I'm a big time side sleeper, probably 60/40 in favor of my left side. I though I'd try something different and learn to sleep on my back.

So what's the secret? It feels great for a minute, but then I drift off, usually with my mouth hanging wide open, due to gravity, I suppose. Usually, I wake up a few minutes later choking half to death as saliva drifts down the wrong tube. If that doesn't happen, I'll make it 20 or 30 minutes and wake up with extreme dry mouth thanks to the free flow of fresh air through my unfiltered open mouth. If I somehow beat those obstacles, I'm getting hit by my wife for snoring. And to wake her up tells me that the snoring is probably at a level dangerous to our hearing.

I'm not giving up on the dream, but I'm curious how anyone does it successfully.

Stomach sleeping? ..... give me a break. No way you do that without suffocating in your pillow.

I am a 100% back sleeper, but I do two significant things.

I sleep with two firm pillows, the first is almost upright against the headboard. I then put the second pillow at about a 45 degree angle (it's positioned against the first pillow). Most of my upper body is positioned at about a 25 to 35 degree angle. No open mouth, and no snoring.

I also have a third pillow under my knees. I did this for the first time a few years ago when I had a knee injury and the orthopedist recommended this position. It flattens out my lower back such that I don't wake up with a sore back.

As a kid I used to sleep on my stomach. There's no way my back can handle that today. I also can't do the side thing.

Whatabout lotus position?

You probably have sleep apnea. Get a wedge pillow so you are partially sitting up.

I was a stomach sleeper for decades. Had to switch to back sleeping after a surgery. After a year of that I never went back to stomach sleeping although I will sleep on my side from time to time.

Turn your head to the side.

See a sleep specialist.

You sound fat?

Tape your mouth shut. Seriously, it's a thing.

Sticks&Stones said:

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Philo B 93 said:

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Stomach sleeping? ..... give me a break. No way you do that without suffocating in your pillow.

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Try turning your head

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thats what she said

If your mouth being open is the biggest issue, use hostage tape. Its literally what it is for.

I thought it was for hostages? Isn't that why it is named hostage tape and not fat man mouth closing sleeping tape?

Philo B 93 said:

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I'm a big time side sleeper, probably 60/40 in favor of my left side. I though I'd try something different and learn to sleep on my back.

So what's the secret? It feels great for a minute, but then I drift off, usually with my mouth hanging wide open, due to gravity, I suppose. Usually, I wake up a few minutes later choking half to death as saliva drifts down the wrong tube. If that doesn't happen, I'll make it 20 or 30 minutes and wake up with extreme dry mouth thanks to the free flow of fresh air through my unfiltered open mouth. If I somehow beat those obstacles, I'm getting hit by my wife for snoring. And to wake her up tells me that the snoring is probably at a level dangerous to our hearing.

I'm not giving up on the dream, but I'm curious how anyone does it successfully.

Stomach sleeping? ..... give me a break. No way you do that without suffocating in your pillow.

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Yes, that happens to me also. But it is strange that for many years I used to sleep on my back and had no problems. Over the last 10 years if I sleep on my back, saliva chokes me so I don't want to risk it. I am safe only if I sleep on my side. If I sleep on my stomach I have the same problem and might start choking and my wife gets panicky that I am having a heart attack. I notice that it does not happen if I sleep with my mouth slightly open so there is an air escape. If I sleep with my mouth closed tight and on my stomach then I am asking for trouble.

The other thing is sleep on your left, not right side. The reason is your stomach is on the left side and when you sleep on your right, bile flows out of the stomach and goes up the esophagus and throat giving you heartburns. I have noticed it when I change sides in about 80% of the time. It never happens on my left.

Sticks&Stones said:

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Philo B 93 said:

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Stomach sleeping? ..... give me a break. No way you do that without suffocating in your pillow.

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Try turning your head

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This. The face doesn't go into the pillow. but it still causes me to choke if I have my mouth tightly shut.

Sticks&Stones said:

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This is the best thing ever for side sleepers or those with back problems.

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Does the girl come with the pillow?

histag10 said:

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If your mouth being open is the biggest issue, use hostage tape. Its literally what it is for.

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I've used my fair share of hostage tape, and the problem is getting the glue off when you remove it. People also complain about it ripping the hair out and skin off.

My golf buddy is an oral surgeon. He's offered to screw some bolts into my upper and lower jaw where I can attach a wire apparatus every night to hold my mouth shut. Its cheaper than tape in the long run and better for the environment.

After I got frozen shoulder, I had to break a 40+ year habbit of sleeping on my shoulders with most of it on my left shoulder and quit instantly. No choice. Not fun. Anyone saying they cant do it is just weak or hasnt been forced yet

Why do you say "yet" as though the force is inevitable? Is sidesleeping something old people don't do? I'm fairly vexed by this.

Drawkcab said:

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Why do you say "yet" as though the force is inevitable? Is sidesleeping something old people don't do? I'm fairly vexed by this.

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I wouldn't lose any sleep over it.

infinity ag said:

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Sticks&Stones said:

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This is the best thing ever for side sleepers or those with back problems.

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Does the girl come with the pillow?

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What pillow?