How did you sleep at night?!

I was just wondering how all you "side sleepers" out there (like myself) dealt with having to sleep on your back after surgery?!  I always start the sleeping process on my back but then as soon as I feel myself drifting off to sleep I turn on my side! I'm afraid that I will do the same after surgery and hurt myself.  Has anyone else had a problem with this? Or am I just over thinking things as usual? hehe...But really, how long does that go on for?!

Hi Kait, I am two weeks out and to tell you the truth I am sleeping really well. I too am a side sleeper and I have been sleeping  on my right side just fine. Then I would flip to my back. Just a couple of days ago I was able to sleep on my left side for a little bit. My nights are spent sleeping about two hours on one side, get up go to the bathroom, come back to bed and on my back or other side I go.Not exactly restful but I figure it can't last forever. My incisions are what are bothering me most these past few days.Need to call doc on Monday.Good luck with your surgery. cheryl

You're not over-thinking things...it's good to prepare... The truth is, I had to sleep the first two weeks in our recliner...I tried to sleep in bed and just couldn't take the pressure...I also had an "open incision surgery", so, it was a lot of pulling... It wasn't until week late 3 to 4 where I could sleep on my side, w/ a pillow below my belly along side of me.  And turning was very, very gentle. Not sure about the lap incisions and how they heal, but this is my experience. Good luck! Paula

I had mine done lap.  and I still had to sleep in the recliner for two weeks.  Just couldn't get comfortable in bed.  Plus I was afraid my husband would roll on me. So that's what I did. Now, 2 plus years I can sleep anywhere.  LOL Koukla

I wouldn't worry too much about hurting yourself when  you move in bed. It will be uncomfortable but it is ok to lay on either side, just be careful of your drain. I was sleeping on my back and my side starting in the hospital. I had a lap RNY and was able to sleep at home in my own bed also. It is important to move after surgery and the more you do it the easier it will get. Lots of pillows for suport can help too.

Sher

One suggestion:  Tuck those sheets tightly under both sides... "locking" you in position...  Dave

I like most, slept in a recliner the first few nights at home...but was very happy to return to my bed...I did not leave the hospital with  drain..and started sleeping on my side a week out...could not sleep any other way...and now I sleep like a baby! Kait, I know you will do just find...I asked for prayers for you in church yesterday...so you got an entire congregation praying for your successful procedure... see you on the losers bench! Jennifer

This is my theory, your body will let you sleep in the position you need and then when it's able to sleep in your normal position you will. I have had two abdominal surgeries and both times I was able to sleep on my bac****il I was healed enough to sleep on either my side or tummy. I think I was on my tummy a week out. Yeah I know, that's fast and insane but that's when I was on my tummy. Good luck! You will be fine.

Kait~     As you can see,  there are many ways to approach the newly post op issue of sleeping.    I had  no recliner, so I had took the back cushions of my couch and used one to prop myself up a bit to sleep.     I then proceeded to build, what my husband calls, my fort!    I put a pillow on each side of me to secure me in.    It worked well. And when my body was ready to move back to side sleeping (which I do) it naturally happened as Kathy mentioned.   Lots of concerns... all natural.  You will find your way to learning  how to adapt to each one as you journey towards the new you! T.

Woo hoo Kait....tomorrow is YOUR big day!!! Don't worry too much....... just make sure you have lots of extra pillows and don't  be afraid to ask for extras in the hospital too.   Since you are having lap rny with Dr. Bell, you will only have 6 teeny, tiny little incisions and your drain will be removed by the next day.  Honestly, I am almost 3 years out and I can really only see the biggest of my scars which is about 1/2 inch in length... the others are just literally "dots" that I really have to look for to see.    Lap surgery just makes for a much easier recovery. I was sleeping on my side almost immediately in the hospital because I just can't stand to be on my back unless I am really bolstered by pillows or in a recliner.  I made sure the nurses got me plently of pillows. Do you know if anestesia makes you nauseous or not???  If you know it does or think it might, my biggest suggestion to most WLS patients is to tell you anestesiologist and Dr. Bell that the sleepy meds DO make you sick....that way they will make sure that you are getting IV meds for it in the hospital.  The last thing you want is to feel pukey from the sleepy meds. Anyway, good luck tomorrow..... I'm sure you will do just fine!!!!  ~Sue