Surgery hopeful: How important is getting a recliner?

I already had an electric one as well. It did help out a lot to get out of it. My sofa's all have built in recliners. But the electric was much better than having to push the foot rest down. I didn't even want to try it.

I had no problem sleeping in my own bed from the day I came home. My bed is on the second floor. Took my time doing the stairs.

Hospital bed was very uncomfortable. I did sleep on my sides right after surgery. My tailbone was uncomfortable.

The use of pillows behind your back will be essential. I did invest a large purple pillow pet. He was my best friend during a cough, sneeze or reposition. Kept the dog off my tummy too.

 No recliner here. I had open RNY with 8 in*****ision. Nurses and physical therapists worked with me while in hospital to get in and out of bed safely and relatively comfortably.  I'm a side sleeper but couldn't sleep on my side for a few weeks-- slept on my back with extra pillows under my knees. 

 I didn't even think about using a recliner.  Any discomfort was gone with a little pain medicine.  It really doesn't last too long.  I need room to move around and stretch so recliners don't work for me except for a short nap.

I would personally go with the Rent A Center option if you weren't already in the market for a recliner.

I am SO thankful that my sectional had a recliner or I would have been calling RAC w/a swiftness. I slept in the recliner for 3 wks. I am a side/stomach sleeper, have a really low bed & had open RNY. The bed just was not going to happen.

I slept fine on my own bed when i came home from the hospital, slept slightly on my side, and also took naps in my chaise chair and a few times papsan chair.

 I didn't have a recline, and didn't need one. I went home with a JP drain in, and it was fine. It was a little uncomfortable to get up for the first day or two, but nothing terrible, and certainly not worth buying a whole new piece of furniture. 

I didn't have a recliner nor did I need one.I didn't need pillows either.  I think I recovered quickly because I had to get up and out of the hospital bed all the time in the hospital.   I had more discomfort after my C-section than I did from my bypass. 

I just had my surgery on 9-12 and slept in the recliner for the first 2 weeks. I tried to get in to the bed before that and it was just way too painful. I finally was able to sleep a little on my side last night (18 days out).

 I actually found my recliner to be uncomfortable right after surgery.  It was painful getting out of it.
I would sit in a wing back chair straight up most of the time when I sat down.  I tried to stay up and moveing most of the day.  From the first night home I slept in my bed. Took my pain meds and put Pillow behind me to elevate my head and pillows packed on each side of me to support my body and keep me from moving too much. By the second week I was able to sleep in my normal position on my side.  Again I just supported my abdomen and back with pillows. Unless you are just really wanting a recliner, it really isn't necessary.
Good luck.