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sleep...will it be normal again?



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Was just banded on 9/8 and was wondering why I am mostly only feeling pain when I lay down. Also, will I ever be able to sleep on my side or stomach again? Since the operation, I ahve only been able to sleep on my back, not my favorite position.

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Hmmm I slept on my left side (after I pulled out the "ON Q" pain ball my doc had left there) the first night (yes prone in bed, not in a recliner) and woke a little stiff but once I got moving I was fine. The next night I slept on my stomach and side, and have been ever since.

So, have you TRIED to sleep on your sides etc?

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Was just banded on 9/8 and was wondering why I am mostly only feeling pain when I lay down. Also, will I ever be able to sleep on my side or stomach again? Since the operation, I ahve only been able to sleep on my back, not my favorite position.

Yes, you will. Just wait another week or so and you should be ok. One thing that helped me transition to my side was shoving a nice big body pillow under my belly....it kind of holds everything up and keeps it from stretching.

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I happen to sleep with a lot of pillows, a body pillow is great too. Try using a pillow next to your stomach when sleeping on your side. I was sleeping on my right side day 2 and by day 4 on my left side. But there was a lot of tossing and turning too.

To answer your question though.. yes, you will be able to sleep just fine. Just depends on your healing progress... I only used my pain meds 2 times, both at night. Never really needed it though. :)

By 2 weeks post op, your incisions should be healed or just about... mine are almost all gone except for the port site.

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I had to sleep in my recliner for about 2 weeks. After that I was able to lay down without having the pain in my lower back but getting up off the time was hard and I need a boost. Slowly after that I was about to sleep on my side with a little discomfort because it didn't feel right. I would say from 5-6 weeks out you should feel yourself and back to your normal routine. I remember telling myself am I ever going to be able to sleep normally and I had such a fear. But trust me, it does go away within a couple of week, just hang in there and sleep on a recliner if you have one or sit up on the sofa. Use lots of pillow and don't forget the pain med if the doc sent them for you.

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Am I the ONLY person who slept in her bed on her side the first night?

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Am I the ONLY person who slept in her bed on her side the first night?

Hee-hee !! I think so. :)

Took me about 4 weeks to sleep on my port side (left). No problem with the right side that I recall. All is normal now (banded 7-28). Get my first fill tomorrow. YIKES!

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Restless Monkey, you were chatting with me the day you had surgery! You had an ideal surgery day! LOL!

I tried sleeping on my side but couldn't stay that way long.

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i guess I'm superwoman. where's my cape? Why can't I fly? LOL

I have always been pretty healthy except for being fat, and I am pretty head strong...I guess those things help post op. (They did say in recovery they wanted me to come back because no one ever remembers them LOL) Since it was my 3rd surgery (1 gallbladder and 2 for the band in August this year) I guess I'm just "good at it" LOL

I'd rather have other talents, but we don't get to choose! :)

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Hello 2nd2none1, :thumbup: I'm new here and was wondering who did your band? I am having lapband Monday, 9/15 in Charlotte.

It took me about 4 weeks as well. I hate sleeping on my back but you do what you have to when you are in pain. So be patient...It will all work out.:rolleyes2:

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After reading about everyone sleeping in a recliner the first night, I figured it was a good idea. I also was a little concerned about getting a Fluid buildup in my lungs, so I thought the slight incline would be helpful. About 3 am I woke up and walked around some to stretch and had some Water. The couch looked so comfortable, so I laid down on it and when I woke up, I was curled up on my right side. After that, I slept in my bed, and after about four nights, I could lay on my left side (port side - that sounds like a boat - haha).

I'm seven days out, and this morning, I woke up on my left side, my back to the alarm clock, and I reached around to turn it off, without thinking. EE-OW! I felt like I ripped my port out. Well, not quite that bad, but, boy, did it sting. I'll be a lot more careful about that move for a long time.

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I'm a stomach sleeper too, so the first couple of nights I didn't get much sleep and was a bear during the day.

I was able to sleep on my side after 4 or 5 days post-op.

I was finally able to sleep on my stomach by day 10 or so. And I only found out because I WOKE up that way!

Hang in there....soon you'll be able to sleep however you want and not feel any pain.

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