LAVH 4 days post hysterectomy - sleeping on back vs. side ??

Hello, I'm 4 days post op and am absolutely tired of laying/ sleeping on my back. I had back pain with sleep prior to surgery and my most comfortable position had been on my side prior to the surgery. I am so scared to sleep on my side for fear of not healing correctly or things healing in the wrong position. I am barely able today to lay on my side for no more than a few minutes. I have a binder from a previous surgery that seems to help but I also don't want to use the binder too much , I don't want it to do more harm than good. Is it ok to sleep on your side? Any advice is greatly appreciated

I found that sleeping in a recliner was more comfortable for me. Do NOT push the foot rest down! That will hurt you more than you think. Lots of pillows and blankets around me, really helped.

I found using a pillow between my knees and a pillow for my stomach. I would slowly roll to my side just enough to be comfortable. If you have to stay on your back please put a pillow under your knees for back support. Hope you feel better soon.

I, too, had LAVH and was able to sleep on my right side the first night in the hospital. Just used a pillow between my knees for extra support. I also get lower back pain when sleeping on my back and I found a pillow under my knees helped alleviate that. It was several weeks before I could sleep on my left side comfortably.

I've found a body pillow is my new best friend.

I ordered a down-filled body pillow from Amazon and I can either "hug it" placing it between my legs to sleep on my side or form it into a "U" shape and put it under my knees with both ends supporting my hips. That, with two pillows behind my head to keep me semi-sitting are my two most comfortable positions.

Fear not!

I can't fall asleep on my back at all and if I turn over onto my back while sleeping, I wake up. The evening of my surgery, I woke up from surgery in my hospital bed and chatted briefly with and friend who'd been sitting with me. I was pretty stoned from the dilaudid and anesthesia. After visiting hours ended and she left, I curled up on my side without even thinking about it and went back to sleep! The nurses had to wake me up several times to check my BP and temperature. No one commented on the fact that I was sleeping on my side.

By the next evening, I was somewhat more alert. This time when I went to curl up on my side, my belly protested a bit. So I held a pillow against it and *then* did the curl. My belly was happy. *I* was asleep within minutes.

I continued to sleep on my side with a pillow against my belly for the first 13 days after surgery. Then I had my staples removed. After that, I slept on my belly, as I usually do!

Thank you everyone for the response. I am looking forward to a hopefully good night sleep tonight - on my side

I was sleeping on my side before I left the hospital. And, I have been sleeping on my side since day 2. I just can't sleep on my back, it causes too much low back pain, and I snore (and wake myself up).

I hope sleeping on our side is ok. I only ever sleep on my side. Sounds like it should be fine.

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Originally Posted by danimartx7 I hope sleeping on our side is ok. I only ever sleep on my side. Sounds like it should be fine.

This is my third day post op and I am sleeping comfortably on my side. In fact, I just woke up from a nap and was on my stomach and felt fine.