After Surgery Question About Sleeping

Hello all,

I go for my VSG tomorrow morning. It occurred to me that I might have a problem getting in and out of my waterbed. What do you veterans think? Getting in won't be a problem, but I roll out on my stomach getting out. Am I going to be able to do this (and if not) how soon do you think I might be able to.

Sleeping in the recliner in the living room is just not comfortable. :(

Thank you in advance for your input!

Diane

I have a regular bed, and still had to roll out in order to get to my feet for the first week post-op. Since you can't really bend at the waist, I had to hug a pillow to my middle and do sort of a log-roll onto my knees on the floor.

Sleeping in a recliner may not be comfortable, but for the first few days, you may be too exhausted (and/or doped-up on painkillers) to care. I could never nap in one normally, but I slept in mine several times in the first week after surgery.

Thank you very much for the information. I guess I'm going to plan on sleeping in the recliner for at least the first week. Thanks again!

I can't address the specific issues of a waterbed, but rolling on your stomach for any reason would be a big no. You might find sleeping in the recliner uncomfortable under normal conditions, but post-surgery it will probably be your best bet. If you had a regular bed, I'd say give it a try...I slept in mine starting the 2nd night home with pillows propping up my belly. Other people have said they've spent up to 2 weeks in a recliner. Depending on how much strain it currently puts on your stomach to get out of bed, I would say your safest bet is to stay out of it for at least a week.

Thank you very much for the information. I guess I'm going to plan on sleeping in the recliner for at least the first week. Thanks again!

I didn't know that anyone still had a waterbed! I had waterbeds for many years, but I would strongly recommend against sleeping in yours for a couple of weeks after your surgery. One of the things that you will want to be careful of while you're healing is engaging your abdominal muscles too much. Getting in and out of a waterbed will likely be too much strain. If you have a regular bed in your home, I would recommend that or, as others have mentioned, sleeping in a recliner might be just the ticket.

I hope all goes well with your surgery. Wishing you a speedy recovery!

Yeah the waterbed was the only thing that I could sleep in when I was as heavy as I was. I got up to almost 545 at one point. Thank you very much for the information. I guess I'm going to plan on sleeping in the recliner for at least the first week. Thanks again!

Not sure on the whole waterbed situation; but I slept in the recliner for 2 days. Then I was able to sleep in a normal bed. I slept propping myself up a little as well as having a pillow on each of my sides in case I rolled over.

when I came back to my apartment and slept in bed with my boyfriend I slept with a pillow between us because he moves a lot. I also slept with a pillow on my belly in case he flailed his arms or I rolled over. I slept with a pillow on my belly for a while or under me when I slept on my stomach. Now 6 weeks out I can sleep normally!

Sleeping, period, probably won't be comfortable post-op, so I'd do with the recliner.

OMG, they still make those? It may be a challenge, for sure. If you decide to try it, make sure you have someone to help you get out in the morning.