Which wedge pillow?

[pem]

Hi! I'm T minus 5 days until surgery

I've seen several posts recommending a wedge pillow to ease discomfort during recovery. I went to Amazon.com and saw several models. They all seem to be 24 inches by 24 inches (Length and width), but vary on height. The height seems to range from about 7 inches to 12 inches. What works best for folks? Any specific brand or type recommendations beyond that?

Thanks a bunch!
pem

 

[pem]

Also - I read good things about this set of 3 wedge pillows - wonder if anyone has tried them:

http://www.contourliving.com/p-21-backmax-body-wedge-cushion-sets.aspx

 

[Lynlw]

Justin never used wedge pillows, usually slept in a recliner the first few days home then his bed with extra pillows, but I do know some people complained if the wedge was too steep, they tend to slide down and didn't like it at all. Chances are you probably won't use it that long, so I probably wouldn't spend too much money..but thats just me. Do you have a recliner or one you could probably borrow? Mostt pople that have them reallly like them, even for naps during the day if they are fine sleeping in their bed at night.

 

[pem]

Justin never used wedge pillows, usually slept in a recliner the first few days home then his bed with extra pillows, but I do know some people complained if the wedge was too steep, they tend to slide down and didn't like it at all. Chances are you probably won't use it that long, so I probably wouldn't spend too much money..but thats just me. Do you have a recliner or one you could probably borrow? Mostt pople that have them reallly like them, even for naps during the day if they are fine sleeping in their bed at night.

Thanks for your reply, Lyn. I have a recliner with an ottoman that I can use. It's not as cushy as a Lazyboy, but it will probably do the trick. So it sounds like if I get a wedge pillow, I will err on the side of a low incline (7 inches high instead of 12 inches).

Thanks again,
pem

 

[Jeff Edmonton]

For me sleeping pills were a must! I bought an expensive recliner thinking it would help me sleep on my back but I was wrong. I was easily able to get in and out of bed, walk up and down stairs and could only fall asleep with sleeping pills for the first month. Ask your Dr. for some, do not take no for and answer, you will thank me later.
I slept in my bed the 2nd night home and lots of pillows helped. I was able to sleep on my side after the 1st night home and did not have any issues with my sternum.
The sound of my new valve would keep me from getting to sleep for the first few months, it does not bother me anymore and I do not need or use sleeping pills anymore. I still have the recliner and enjoy it but for me it was not a must!
Hope your surgery goes well and you have a quick recovery.

 

[pem]

Jeff,

Thanks for the ideas. It sounds like what actually works varies a lot from person to person. But it sure wouldn't hurt to have the sleeping pills already in hand if I discover that I need them. Would you ask for them at the hospital, your cardiologist, or your PCP?

Thanks again,
pem

 

[ElectLive]

Pem - It is different for everybody, but I will throw out my crazy solution. I tried the Laz-Y-Boy and it was just awful, so I was committed to make the bed work.

I tried a wedge pillow next. It was too high for me to sleep comfortably on (lying flat felt the best) and was not high enough to be much help maneuving out of bed. My wife was pregnant at the time, so I had her sleeping in another room so that my constant nighttime awakenings didn't wake her up too. Anyway, I was desperate for a independent solution, and someone was nice enough to give me something called the "Mattress Genie", which basically transforms a normal mattress into an incline bed.

I was able to lie flat on my back to sleep, then when I woke up, just pushed the button on the control panel to elevate my head, then just sort of rolled right out of bed, piece of cake, didn't need any help. I know a lot of people get out of bed on their own no problem, but for me, it was a big challenge in the beginning, maybe based as much on fear as pain.

Anyway, I hesitate to mention, because it's expensive...I never knew how much it cost until I just did a web search. It's also noisy. But should you encounter any of the same issues as me, it worked great.

Overall, sleep was probably the biggest challenge for me post-surgery. Going to the bathroom a lot, combined with weird dreams, combined with early morning back pain, it just wasn't easy. It definitely got better each week, though. I have a thing about never taking sleeping pills, so I didn't, I just got used to sleeping more frequently for shorter periods. It was probably back close to normal by 4 weeks.

 

[pem]

Anyway, I was desperate for a independent solution, and someone was nice enough to give me something called the "Mattress Genie", which basically transforms a normal mattress into an incline bed.

Thanks for the great data point - I'll check into the mattress genie. I'm not a big pill taker myself, so it's good to know that it is possible to get through without.

pem

 

[alesia]

Hi there! Nothing made me comfy enough to sleep through the night. I would start the night in my bed then in the middle of the night, move to the recliner. I remember being stuck there acouple of times and not being able to get out??? lol Its been 15 days from my surgery and can finally sleep through the night in my own bed. I had at first used a soft pillow under my head and one pillow each on the side, for my arms. Before i went to bed i had my husband use a electric massager on my back and made it easier to sleep. Hope you surgery goes well and have a speedy recovery!

