Question:
When Can I start Sleeping on my Stomach?

I am 4 weeks post-op for open RNY. I have a hard time sleeping on my back and side and was wondering when I can think about sleeping on my stomach again? I am also on a soft diet and would like suggestions for foods.    — Brandi0223 (posted on March 24, 2010)

March 24, 2010
I would say when it doesn't hurt. I think I was at about week 2.
   — sba1128

March 24, 2010
When it feels comfortable for you. I took me about two months.
   — hubbyshoney

March 24, 2010
Soft foods - low-carb, low-fat, smooth-textured yogurt; sugar-free, fat-free pudding; fat-free cottage cheese with a quarter teaspoon of Hidden Valley Ranch Dressing mix stirred into it; Taco Bell refried beans; Eggbeaters. You can also begin eating stuff like stewed, skinless boneless chicken (in the beginning, I liked the thigh meat better - but it has more fat); I also ate really well-cooked broccoli, chopped up fine; and tuna salad made with 4 oz of tuna, two hard-boiled chopped eggs, a heaping tablespoon of dill relish, and two tablespoons of Best Foods Light Mayonnaise. You can also make chicken salad the same way. I also made ham salad by getting low-fat pre-cooked ham and putting it in my food processor along with just enough light mayonnaise to moisten it, and a couple of heaping tablespoons of regular sweet relish. I bought Great Value Fat-Free turkey breast lunchmeat at Walmart, and would roll up a tablespoon of Philadelphia fat-free cream cheese and put it into a piece of the turkey and roll it up for snacks, or dry the turkey off with a paper towel and spread it with some low-fat hummus and roll it up for snacks. And then there is always stuff like Weight Watchers low-fat string cheese, or mini Babybel light cheese. And I believe you can also be eating stuff like Bush's Fat-Free vegetarian baked beans. They're really yummy and have lots of fiber and protein. So do black beans. I suggest you see if your library has the book "Before and After" by Susan Maria Leach....almost half the book is dedicated to recipes for the WLS patient. There are lots of other books out there, too. For instance, many of the Dr. Atkins menus can be adapted for use by WLS patients - for instance, when you make the creamed spinach, you would use fat free sour cream, and low fat parmesan cheese, and maybe use a little olive oil (for the omega-3 content) to saute the garlic in instead of butter. And, a couple of questions back, someone asked what they should be eating....and were given some websites to check out. Like BariatricEating.com, and theworldaccordingtoeggface.com. There are lots of other recipe sites for WLS patients, too... just do a google search.
   — Erica Alikchihoo

March 24, 2010
I am a semi-stomach sleeper but the first week slept on my side but after that it was right back in my favorite stomach position. As ling as there is no pain sleep how you are comfortable...........
   — karensaporito

March 25, 2010
I couldn't sleep on my stomach for about a month as it jut hurt and "pulled" at everything. But, when I did I just put a big pillow 1/2 way under my belly so it wasn't "pulling" things around. After about a week of that, I was good to go. Everyone's different...just when it feels ok to you I guess.
   — lryan106

March 25, 2010
Just about the only pain I had was when sleeping on my stomach and unfortunately it was a good 2 months for me. Try using a pillow under you stomach, that helped, but have faith, you will sleep on your stomach again.
   — redheadedgirl