Third time that I have rolled over in bed & spent the rest of the night choking.

All from rolling & swallowing at the same time. It's a reflex & evidently I inhale at the same time...voila....instant choke!!

So, here I sit, typing (and correcting like crazy), trying to calm my nerves. Would sooo much rather be sleeping right now. Between the daytime fatigue & the nighttime choking; I'm a wreck. I actually got all teary-eyed at the DH this afternoon & bawled about the "woe is me" thing. Like my body is somehow going to start listening to me & act normal again.

What is "normal" anyway?

Any ideas on keeping this from happening? I bought a memory foam pillow & have used it for the last four or so months. Sleeping on the couch. DH quit smoking, so I moved back to the bed...and now this is going on. I had a couple good nights.

Normal? NORMAL?? Hahahahaha, good one!

Sorry, that really wasn't "laughter", it was borderline bitterness. Borderline--I TRY not to be bitter, but every once in a while it slips out.

I've been sleeping in my recliner for months. If I sleep in the bed (WAH, I want to sleep in my bed), either my legs spasm or I slide off my carefully constructed pillow pile and can't swallow, or both.

I tried a knee pillow (helped some, after trying--and spending $$--about six different sizes) but it really only worked while I was still awake and shortly after. Once I was asleep, I'd get out of position, and wake up in pain. That gets old really fast, huh?

Probably my best bed (and likely yours, too) would be an adjustable hospital-type bed. Hard to roll over if your head and shoulders are elevated. There are also contraptions (pillow-type) in health/medical supply catalogs that can help keep you from rolling over.

I'm actually very comfortable in my recliner, once I get my leg pillow and various other things adjusted. I have no idea how it's affected my back, neck, whatever in the long run, but for now it's working. Hope you find a solution soon!!

Wow. I can’t believe it. I didn’t realize that other MS people have bedding issues similar to mine. I have used an adjustable bed for years now. When I have to sleep in a hotel, I use an air mattress, and prop up the upper portion by putting my suitcase and pillows under the air mattress.

I have a pump under the head of my mattress that I can use on choking days. it can be pumped up a little or to the full sitting position. it was a cheap easy alternative to buying an adjustable bed, and Amazon.com carries them. LOVE mine! I can sit up to watch TV and lay half way down or go flat if I want.

I just cant get comfy enough to sleep in a chair unless I am completely exhausted. I dont rest well, and I dont recover enough energy unless I can stretch out.

I sleep on the couch with head and shoulders elevated. I sometimes wake up choking, if my head changes positions. I think may die that way.

Sad to read these stories of woe. I didn't sleep much last night, and had some trouble breathing, which is usually due to eating not-so-good food (I ate some canned spaghetti, and this morning I gave the rest of the cans to charity, no use me trying to eat them). I don't choke, but I do have this breathing impairment which I believe is mild bulbar paralysis. Eating low fat carbs at 3:30 AM helped me finally get some rest. My legs spasm and jerk all night unless I take magnesium, but last night even my usual dose didn't do it.
Bad food probably. What would I do in some "independent living" place, would the food have me doing this most nights?

i have a beside rail on one side of my bed. i mainly use it for turning and getting out of bed but i don't see why you couldn't use it to keep you from falling out.

you can position it anywhere along the bed you want. i can't remember the company i got it from but maybe if you call some local medical equipment companies they could give you a referral. or google it. i think i paid about $100 for mine and i'm very glad i have it.

if you know someone that's handy maybe someone could build you something.

what about blocking yourself from turning on your back?

Perhaps use a wedge/body pillow or stuff a few reg. pillows behind your back (while you are on your side). You can always do the old fashioned "stop snoring" trick - stitch a pocket on your jammies {about mid upper back} and slip in a tennis ball. Works like a charm to keep you from turning on your back.

If I am having a really hard time I tuck a pillow behind me while I lay on my side, and this keeps me from rolling over onto my back. Some folks sew tennis balls into their PJs and other tricks to keep them from rolling over. I think propping works great and is much more comfy.

I hope you got some sleep.

Dejibo, TENNIS BALLS?? Sounds like the start of a bad joke!