Question:
Has anyone experienced discomfort sleeping after weight loss?

I am about 5 months post op and have lost about 100 lbs. I've noticed in the past few weeks that sleeping has become uncomfortable. I used to sleep on my side, but now when I do I get soreness in my arm, and sometimes some numbness across my hip, almost like a nerve is being pressed somewhere. I guess I've lost some of the padding that made sleeping easier! I've taken to sleeping on my back for the first time in a long time, but wondered if anyone else has had this problem and what he or she might have done to help? Thanks very much!    — Mary Ellen W. (posted on October 13, 2001)

October 13, 2001
Hi. I, too, am a side sleeper. I slept on the couch for what seemed like forever because that's the only place I could be comfortable on my back. It's been almost one month since my surgery and am now able to sleep on both sides. I still have a lot of pain rolling from either side to my back. I just have to do it slowly. I've notice that I have discomfort between my knees and also thought that some of my "padding" was gone and now it's more boney. I am a miserable back sleeper and was so thankful to be able to side sleep. I hope yours comes back with time. When I first got on my side it's like I couldn't breathe or something...very uncomfortable. Good Luck and keep losing!!
   — Jennifer H.

October 13, 2001
I had the same problems months after my surgery also. My arms and shoulders would hurt and go numb. This went on for several months. I finally found different ways to avoid sleeping with my arms craddling my head and used extra pillows. I think with the extra weight loss, we have to find a different alignment for sleeping. My weight loss even affected my gait.
   — Jan M.

October 13, 2001
Maryellen, are you exercising? I've noticed that now that I've added weight training to my exercise routine, I wake up sore and with arm pain in the morning and can tell that I have to shift positions in the middle of the night due to discomfort. Just a thought! Good luck and God Bless!
   — Kimberly L.

October 14, 2001
Yep, me too. I find that my newly bony hips and butt don't tolerate certain positions well any more. I'm guessing that after I get used to being thinner, some of the discomfort will go away. If I have to drive for a long time, I take a pillow; in bed, I sleep on a comforter for a little extra padding, and put a pillow between my knees. All really weird stuff to get used to!
   — Suzanne B.