Until reading around on the site, I hadn't given much thought to difficulty sleeping; from some of the posts I'm reading, it seems to be a real problem.

1. I understand that the port side (typically the left, I believe) is very uncomfortable after surgery - how difficult is it to sleep on the right side? I'm a side-sleeper because of a touch of apnea, and would prefer to sleep on my right side, but will it be too comfortable in the early post-op period?

2. About how long does it take before the right side becomes comfortable? The left side?

3. I've read several people saying they sleep on a recliner rather than in bed for a period of time. What are the advantages of a recliner? (I don't have one.) My bed is fairly high, and it's easy for me just to turn and lie down on it. What's the hard part of bed sleeping that's relieved by the recliner?

4. I have a bunch of pillows for my bed. Does anyone know of any kind of frame or something that would provide firm support for the upper body in bed - a kind of fake hospital bed-type deal?

Thanks in advance,

Fenton

(getting banded 3/15, touch wood)

I used a wedge, and pillows, but slept in my bed from the begining. I come home on the 3rd day, and was so tired, fromt eh long flight, and drive, I was able to fall asleep on my back. The next night was harder because I wasn't so tired!! But I began propping pillows against my belly, and attempting a side sleep within a week or so. I do know there were times I was super stiff getting out of bed the next morning, sitting up was hard!

Now I have to once again sleep on my left side with my wedge due to GERD (which is why I had the wedge to begin with). But the bed was my only place to sleep.

Sweet Dreams!

Kat

Try not to stress too much about this, as most of us find that these difficulties are usually short-lived. You'll be back to sleeping as normal in no time.

I just got home from my surgery. Was yesterday. Didn't sleep in the hospital at all. I can't sleep on my back, when I came home just now, I took a nap on the sofa on my right side and was VERY comfortable. My soreness was actually fading. It depends on you.