How do you lay down with an LBL?

I'm tossing around the idea of a fleur de lis vs and LBL.  Just wondering how the heck you can sleep after the LBL,  with the scars going all around.  I'm kind of scared of the pain. 
Thanx, Jenny

For me I spent the first week in a recliner then when I moved to the bed I propped up with plenty of pillows.  I am getting ready to have the upper body lift on Oct 25th and I am wondering the same thing will it be as uncomfortable.  Best wishes on your decision, I will add it was all worth the pain.

Stephanie

Stephanie, Thanks for saying it was all worth the pain.  That gives me hope.  I don't own a recliner and I really am not looking forward to buying one, if I can get away without one.  After my WLS I just used the couch, but DH had to help lift me off it.  I had a bladder infection, so I was up and down alot.  LOL.  What does and upper body lift do?  I'm new at this -Jenny

you can rent recliners from medical supply stores.

The LBL, for me, was not as bad as I thought it was going to be.  I asked my ps about sleeping and he said to keep your head and feet elevated about 30 degrees - so I slept in a recliner and it worked fine.  At one point, my lower back started hurting (I have herniated disks) but putting a pillow under my thighs relieved the pressure I was putting on my lower back.  But I never had a problem with pain from the incision. 

To get up from the recliner the first few days, I would scoot myself to the edge and my husband would counter-balance me so I could push myself up with my legs.

Our bed is high so even when I could start sleeping in a bed, getting in and out of a high bed was a *****allenging, so I slept in the guest bed until my second surgery (about a month apart).

Thanks for the info Lisa.  I am really uncertain about buying a recliner.  I tried some out at Lazy Boy and it seemed that even the powered ones would really bother the abdominal muscles.  I really don't think I would be able to get out of the regular ones.  Did you have to push with your legs to get the front part down?  Thanx, Jenny

I have a manual assit recliner - meaning, my husband is retired and was able to help me with a lot of things during recovery.    Initially, I would push down with my legs as far as I could.  Once I got to the point where I needed to lock it down with the final push, he would do that for me.  At least for about the first 4 or 5 days.  After that, I was able to stand and block it then once I was up, give it the final push.

I didn't have near the pain with the LBL as I expected to have.  But then again everyone is different, some folks have a lot of pain, some don't.

Some also found that renting a lift chair to be helpful too.

We have a high bed too so I had a step stool beside the bed. I used tons of pillows - under my knees and back - to get into a recliner position. I actually liked my bed better than the recliner (it's a pillow top and sooooo soft)and i had trouble putting the foot rest down on the recliner.

I found the best way to get out of bed was to reach up over my head and push against the headboard to get myself in a sitting position as I lowered my legs over the side at the same time. It kept me in the bent position the whole time.

It's doable. Just go slow (LOL like you will have a choice!) The pain is really the worst in the tummy so don't base your choice on that. Chose the surgery that's going to fix what you need fixed.

Barbie, yeah, that's just what I was thinking, that I wouldn't be able to get the foot rest down.  Trapped in the recliner - Oh my!  LOL
 
So, lying on the incisions in the back is not that big of a deal?  I figured most of the worst pain would be in the tummy, but I really do want to be able to get comfortable enough to sleep, KWIM??? 

What made you choose the LBL?  I went to the PS requesting a tummy tuck.  He said I would do better with fleur dis lis due to the fat above my belly.  Then he also talked about bringing the incision to the table or around my back.  By that time I think I was in a state of shock.  LOL  So I don't know what is was suppose to fix.  I guess just more fat back there.  He also said we could do the back part later if I wanted.  So now I don't really know what I want.    Jenny

at night I slept in my bed with head propped and feet propped.  I also slept on my side alot with knees bent and chest pulled in a littl (Ok. by my doc)

In the day I used a recliner alot.  Now I am in a hospital bed so I sleep witht he head and legs up a bit