What a shock!

Okay, this site has been a GODSEND! No doubt about it. I prepared myself with all the wonderful hints about granny undies, how to negotiate stairs, tips on being a good princess, etc.

HOWEVER, all of you wonderful princesses failed to mention one scary pitfall of post-op......the dreaded..."oh-it's-a-new-day-think-I'll-open-my-eyes-and-stretch-in-bed" dilema! HOLY COW! I thought my intestines were going to end up in my nightgown! My poor brain just doesn't understand that "oh-so-good" morning stretch makes my incision cry for mercy!

I am now trying to reteach my brain to just stretch my toes!

Hi kjm,

You’re SOOOO RIGHT!

I caught myself stretching almost every morning and by the time I realized what I was doing, I was too far into it to stop. I would just close my eyes and pray that things didn’t start popping!

Early in my post-op I started sleeping with a small throw pillow on my belly (I slept on my side) to protect my incision from DH. The pillow was enough change to make me alert in the morning and to prevent the stretch.

I’m 9 weeks post-op now and the stretching is great!

Take care.

Gosh, we should get together for lunch I'm over in Broomfield!

Take it easy with those stretches for another day or two!

I know what you mean. Those stretches really hurt. I had to try to remind myself not to do it. Not easy to do when you are half asleep. The good news is that it doesn't last long.

I'm six weeks post off. Yes, I still have to remember not to stretch so much. The first time I did, (forgot about surgery, half asleep), I thought I was going to hit the roof. It hurt so bad. I'm up to small stretches. Still sleep with my tummy pillow. I still want that security. I am a stomach sleeper and since my surgery was a TAH/BSO, I haven't been able to sleep on my tummy. Now, I am adapting to being a side sleeper, I long to lay on my stomach. Any stomach sleepers out there and how long before you could lay on your stomach without it hurting?
Tammy

I sleep with a stomach pillow as well, and it definately helped remind me in the mornings not to over stretch! Tho my TAH/BSO was 9 months ago, I'm still careful.
Hey 'Highlands Ranch' and 'Broomfield' -- I live in Longmont, just north of ya'll -- small world isn't it? Hope your recoveries continue smoothly for ya.!

I am 5 1/2 weeks post op and was wondering if it was just me or if I was doing something wrong. I usually sleep on my stomach and while the tenderness is gone I still feel a stretching if I lay that way. I have compremised with putting a leg on a pillow and sleeping more on my side. The big problem now comes with the new book I am reading. I started Jean Auel's newest which is so big it pushes my weight restriction and I can't read on my stomach! Thank heavens for pillows!