Left side sleeping
I have read that it's better to sleep on your left side due to descending colon and drainage however does anyone else feel poorly doing this. If I fall asleep I awake gagging. If I just lie awake I start to feel really poorly. When on my back I've noticed that my right colon flares up. I can feel it swell. My left colon was always the most painful but changed to both. I've had scans and no signs of diverticulitis but my ibs has definitely got worse. I never feel 100 percent. I try everything to keep regular as constipation is a problem but even after I empty my bowels I have pain. Anyone experiencing worsening symptoms? I take pregabalin for pain and buscopan. Probiotics don't agree with my gut unfortunately
We don't actually have much info on side sleeping, but we do have a bit about sleeping positioning and its effects: https://irritablebowelsyndrome.net/living/better-posture-sleeping-positions As for things to do about IBS-C that we do have a ton of info on: https://irritablebowelsyndrome.net/living/constipation-battle as well as https://irritablebowelsyndrome.net/forums/ibs-c-forum-discussion Hopefully that gives you a little bit more insight into the condition and it's symptoms. As always, please ask if there's anything we can do from here and remember - you are not alone! Keep on keepin' on, DPM 
I did some quick research on sleeping positions and it seems that it mostly depends on your situation, as mentioned here: https://newsnetwork.mayoclinic.org/discussion/mayo-clinic-minute-what-is-the-best-sleeping-position/ and here: https://www.sleepfoundation.org/sleeping-positions. I do notice that depending on how I'm feeling, certain positions can make it worse. For example, I'm unable to lie on my stomach when I'm very bloated.
I could imagine that when you're constipated, maybe lying on your left side compresses the colon too much, which makes you feel worse?
In any case, I wouldn't worry about the correct sleeping position and just choose one that's comfortable for you.
As for the constipation, have you found anything that helps keep you regular?
All the best, Karina (team member)I sometimes massage my tummy in bed, like stroking side to side with my hand or going round in a circle, this helps to move the gas bubbles along so that I won't be woken later by painful indigestion and rotten farts and massive need to burp. I rub my belly a lot and it works wonders for my IBS symptoms, especially that I get a lot of wind.
Thank you so much for sharing what works for you!
We also have this article about self-massage: https://irritablebowelsyndrome.net/living/self-massage-for-constipation, if anyone is interested.
All the best, Karina (team member)
