To All You Stomach Sleepers.

[sassycass830 14]

So today I was feeling pretty good and decided, okay maybe I can try to lay on my stomach.

Not the best idea. UGH. It HUUUUUUUUURT. I had to call for DH to help me, I felt like a turtle stuck on it's back, I finally got up and have some soreness at my port site now. I am icing it, I hope I didn't cause any damage.

How long before you were able to sleep on your stomach again?

Also just wanted to let you know I have been extremely hungry today it is terrible, I wish I could exercise but I am not cleared from the doctor yet.

[blpchick 50]

It was maybe a month or so before I was able to completely lay on my port and even then it was sore.

[DELETE THIS ACCOUNT! 12,703]

Honestly, I slept on my tummy the night after surgery. I never had any problems.

Maybe use a body pillow to sort of prop yourself up against?

[utcaneuser 32]

I'm 21 days out as of tomorrow. So I don't have a lot of time on you. I stopped all pain meds within a week. I'm also a stroke survivor with left side weakness so that complicates it a little more. Back to point I'm still working on it. I'm finally ok on my sides and ok 3/4 the way over with a pillow. I just keep trying my sides once I got ny sides I worked on just a little extra. Somedays it was 10 seconds others I made it a minute. Take it slow. I hate sleeping on my back so my sides have been a compromise. I hope that helps.

[Pollyanna12 74]

It took me about a week to go 1/2 on my side & 1/2 on my back ( with lots of pillows!). Good luck, I am almost 6 months out and still get sore sometimes!

[Rojasanoll 920]

almost 3 weeks or so for me, since Aug 6 band day. I usually lay on my right side though.

[sassycass830 14]

Thanks guys, I hope I can soon. Nothing feels better than sleeping on my tummy lol.

[DELETE THIS ACCOUNT! 12,703]

This may sound weird, but it's a trick a nurse taught me after a c-section.

Most of the time the pain after abdominal surgery doesn't result from being directly on your tummy as much as it is from the process of being on your side to roll onto your tummy. It tugs and pulls those wounded muscles.

So, what she told me to do was, crawl up the foot of the bed on my hands and knees and slowly lower myself onto my tummy. I was scared to death because I'd tried to roll onto my tummy and it hurt horribly, but sure enough, I did exactly as she advised and it worked. And, the pressure from laying on my tummy actually felt good.

I have now used that trick through four more various abdominal surgeries over the last decade and it always works for me. Perhaps it's worth a try to see if it works for you?

[kyrrin1 25]

I tried that and it does work. plus extra pillows to fill in. good luck all belly sleepers

[sassycass830 14]

I'll have to try it, getting down wasn't hard, it was the getting up part. I was more afraid of tearing the internal stitches where my port is than anything.

[DELETE THIS ACCOUNT! 12,703]

I'll have to try it, getting down wasn't hard, it was the getting up part. I was more afraid of tearing the internal stitches where my port is than anything.

Get back up the exact same way. Slowly pull your arms and legs towards you and push straight up until you're back on all fours. Crawl back down to the foot of the bed or so your feet go off the side, then once your feet are on the ground use your arms to gently push yourself upright without twisting from side to side.

[NWgirl 574]

I slept on my stomach within the first week. I actually woke up and was on my tummy and I had not gone to bed that way.

[Banduser 3]

To Mis73. Your advise about climbing in to bed was the best advise I have received. I have been sleeping comfortable ever since crawling in to bed! Thanks.

[arzona 7]

I was just banded on the 7th and have been sleeping on my belly since day one. The bigges pains I get are from the gas!!! I'm barely two days after surgery and went walking, grocery shopping and cleaned my garage...lol tryin to stay somewhat busy.....good luck on your sleeping!!!

[DELETE THIS ACCOUNT! 12,703]

To Mis73. Your advise about climbing in to bed was the best advise I have received. I have been sleeping comfortable ever since crawling in to bed! Thanks.

Oh good I'm so glad it helped!! Yay!!