Sleeping post op

[Happy Camper 266]

Hello all,

Just quick question. I am 13 days post op and still it hurts to try to sleep on my side. How long before you tried to sleep on your side?

Thanks

[Lissa 2,631]

I could sleep on my right side pretty much right away. My left side and hip hurt for about a month. Not sure if it's truly surgery related, though. I do know that my left shoulder hurt from gas and being over-full much more than my right shoulder did.

At 2.5 months post-op, I can sleep on either side and on my back (which I could not do before). My biggest problem is that my Bipap mask doesn't fit as well since I've lost a bunch of volume in my face. I'm constantly readjusting it.

I suggest a body pillow if you don't already have one. For some reason, having it up against my tummy/back makes me feel more comfortable when I sleep.

[his2my2our4 120]

Out of the whole ordeal, I think this was my biggest complaint!! I think I was about 2 weeks maybe 2 1/2. I found that if i tucked 1 or 2 pillows behind me on one side, I could sort of fake it enough to feel like I was on my side. Don't worry...wont be long!

[IslandGrrl 11]

I was able to sleep on my left side relatively quickly, and even favored that side a bit while in the hospital. sleeping on the right side was another matter entirely, it was about 2.5 to 3 weeks before I could sleep comfortably on that side. His2my2our4's suggestion about the pillows really does work.

[Free2B 8]

I will be three weeks post-op tomorrow. I, too, longed to be able to sleep somewhere other than my reclining chair the first two weeks, as I am used to sleeping on my side and it has always been uncomfortable to sleep on my back. I have been able to sleep in my bed for two-three hours at a time only in the last four-five days. For some reason, it is more uncomfortable to sleep on the left side than the right. Like Lissa and his2my2our4, I find that hugging a pillow to my tummy is helpful. Every day is better, so hang in there!

[Happy Camper 266]

Thank you all, I have used some pillows but the body pillow sounds great Lisa. I just got my drain removed and with the pain on my sides figured it might be another week or two before I could go bak to sleeping on my side and I just do not want to damage anything internally by putting pressure while still swollen.

Have a great day

[RhondaLynn 10]

I could sleep on my side as soon as I got home. it hurt some as things shifted inside but then settled down and felt fine. I also could turn over and sleep on my other side and it also hurt some as things shifted inside. while being fat, I don't have a huge belly so I just figured that was the reason, because my friend who is mostly fat in her belly couldn't sleep on her side for a long time. She finally put a pillow under her belly and it seemed to help.

Rhonda