One day post-op: Do I HAVE TO sleep on my back after a hysterectomy?

Hello sisters! I just had my hysterectomy yesterday and am doing fine! I had the Davinci with everything out except the left ovary. I was home last night. I am a little sore but it is not too bad. I was just wondering about sleep. I ALWAYS sleep on my side and am not too comfortable sleeping on my back. Do you think it would be ok for me to sleep on my side? I was too groggy yesterday to remember to ask my doctor about this! LOL. Thank you ladies!

I never slept on my back. I don't believe it is required. But some women are very uncomfortable on their side.

Thank you. I don't know why, but just assumed I had to sleep on my back. Good, I will try my side tonight!

If you do sleep on your side put a soft pillow under your side for support. I am 6 weeks post op and I slept on my back and side for the first 5 weeks. I am now sleeping on my tummy for a few minutes each night.
Good Luck!

Yup use as many pillows as possible to make yourself comfy on your side. I particularly like it when one is wedged against my back for extra support. Pleasant dreams!

The doc said it was ok to lay on my side. It also helps with gas. I couldn't do it as it was very uncomfortable. When I did try, there were a lot of pillows involved.

I can't fall asleep on my back at all, and if I roll over onto my back while asleep, I wake up. Before I had surgery, I was worried that the nurses in the hospital would try to *make* me sleep on my back!

What happened instead is that when I woke up the evening I had surgery, I chatted briefly with a friend, then curled up on my side without even thinking about it and went back to sleep. The nurses were in and out a few times to check my vitals, and none of them ever said a thing about it, so obviously it was okay.

The second night after surgery, my body protested mildly when I tried to curl up on my side but was perfectly happy when I held a pillow against my belly and *then* curled up.

I slept on my side with a pillow for support until Day 13, when I had my staples out. After that I slept on my stomach, as I usually do.

	Quote:
Originally Posted by darlajaws Hello sisters! I just had my hysterectomy yesterday and am doing fine! I had the Davinci with everything out except the left ovary. I was home last night. I am a little sore but it is not too bad. I was just wondering about sleep. I ALWAYS sleep on my side and am not too comfortable sleeping on my back. Do you think it would be ok for me to sleep on my side? I was too groggy yesterday to remember to ask my doctor about this! LOL. Thank you ladies!

many women fear their sutures or something will fall apart..you can sleep anyway you want..it won't happen..
but it's a matter of tolerance for you...what is comfortable...
use pillows, ice, whatever to get comfortable...whatever works is safe..

	Quote:
Originally Posted by darlajaws Hello sisters! I just had my hysterectomy yesterday and am doing fine! I had the Davinci with everything out except the left ovary. I was home last night. I am a little sore but it is not too bad. I was just wondering about sleep. I ALWAYS sleep on my side and am not too comfortable sleeping on my back. Do you think it would be ok for me to sleep on my side? I was too groggy yesterday to remember to ask my doctor about this! LOL. Thank you ladies!

this is just me (and I'm quite thin) but I found as long as my stomach didn't have to sort of hang down on to mattress I was o.k..even today two months later I sometimes reach for my pillow..put it between my legs and it fills the space , on my side, for my tummy between stomach and mattress and feels so good.

	Quote:
Originally Posted by lynnjb I never slept on my back. I don't believe it is required. But some women are very uncomfortable on their side.

The first week I used a binder to sleep on my side but the gas pain is word with the binder. I sleep on my side right after sergery but it feels like you can feel your organs moving. When you turn so I recommend the binder but after a week you will normal turning n side sleeping get well soon