Sleeping Position

[JetService]

Now that I'm able to sleep in almost every position except flat on my chest, my upper body is getting more sore, especially in the morning. I know there's a fine line between babying oneself and overdoing it, but does anyone know if this is normal or if there are any restrictions on how one sleeps? I'm afraid to compromise the bone healing, but I don't want to be too cautious either. Its been 18 days since surgery. I'm pretty much staying up all day with maybe one daily nap, but it seems I'm getting more sore by the day.

 

[JimL]

Sleep is so very precious, no matter in what position it comes! Don't rush the recovery, take your time, 18 days is still very early. Compromising the sternum healing is something you don't want to do for 2-4 months.
If you can already sleep on your side and on your back, I think you're ahead of the game. I slept sitting up on the couch for several weeks before moving to a bed with several pillows.
At 18 days after surgery, baby yourself.
Are you in cardiac rehab? If so, talk to the nurses there about the pain. If not, see about getting in.

 

[MelissaM]

Although sleeping is one of the last things to become comfortable, I think it is something that should be resolved pretty easily with pain meds (even over-the-counter ones like Advil). If you are experiencing increasing pain, make sure you are on the lookout for infection, etc. You might want to check in with your surgeon/cardiologist just to be sure.

Melissa

 

[ccrawford]

I think it took me at least several months before I could sleep on my side, and then only for a awhile. Seems like you're making good progress. Remember, it takes a full two months for the sternum to heal up. Forget lifting, pushing, pulling, etc or you'll pay a dear price. Even a really rough car ride can make you sore for awhile. Chris

 

[JetService]

Thanks all. I'm not so much worried about pain. The Darvosets do well at making me comfortable. I'm more worried about reinjuring myself. So I guess my big question is can I reinjure myself just from sleeping wrong? Depending on on the timing of my medicine, I try to sleep in the 'fetel' position. Its not so much gingerly getting in the position that hurts; its getting out of it that hurts! LOL!. Again, I just want to make sure the healing process is progressing normally. Can a doctor tell with X-rays how its going?

 

[medtronic of borg]

sleep

sleep

yes it is ...and your going to have to put up with this a bit longer.

 

[ccrawford]

If your question was can you injure yourself by sleeping wrong, then I think the answer is no. If the question was can you injure yourself in bed, then that's a whole nuther question ! Chris

 

[Kathy]

Its not so much gingerly getting in the position that hurts; its getting out of it that hurts!

I found the same thing to be true. It was somewhat painful, but more stiffness than pain. I found it helpful to sleep on my right side with a soft pillow under my left arm. If I curled up too much I was stiffer upon awakening.

 

[Marcia]

sleeping

sleeping

I found that if I put my heart pillow over the incision and then got to my side I could sleep like that for a while. When I went to change positions then it got really sore. I was never a back sleeper so that was hard for me. I know a lot of people slept in recliners but mine was not that comfortable. Sounds like you are doing good after only 18 days.

 

[weekycat]

Marcia beat me to it!

Marcia beat me to it!

I used my heart pillow for a loonng time, when I slept on my side, in fact it still feels better (a year and a half post-op) to hug a pillow when I lay on my side. Otherwise the sternum seems like it's being squeezed together, and hurts. I was told not to sleep on my side until I could do it comfortably.

Another thing that works well is a body pillow, I bought a cylindrical one from Walmart that I liked. With one of those, you can wrap an arm and a leg around it, or however it feels comfortable.

 

[Georgia]

I believe you'd be in severe pain before you'd do anything asleep that would actually "hurt" you.

You're probably on fewer painkillers etc., now, so you're feeling the stiffness that was there all along.

Get into cardiac rehab ASAP (my doc had me start at 3 weeks post op). It really helps with the stiffness.

Meanwhile, take tylenol and stand in nice warm showers and try to move a bit more during the day. And get massages of your upper back and shoulder joints - you were truly abused during surgery!!

I think the body pillow is a wonderful idea; or alternately a whole bunch of other pillows that you can place in strategic positions. Rather than directly on your side, where you get pressure on your sternum, try propped up about 45 degrees between side and back (pillows). It takes the pressure off the sternum.

Good luck; this is a battle that goes on for a while.

 

[heartyone]

Jet, Do you have a recliner in the house? That's the only way my wife was able to sleep for about a month after the surgery. It made life a bit complicated, though, as she couldn't pull the lever to raise and lower herself. Left her a bit more dependant than she cared to be, but at least she slept.