Sleeping Positions - ThinnerTimes

electrichoney · 04-16-2007, 08:07 AM

Hi all -- I'm 7 weeks post-op and still sleeping in a recliner because lying in bed for more than a couple of hours still too painful. (I've always been a stomach and side sleeper, in that order of preference, and have never been comfortable sleeping flat on my back.) Several weeks ago, I tried sleeping in bed propped up on pillows, but it was incredibly uncomfortable and in the morning I had pain in both my abdomen and back. Has anyone else had this experience? If so, can you give me an idea of about how long it might take until I can get back in bed?? My surgeon's nurse practitioner said about four to six weeks after surgery, but I tried again on Saturday night and basically spent all day yesterday in pain as a result. I slept sort of on the right side of my stomach with a pillow under the left side to give it some support, but it was super-hard to find a comfortable position. I finally fell alseep, but woke up about five hours later and my incision area was just throbbing. I had to move back to the recliner, and was amazed at how comfortable it was in comparison! Any advice or info would be greatly appreciated.

fitbefore40 · 04-16-2007, 09:05 AM

I'm not that much help, b/c although I had an open procedure, I always slept in the bed . .. but maybe if I tell you how it will help you . . . First, I sleep on my right side with a body pillow . . . a very hard one. I'd lean on the body pillow, so my position was actually more side/tummy than purely on my side. I did this AND used a CPAP and had a drain for a month. (once I lost 50 pounds, I didn't need the CPAP anymore)

It's weird, but I found that I was more sore when I slept (or was prone) more than 8 hours a day . . . so keeping walking helps me a lot.

cnvh · 04-16-2007, 09:30 AM

Rhonda,

Are you getting up and walking enough? A big reason it hurts to sleep in a regular bed is because those stomach muscles are still so tight from surgery-- so if you're spending most of your day in a seated position, or "curved" in a recliner, it could be that your belly muscles aren't stretching back to allow you to be comfortably "straight."

I agree with Laurie-- if you can move around and walk more, try doing it-- should help.

LisaBoston · 04-16-2007, 11:14 AM

I had open too, and a stomach and side sleeper...Drove me crazy to lay on my back, but I put a pillow under one hip so I layed somewhat on my side. Put another one on my front to support the tummy weight. I slept in a bed every night post-op, never the recliner.

Key is to get up 2 times a night early out to stretch the legs, have a pee (all those liquids).