my stomach. So no magic bullet for me, I’m afraid, but your mileage may vary. But at least I have a $60 reading pillow! ---
**Author:** ![Litoris](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/9f8e36/32.png) [@Litoris](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Litoris)\ **Post date:** [April 18, 2007, 6:46pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/opinions-on-wedge-pillows/394702/8 "2007-04-18T18:46:46Z")
[QUOTE=Sal Ammoniac] I’m resurrecting this thread from hibernation, because **jsgoddess** had asked for some follow-up. I went ahead and bought a wedge pillow, the same one recommended by **Ceejaytee** , and while I can’t say anything against the pillow itself, it does nothing for my symptoms. In fact, I even suspect it’s made my sleeping worse, by preventing me from comfortably sleeping on my stomach. So no magic bullet for me, I’m afraid, but your mileage may vary. But at least I have a $60 reading pillow! [/QUOTE] I am sorry the pillow does nothing for your symptoms. I used to have both those issues, and found that the only thing that helped the GERD was Nexium (a lot of it) and eventually, surgery. The sleep apnea for me was slightly alleviated with a CPAP machine, but since mine was both OSA and hypopnia (pretty sure that was the term – I just quit breathing, not just unable to breathe) the only thing that actually helped it in the end was losing weight. Sleeping on your left side is also a little helpful for the reflux because that puts the esophagus higher than the stomach itself. I know it always helped me to settle back in after an “eruption” during the night.