dVH/RALH 2 days post hysterectomy - when could you side sleep?

I am usually a side sleeper but am way too uncomfortable to sleep in that position at the moment. Any positions that you would recommend for comfortable sleep? I can’t seem to get comfortable at all. I have lots of pillows but can’t seem to find a comfortable arrangement.

and ugh, yes... I'm a side sleeper, and through two abdominal surgeries it was difficult to get comfortable. For my laparoscopic hysterectomy, I was able to sleep on my back for the short term - perhaps a week before I attempted side sleeping. What worked for me was stuffing a travel-sized pillow under my sagging tummy, and another between my knees. After my more recent open abdominal surgery which left me more bruised with a vertical incision, I'd learned from my hysterectomy and attempted side sleeping sooner, Day 3 or 4 I think. Same arrangement with the travel-sized pillow under my tummy and between my knees, with an added medium-sized pillow tucked behind my back to keep me from rolling onto my back.

I'm a side sleeper myself, and after my laparoscopic hysterectomy, I was able to sleep on my side right from the first night; when pain from the laparoscopic gas settled into my right shoulder, I mainly stayed on my left side, which is also the better side for post-op GI issues. My next discovery on how to make it even more comfortable came during a recent cold Canadian winter, when I started sleeping in a curled up position to conserve my body heat, which loosened the hamstring muscles in the back of my thighs and took tension off my lower back, and I noticed that back pain caused by straining my muscles shovelling snow was gone in less than a week. In addition to this position, and what Cussette recommended, I recommend a firm pillow to support your head and neck. If you're sleeping on your back, then I recommend a small pillow under your knees, and another one under the curve in your lower back. Best wishes for a comfortable night's sleep, and for continued health and healing!

Suggestions are great - another possible idea: due to some insomnia pre-existing I also had some very small sleeping tablets available and used one of those to get some sleep. Stopped using after 2.5 weeks.

Day 15 post op-- I still can't side sleep.

	Quote:
Originally Posted by Vampirex2 I am usually a side sleeper but am way too uncomfortable to sleep in that position at the moment. Any positions that you would recommend for comfortable sleep? I can’t seem to get comfortable at all. I have lots of pillows but can’t seem to find a comfortable arrangement.

I hear ya, side sleeper here too. The first 3 nights, I slept on my back with a pillow under my knees. Staying flat is essential in getting rid of that CO2 quickly. Take something to help you sleep if needed to get you thru it.

By the 4th night I was able to venture to my side, slowly, and sleep, with pillow between my knees, for short periods of time before moving back to my back.

I think I was total side sleeping by 7 days post op. And yes, as someone said, try left side as much as possible.

Best of rest to you.

Hello!
Side sleeper as well here but I had to sleep on the couch almost sitting up for a good week or two. I am able to sleep on my side now (three weeks post op) but as others have said with lots of pillows. I even tried a pregnancy pillow but for me it didn’t work out.
It will get better!

Thanks for all of the suggestions and feedback. Sounds like it will be a while yet before I can side sleep. I have a nest of pillows so that I am almost sitting straight up to sleep at this point, but at least I was able to get a bit more sleep last night.