Question:
Will I be able to sleep in my bed or do I need a recliner (Open RNY 09/26/2002)?
— Stephanie S. (posted on September 17, 2002)
September 17, 2002
I was able to sleep in my bed but I used 2-3 pillows behind my head, one on
my side, and 1-2 under my knees. My Dr. perscribed Roxicet for pain and I
only used it at night for sleeping. It helped really well! Good Luck to
you!
— Leah H.
September 17, 2002
I borrowed a recliner but felt stranded once it was reclined. I ended up
doing the same thing that the previous poster did, use lots of pillows to
prop me up on my own bed. My house is rancher so I didn't have to go up
stairs to bed, that makes difference. My hubby got me a heavy duty 1"
thick wooden dowel that I leaned against the head board. I really got the
hang of using it to help pivot me out of bed. Good luck to ya! -Kim open
RNY 7/17/01 -129lbs
— KimBo36
September 17, 2002
Personally, I went out and bought a LazyBoy recliner / rocker for my
recovery. As it turns out, this was a good call for me. I was totally
unable to sleep in bed for about 3 weeks. We have one of those beds that
you have to take stairs to get up into, and there was no way I could get in
and out of it. I would suggest the rocker / recliner because once you let
it down, you can kinda throw your arms forward and the rocker part will
tilt you forward far enough to make getting up and down relatively easy.
Worked for me anyway. My LazyBoy and I are good friends now :)
— Greg P.
September 17, 2002
I slept in a recliner the first two nights home from the hospital, but it
forced me to sleep in one position all night and I was stiff in the
morning. I decided that even though it would be a little tough getting
into and out of it, I wanted to sleep in my bed where I could "sort
of" sleep on my side and move around more. I had three kids by
c-section, so I knew what to expect and how to deal with it. GOod luck with
your surgery...CArol
— Carol H.
September 17, 2002
I have a waterbed, and when I got home from surgery I had a drainage tube
sticking out of my side. For the first week (until the tube was removed)
sleeping on the waterbed was just out of the question.
I have a recliner, but that just wasn't comfy enough to sleep. I ended up
sleeping on the kid's bottom bunkbed on a 3 inch foam pad, with 4 pillows
behind my head. I didn't sleep terribly well, simply because of the odd
position (I am a face down sleeper).
After I got that tube out though, i slept VERY WELL.
— Magda1ene
September 17, 2002
I also slept in my bed with TONS of pillows. My husband was very happy
when I started feeling better and he could reclaim some space! Those big
body pillows (WalMart, $8) were awesome along my sides.
— jen41766
September 17, 2002
I had a lap rny instead of open - and did not know what to expect. The only
pain I had was trying to sit up and get out of hospital bed the first time.
At home I carefully crawled into bed and used pillow under knees. Don't
let a cat jump on your stomach.
Getting out of bed - make sure nurse shows you how to pivot your legs out
of bed and push yourself up to sitting position. Something to cluch onto
and pull helps- I had to use a heavy table edge.
Some sleep in recliner - so before surgery I bought an electric chair
recliner - got it on sale for 5 or 6 hundred and STILL use it. It lift you
up from a reclining position - or you can first sit in it - and push the
button to recline to any position you want. I could have done without it-
but it still sits in the family room and comes in very handy. I thought
someone told me you can rent them - not sure.
Or rent yourself a hospital bed - maybe get a scrip for it for insurance -
heard that one too.
Best wishes- I would kiss my surgeons feet upon request - no problem.
— charlene M.
September 17, 2002
hi there, i went out and bought a recliner for my surgery in fear it would
be too painful to lay flat on the bed. we found a real nice one at a
slightly used furniture store,costed 100.00 well worth it. it was very
painful for me to try the bed. i slept in the recliner for a while but that
too has its downside becuase you cant get on your side as well and so my
but and legs would go numb after awhile but still found the chair a better
idea.just remember in bed or recliner the uncomfort will pass and the
weight will begin to drop and its ganna be great! best of luck to you!:)
— carrie M.
September 17, 2002
I just used lots of pillows under my head so that I was kinda' reclining in
the bed. My headboard is the iron scrolly stuff - so I was able to reach
up and grab hold of it to help me get up by myself when I needed to. Good
luck!
— Margaret G.
September 17, 2002
I just recently had a hernia operation and rented an electric recliner from
my local Rent-A-Center. It does not lift you up and down, but rather
recline you back and forth. I've got the chair for three weeks and believe
the price was $65.00 total. They deliver and pick-up as part of your
price. Has been a life saver. Wish I had done it when I had my RNY. Good
Luck!
— Bea T.
September 17, 2002
Everyone is different, but I could not lay flat for almost 2 weeks. I was
LAP RNY, but I still had a couple of incisions that pulled something
terrible. I slept in a recliner in the semi-reclined position for 2 weeks
until I could get comfortable in bed.
— pam29922
September 17, 2002
I LOVE MY RECLINER. slept in it almost 10 days and was on it all day when i
wasn't walking of course! :) It was a life saver for me could NOT have
gotten in my bed. Good luck to you!
— robyn R.
September 17, 2002
I had an open RNY (3/5/02) and was able to sleep in my bed using 3-4
pillows under my back & head plus one to hug... hubby hugged my back so
I wasn't able to move around to much and hurt myself
— lilmskitty
September 17, 2002
Rent a hospital bed. I would'nt have been able to make it without mine!
(Open RNY 5-8-01)
— Danmark
September 18, 2002
Actually, I went out and bought a gorgeous comfortable chair from Haverty's
just before the surgery and it was great! Although it does not recline, it
was extremely comfortable, even for me to sleep in. After about a week of
that, during my follow up visit with the surgeon, they gave me an abdominal
binder. It felt so good, i never wanted to take it off! It helped
SIGNIFICANTLY during bedtime because it feels like it's holding
"everything together". I know that sounds silly, but it worked
for me.
Good luck! 17 weeks down 52lbs
— Tamara F.
September 18, 2002
Lap I slept with a couple extra pillows to make it easier to get up. Jen my
wife also lap climbed into bed on all 4 from night one and slept on her
belly. Everyone is different...
— bob-haller
September 18, 2002
If you decide to go with a recliner, and you don't want to buy one, you can
rent a "geri" chair from a medical supply company or a pharmacy.
It reclines, and the model they brought me had wide arms (like tables) to
help keep your stuff nearby when you're not moving around so much. It was
about two weeks before I was comfortable sleeping in a bed (open RNY), so I
was glad I rented the chair and had it delivered just before surgery.
— Suzy C.
September 19, 2002
I think the fact that I didn't have a recliner made me get back to my bed
sooner. I spent the first two nights at home on a very comfy couch, but
the third night, I got on my bed to watch TV and realized I could sleep
there. I only slept there at night.. after that I kept moving.. and
sitting up and just cat napping a little on the couch. I know many people
use a recliner to recover.. I had an open RnY, and started at 372.. I kind
of feel like the recliner might have made me lazier about recovery.. it
helped me to push myself... Good luck however you go...
— Lisa C.
September 20, 2002
I was fine in the bed. I'm glad I didn't go out and buy a recliner.
Faye
— Faye M.
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