Question:
Is there anyone else out there who is a side sleeper?

I'm a little concerned about sleeping post surgery. I have never been very good about sleeping in one position....never on my stomach and seldom on my back. I usually sleep on one side for a while and flip over to the other side (my body gets sore). Anyway, I do this flipping thing all night long. Anyone else have this problem, and how did you deal with it, or was it not a problem at all??(I'm assuming it will be painful to roll over post surgery.)    — tlg6056 (posted on September 14, 2000)

September 14, 2000
I am a side sleeper, too. Well, actually, the rolling over IS a bit uncomfy, so I'd take that opportunity to get up, move about a bit and drink a little water, maybe take an anti-biotic or whatever was next on the schedule. Then lie back down on the other side. You need to move during the really painful part, anwyay. By the time the tenderness is fading, you also will be out of danger, so they'll dovetail nicely.
   — vitalady

September 14, 2000
Great question, Tammy! I am a MAJOR flipper. I turn constantly in the night. It drives my husband crazy, LOL! In the hospital, I was encouraged to move from side to side. You see, it helps to loosen the ickies in your lungs. It'll be a bit scary at first. But, take your time and you'll figure out how to do it without too much grief. Take a hit of morphine if you need to! I also was not given a catheter so the motivation to get up was definitely there! LOL!!! Blessings,
   — Michele A.

September 14, 2000
Almost forgot...I slept on our futon (while it was in the form of a couch) for 3 or 4 days after surgery. I would force myself to switch from one side to the other everytime I woke up...which was pretty often those first few days post op. I was a bit neurotic about doing all I could to prevent a blood clot and to prevent pneumonia. So I would get up, grab a sip or two of water, walk around the house, take a couple more sips and then lay down with my head going the other direction. Hubby says that I would kinda do a walking motion in my sleep. Guess I was pretty nervous about getting a blood clot! LOL!!!
   — Michele A.

September 14, 2000
Just like you, I am a side sleeper. Quite honestly, it took a bit of time before I was able to sleep on my side comfortably. The first couple of days on my back weren't so bad due to pain medication. When I went to sleep on my side, I would use a pillow for support and it help quite a bit. Think of it this way, it's only for about 4 days, and then you're free to sleep anyway you want. Best of luck to you!
   — cheryl W.

September 14, 2000
Major side sleeper here. It took me about 10 days post to be able to sleep on my side. As a matter of fact, sleeping on my back gave me backaches (I do not have back problems!!!), and I would wake up all night long from the pain. Even though my incision and muscle pain were healing, I continued with the Vicodin to help me sleep and to relieve the back pain. The pillow under the belly does help though, and I used a bunch of 'em. Also, I needed to put a pillow behind me to sit on the couch...guess between the surgery and the binder and my lousy posture, I needed the support. Good Luck!
   — Allie B.

September 14, 2000
I bought a foam wedge from Hospital Supply to support me in the bed. Also a body pillow and several extra pillows. I sleep on my stomach, and for several weeks I had to sleep on my back, nested within the pillows. I'm nearly five months post-op and sleeping however I want now.
   — [Deactivated Member]

September 14, 2000
I am a slide sleeper and I had my surgery July 31st. I am just now getting to sleep on my left side. My right side is still a little hard. It is getting better. For the first 3 weeks I slept sitting up on pillows. It was hard to lay down, and sitting back up was hard. I think gravity is the problem. Things shifting hurts and thats why I had ti heal before I could sleep on my side. Good Luck..Trina
   — Courtrina Amur W.

September 15, 2000
It took me about 10 days to sleep on my side. As others have said, I take pain pill right before going to bed, and support by belly by placing a pillow beneath it (I move the pillow when I change sides). Also, flipping might be quite uncomfortable for you. I suggest you do it in stages, i.e. roll onto your back,wait a minute, then roll onto the other side. Or, you might actually want to sit up and fully reposition yourself on the other side. In the hospital, side sleeping was just not possible. I stayed on my back, and used the morphine pump to stay comfortable. The only position change I could tolerate was from lying down to sitting or reclining in the bed with lots of pillows for support. The first few nights after going home, I slept sitting up in bed with pillows supporting my back and arms. I really didn't get a good sleep, however, until I was able to sleep on my side again.
   — Vikki C.