I have been sleeping in a recliner....I am 3 days after surgery and while gas is not an issue....I can't seem to straighten up without severe pain......I can sit on the bed but to actually lay down is BAD.....Are yall having this issue????

I am post op day 7 today and last night was the first night I laid flat to sleep. Before I propped myself on 2, 3, sometimes 4 pillows to be comfortable. I didn't have to sleep in the chair, though. Try taking a pain pill before bed and give yourself some time. It will get better!

It took nearly two weeks before I was able to lie flat after surgery. Getting in bed was fine, but getting back up was just too painful. In bed, there just wasn't anything to grab and brace myself with--like the arm of the sofa. I couldn't use my ab muscles to sit myself up or roll myself over-if I tried, it felt like my entire stomach area was ripping apart. I do not own a recliner so I used cushions and pillows to prop myself up on the sofa. That was best too because I didn't disturb DH while dealing with movement and pain meds. The first week I was in an almost seated position and I was able to lower myself slowly through the second week.

Edited March 26, 200917 yr by Jodi_620

I feel you! I don't have to sleep in a chair but I definitely have to prop myself up a little with pillows. However, I can't sit straight up without a decent amount of pain. I'm a little worried because I'm going to need to sit pretty straight up starting on Sunday for work. Hopefully it will get better.

I agree with whomever said to take a little pain medicine before sleep. It helps a good deal for me. I sleep pretty sound and feel a LOT better when I wake up.

Good luck! It'll pass I'm sure. Everyone else around here seems to be alright, I'm sure we will too!

I don't know if I was just being a baby or what but I was banded on 11/14/08 and I slept in a chair until probably the 1st or second week of December. I felt such a pulling sensation in my stomach that I could NOT bare the pain of sleeping in a bed. It does get better, I promise.

I slept straight the first night; but I wanted to "straighten out" while I still had the good hospital post op pain meds on board. Because of that it was easy to straighten out. As you heal you can form adhesions that make it more painful to straighten etc and I didn't want that trouble so figured it was easier to just straighten out at the start before they formed. I'm glad I did it that way; I was sleeping on my stomach by night 2 and never had any issues. If it hurts, take your pain meds and straighted up anyway. Use a pillow to brace your incisions if you need to; that can help. You'll be glad you did.

OH do I know what you are talking about. But beleive me it does not last forever! Honestly it doesn't.

My hubby kept telling me to "straighten up" when I walked. I kept telling him "IT HURTS to much right now and I will when it gets to feeling better!" Oh I wanted to smack him silly at times.

The moral of my story is that one day then out of the blue you will catch yourself standing straight and tall. And all that pain will be behind you and only a memory.

Me too - I slept in a recliner for 5 days, then tried the bed for two before doing the recliner for another 2. It was just much easier to get up and walk at night (without needing help). I did have the gas pain, and could only sleep for a couple hours at a time. I was banded 1/20/09.

Banded on Tuesday, I slept straight up in bed the first 2 nights, but for my nap today I layed on my back and it was fine. No gas pains at all just a sorness in the port location and a bit of sorness in the center of my chest.

Good luck!

hi i was banded on the same day!!! how r u feeling? im a little bit sore, but the big pain is gone. i just starving though!!! good luck!

amy

Hey, there!

I was banded on Monday, March 23rd. The first night post-op I HAD to sleep upright in the hospital bed! I was given some really good post-op meds but after they wore off all the pain kicked in. Unfortunately, the dr ordered Dilaudid for my pain and Dilaudid, from what I recall in past experience, made me dizzy and vomit. The only other option was having Tylenol suppository and I wasn't in the mood for any further bariatric invasion at that point. I toughed it all out thru the night... gas pain, shoulder pain, pulling pain, soreness... you name it, I had it. Sitting upright was the only way I could get myself up to go to the bathroom with the least amount of pain. Thank God I have a high threshold for pain! Despite all of that, my biggest fear for some reason is flipping my port. I've read a lot about all of that, so it's sticks out in my head.

The soreness is subsiding and the gas and shoulder pain is gone, but because I am still guarding my abdominal muscles, I need to hold on to something to pull myself upright. I have been sleeping on my sofa, leaning on 2 pillows and the armrest. I am able to crush 1/2 my percocet or extra strength tylenol and mix it with my unsweetened apple juice to help me settle comfortably for the night. I'm noticing that it's getting easier and I'm making a conscious effort to "straighten up". Keep working through the discomfort and don't forget to do your deep breathing exercises. I have to believe that it's going to get so much easier - for both you and me! In a few weeks all this pain will be a distant memory and it will all have been worth it!!! Best of luck to you

When I first was banded I slept with 2 pillows under my head, one under my knees and one under each hip as cushion. It was pretty comfortable. On night 4 I was able to sleep on my non-port side just fine. I can just now sleep on my port side but not for very long as it's still sore. I now only have the pillow under my knees and I'm sleeping just fine. I slept in my bed every night and didn't have too much of an issue with standing straight. I pushed through the uncomfortableness and took my liquid Vicodin if I needed it. I also took my pain med every night right before bed and that really helped.

Breathing excercises ????? I wasnt told anything about this....please explain....I have been trying to take a deep breath here end there it frrls kinda tight......I am starting to feel mis-informed on my post=op stuff......oh and the pre-op stuff to.......

Your okay. I was not told to do breathing exercises either. Every doc is different. Just remember that.

great night, I was able to sleep on my non port side, and that is my normal sleep side!!!!!!!!

Didn't mean to freak you out, Pezo. Deep breathing is more to encourage you to expand your lungs while you are in post-op stages, for a couple of days, to avoid pneumonia. Especially for those who've had major surgery that has them laid up in the hospital for a couple of days. My surgery required me to stay over night. I also had a complication of a hiatal hernia that needed repair and taking deep breaths for the night was sore at first, but now I'm better and I'm 4 days post. You will do fine!!!