Post-op...Sleeping on my side....when?

[mwcassar 0]

Hi everyone...banded on 11/19, at Temple Hosp., Phila...doing well so far...really want to sleep on my side or tummy...still uncomfortable at port site...how long till most people can get back to normal sleep positions with comfort? I really appreciate all replies...this website has been very helpful...:girl_hug:

[make33 2]

I kept trying until I could sleep on my sides without too much trouble--but I did have staples. After they were removed at one week, it just got easier and easier.

I would say that it really took a month to be perfectly okay with sleeping on my stomach as well.

After a while, you won't even remember it much!! We just enjoy our new tool... :girl_hug:

[Longhorn 1]

I didn't have staples either but I was able to sleep on my side the first night. I slept with a body pillow tucked under my belly and between my knees (you can use two pillows, too.) It was uncomfortable to turn over from one side to the other but once I was in position, I was okay again. I also was taking Tylenol with codeine. I asked my husband to sleep in another room so I wouldn't have to worry about disturbing him when I turned or if I had decided to get up and sleep in the recliner. By the third night, he was able to sleep with me again. I still had some soreness that I could feel when I turned over for about the first ten days.

[Kristin1031 0]

I sletp on my side the first night by using a small pillow under my belly and I agree it hurt really bad to turn over in bed. But this gets much better over time. I am three weeks out and have no pain when turning over and I am still using a pillow because I still have twinges now and then.

It gets better each week. Just hang in there you will be back to your old self before you know it!!:girl_hug:

[Mysticalks 0]

Hey! I've always slept on my tummy, so sleeping on my back was a real pain to me. My back actually started hurting after a good 1-2 weeks of constantly lying on it! I began sleeping on my side 2 weeks post-op. It was a little painful for me, so I would sleep on it for about an hour just to give my back a break. As for my tummy, that took about 3 1/2 weeks. Only painful when I would try to get up (strains the stomach muscles). I'm 4 1/2 weeks post-op now, and I sleep on my stomach perfectly. Hope this helps!

[Marissa 0]

Hello! I was banded on November 20th - I'm still having some pain when sleeping on my side...but I'm determined to do it anyway. :phanvan I find that my left side hurts considerably more than my right. I use a pillow against my belly (to hold it all in!) and that has really helped.

[Jachut 487]

I was lying on my side for short periods on the day I had my surgery, had to get off my back, it was driving me nuts. I just put a pillow under my tummy, like you do when you're pregnant.

[Txchloe 0]

I was able to sleep on my right side the 1st night (the non-port side). Finally was able to sleep on my left side at almost 4 weeks. Evidently I shouldn't have because I was extremely sore for the next 3 days and even thought I had messed something up. :omg: However, once that period of discomfort was over I've been fine since. So I guess my answer would be that it took about 4.5 weeks post op before I easily could sleep on my port side.

[RangerGin 0]

My port is in the center of my belly. I have a week post-op and though I still can't fall asleep on my stomach, I have woken up in the middle of the night on my stomach without any real pain. I can't seem to fall asleep yet on my stomach because it just feels awkward and uncomfortable. I can't wait until I can sleep on my stomach, I miss that almost as much as food.

[Wheetsin 714]

I can't sleep on my stomach, never has been comfortable, but I am a side sleeper and I think it was 4 or 5 days post-op until I could lay on my side. It helps to use a pillow under my stomach. Was probably 1.5 - 2 weeks before I could lay on my side with no discomfort or tweaking at all.

My port is pretty much centered, about 2 - 3" below my bra.

[aubrie 6]

Slept on my right side my third night after surgery with a little pillow tucked under my tummy. Rolling over was very difficult. I had no pain while on my back, but my back would start to hurt. Then figured out how to position my body pillow. OH MY GOD what a difference! So now I used my body pillow every night and roll back and forth with it up against me. I slept on my port side (left) with a body pillow for about 4 hours on day 6 or 7. It started to hurt after that. I just built up the amount of time. I'm 2 weeks post op now and can sleep on either side, but the port side still gets a little tender. I have to wiggle around with my body pillow a little until I get comfortable.

[KokoCG 0]

I was banded on November 15 and was able to sleep on side 2 weeks post op. I don't sleep on tummy and don't think I could now; port site is too sensitive.

Good luck!