Sleep Positions

 I am 18 days out from my TT and BL.  Before surgery, I was the type to merrily toss at night on my sides and stomach for sleeping positions.  So needless to say, since surgery I have been in a form of torture to be limited to sleeping on my back.  I find it so uncomfortable and have yet to sleep through the night.  I did try to sleep on my sides/stomach but the pressure is too uncomfortable right now- even with the binder on.  How long did it take everyone to be able to sleep on your stomach?

At 4 weeks when one of the drains in my thighs was removed I went to sleeping on my side. Took a long time to just get on my side and was pretty tender but eventally I could handle it. I didn't sleep on my stomach until 6-7 weeks after my final drain was removed @ 6 weeks then took some time to be able to manuver on to my stomach and feel comfortable for the entire night. Every movement was done very slowly and often would find myself going back to my back.

Just keep trying each night and take it slow. Eventually you'll get back to normal probably about 6-8 weeks (maybe sooner depending on how you heal).

Sonya

Hi Sherry!
I too am a side sleeper (not stomach).  I HATE being stuck on my back.
At week 4 I rolled to left side for the first time.  I hugged a BIG pillow kind of pressing it into myself and at the same time had a reg pillow between my knees.  I found this took all the pressure off my tummy.  I've been sleeping on my side ever since.  I'm 6 weeks out now and still find that having the pillow between my knees works best (I don't hug the pillow anymore).

Hope that helps!!
TTFN
Ruth

I'm also a side sleeper.  In fact, a right-side sleeper.  With my head propped up on two pillows, and another one under my waist.  And my husband has to be hugging me.  With his right arm under my neck, and his left arm over my waist.  Until I fall asleep.  And if he moves away before I fall asleep then I have to drag him  back, reposition the pillows, then him, then me.  So he is now thoroughly conditioned not to move a muscle (or a hand or arm or leg or anything else****il I fall asleep.

But . . .

I am just NOW able to sleep on my side post-panni-flab-ectomy, ELEVEN WEEKS post op.  And sometimes it still hurts.  I spent eleven weeks (seventy seven days) sleeping on my back, propped up with pillows under my head and knees, on top of the covers, because there was no other way to sleep.

On a lighter note, my husband did get eleven weeks of good solid sleep for himself!!!!

(Now over)

You probably wouldn't be sleeping through the night even if you could sleep on your side.  Sorry.  Try short stints of sleeping on your side with the suggestions others have offered.  I had to ease into different positions a little at a time.  Also work on making sleeping on your back more comfortable by putting pillows under your knees, etc.  My husband likes body pillows. They simulate being on your stomach.  Good luck, Loris

Well I didn't even try my bed until 2 weeks out.  I slept in a recliner until then.  I was actually excited the night I slept through even on the recliner.  It took a few days but it finally happened.  Then I eventually got to sleep later and later. Anyhow, to answer your question it took about 3 to 4 weeks to sleep on my sides for bits at a time.  I think it was about 7or 8 weeks before I could sleep through the night on my sides.  I was surprised that it was even that soon because I couldn't sleep on my side after my open WLS for about 4 months.  Wierd.

 I tried the pillow under my  knees and it did seem to help get me more on my side.  Still not a full night of sleep but definitely better. Thanks for the tips!