 

[Jkm7]

Two OHS here and I couldn't /didn't use a recliner at all. I was most comfortable post op both times in our regular bed with loads of pillows. I surrounded myself with pillows of all sizes and they were just the thing for me. Wedge pillows were too firm and rigid. The first bit home, I propped myself quite upright in the bed but in a very short time, I kept discarding pillows until I was down to my normal single pillow.

Best wishes. Hope all goes really smoothly for you.

 

[pem]

Hi there! Nothing made me comfy enough to sleep through the night. I would start the night in my bed then in the middle of the night, move to the recliner. I remember being stuck there acouple of times and not being able to get out??? lol Its been 15 days from my surgery and can finally sleep through the night in my own bed. I had at first used a soft pillow under my head and one pillow each on the side, for my arms. Before i went to bed i had my husband use a electric massager on my back and made it easier to sleep. Hope you surgery goes well and have a speedy recovery!

Sounds like you had some rough nights - glad you are settling back into normal! So it sounds like I should have some extra pillows around in case I need them. Thanks for sharing your experience!

 

[pem]

Two OHS here and I couldn't /didn't use a recliner at all. I was most comfortable post op both times in our regular bed with loads of pillows. I surrounded myself with pillows of all sizes and they were just the thing for me. Wedge pillows were too firm and rigid. The first bit home, I propped myself quite upright in the bed but in a very short time, I kept discarding pillows until I was down to my normal single pillow.

Best wishes. Hope all goes really smoothly for you.

Hi. Thanks for responding and for the well wishes. After yours and the last post, I will definitely keep a few extra bed pillows around. It sounds like each person's experience is very individualized, but that having a recliner, a wedge pillow, several spare bed pillows covers, and sleeping pills covers most of the ground. I've got my recipe now - thanks everyone Of course, I'm always interested in other experiences and opinions.

 

[Jeff Edmonton]

Hey Pem,

I asked my GP for a prescription, they gave me some sleeping pills in the CVICU and it really made a difference. They did not give me any to take home, I should have asked before for a prescription but did not think of it cause I have never used sleeping pills before.
It was a good thing my wife had some sleeping pills the first few nights, i am sure I would not have slept without them. The first couple of weeks are the worst, you are not sure how to lie because of the sternum, lots of pillows in a little nest worked well for me.

 

[hetmarie]

I found sleeping in my big overstuffed chair to be most comfortable the first couple weeks. Then I bought a body pillow to wrap myself around. It helped a lot as I sleep on my side and it helped keep the pressure off my chest and shoulders. I still use it now (18 weeks post-op) as I still have discomfort in my shoulders (occasionally) and my incision site (nerves are regenerating and causing all kinds of fun pains, especially first thing in the morning). Good luck with your surgery! I think you need to find what's most comfortable for you.

 

[pem]

I asked my GP for a prescription, they gave me some sleeping pills in the CVICU and it really made a difference. They did not give me any to take home, I should have asked before for a prescription but did not think of it cause I have never used sleeping pills before.

Thanks, Jeff. I'll be sure to ask for some before I go home so I can have them on hand. I had my pre-op appointment today and they said that would be fine.

 

[pem]

I found sleeping in my big overstuffed chair to be most comfortable the first couple weeks. Then I bought a body pillow to wrap myself around. It helped a lot as I sleep on my side and it helped keep the pressure off my chest and shoulders. I still use it now (18 weeks post-op) as I still have discomfort in my shoulders (occasionally) and my incision site (nerves are regenerating and causing all kinds of fun pains, especially first thing in the morning). Good luck with your surgery! I think you need to find what's most comfortable for you.

Thanks, Heather! I tend to be a stomach sleeper, but it sounds like that won't be an option for a while. Second best may be on my back. We have a bean bag chair - I wonder if that would be comfortable, though not sure how I would ever get out of it.

Sorry about your ongoing nerve regeneration. I know how that can be - measure improvement over months and not days. I expect it will improve over time.

 

[ElectLive]

I tend to be a stomach sleeper, but it sounds like that won't be an option for a while. Second best may be on my back.

Knowing what I know now, I would have taught myself to sleep only on my back before the surgery to get used to it. I was entirely a side sleeper beforehand, and used to rolling over periodically. Nothing more frustrating than trying to get used to a new sleep position post surgery, and a fixed one at that, with all the other issues going on. When I did finally brave side sleeping again, pain actually wasn't much of an issue, but it made my heart feel like it was pounding inside, pretty weird and not conducive to sleep.