Sleeping

[RonT]

Hi everybody,

I'm four weeks out of the hospital and all is going really good (knock on wood!) I must be very lucky because my appetite and taste has not been affected and I have not had any major pain. I've been walking about a mile a day and will be increasing the distance. I have my post op appointment tomorrow so we'll see how it goes. I am not in sinus rhythm yet so they should tell me the future plan for that.

One problem I have is that I can't sleep in bed. I sleep well in my recliner but I am a side sleeper and when I try the bed I can't get comfortable. The chest is still a bit sore. I was wondering how long it took others to get back into bed?

Happy Holidays to all!!!!!

Ron

 

[tlhudson]

Hi Ron

Boy do I know how you feel. I too am a side sleeper and am just getting to the point of trying to sleep in bed. I sleep mostly on the couch propped up at an angle. Laying flat on my back in bed seems to feel like it's stretching my chest too much.

I have tried the last few nights in bed and have not made it all night. I don't even want to try to think about being on my side. Although my wife said I was on one side for an hour the other night. I could feel it the next day.

Hopefully starting my rehab program will help.

Take care.

 

[mamsram]

hi Ron,

A good report! I hope when my time comes, I will have similar words to say to my friends and family.
I also am a side-sleeper. Guess a recliner is an absolute must-have.
Happy holidays to you and yours

 

[Ross]

You mean we people are supposed to sleep? Who told you that?

It was 2 months post op before I could lay on my side. I didn't say comfortably either. I'm coming up on 6 months post op and still have some soreness laying on my left side.

The answer:Quite awhile.

 

[Johnny Stephens]

Hello Ron, I'm a side sleeper too. I don't recall exactly how long it was before I graduated from the recliner to sleeping on my side in bed, but I'm guess it was 4 weeks or so.

I was pretty tentative about it at first, and had my wife stack pillows tighly against my back as a prop, like they did in the hospital. They actually helped me sleep on my side for short stretches before I was discharged. That support with the pillows really helped and once I got a couple of nights under my belt, I never looked back. Don't worry, it will come pretty soon.

 

[terry40]

Hey RonT

Hey RonT

I'm still sleeping on the recliner, I've asked "santa" for a body pillow, 'cause I hear they help with sleeping in bed, I'm a "on my side" sleeper too.

I'm post-op 7 weeks, everyone has their own time frame for progression, My first 3 weeks post-op were very hard on me, so I feel I am behind in the recovery process, so don't let my 7 weeks scare you.

Terry

 

[medtronic of borg]

bed

bed

Ron it must have been around two months.

 

[Rain]

pillows, pillows, pillows

pillows, pillows, pillows

Hey Ron,

Did they have one of those 'wedge pillows' in the hospital you were in? They did where I was... they kept trying to put in bed with me. I didn't use it much in the hospital, but once I was home and trying to sleep in bed.. it did help.. you can kinda lean back against it. Once you can stand to lay on your side it REALLY helps to put a pillow between your arms.

There are still times I wake up in the morning and say, ?ouch? and times when I move my body just right and say, ?%@#!*?

Rain

 

[Gnusgal]

I'm a side sleeper as well. I can't stand to lay on my back. As a matter of fact, I slept on my side starting in the hospital a few days after the surgery. I'm not saying it was pain free, just that I did it. After awhile it wasn't too bad. I woke up frequently (any time I moved), but at least I was able to sleep some. I just can't on my back. The best thing, though, was having the hospital bed sitting up, laying back on my side a bit, then easing the bed the rest of the way down so I didn't have to use my arms to get down to a flat position (I didn't like sleeping sitting up). Fortunately, when I left the hospital, i went to my mother's house and she has an adjustable bed, so I was able to continue that tactic for another week .

The best advice I have for side sleepers is to hug a pillow. I've been sleeping with a small pillow hugged to my chest for the last 5 years (since my first OH). I hate going out of town and forgetting to bring my pillows to hold, it leaves my chest very uncomfortable.

Happy sleeping everyone!

 

[Ross]

The best advice I have for side sleepers is to hug a pillow.

I married mine!

 

[Gnusgal]

LOL! Ross, you always crack me up!

 

[Ross]

OUch!! My one year Anniversary here at VR isn't until tomorrow and I've already hit 1000 posts. Man, I hope I've informed and entertained everyone here. This makes 1001!

My first Post here one year ago tomorrow.
http://www.valvereplacement.com/forums/showthread.php?s=&threadid=954

 

[Rich]

Ron,
It sounds like you are doing quite well.
I couldn't sleep on my side for a long time but depending on your age it takes about ten weeks for your chest to heal.
I would go to bed on my back(with my wife's help getting in and out of bed) but that would only last for a few hours and then I would move to a nice comfortable rocker for the rest of the night.