{"id":1275,"date":"2010-06-29T12:19:22","date_gmt":"2010-06-29T17:19:22","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/www.heart-valve-surgery.com\/heart-surgery-blog\/?p=1275"},"modified":"2025-06-08T13:38:16","modified_gmt":"2025-06-08T18:38:16","slug":"stomach-sleeping-tummy-heart-surgery","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.heart-valve-surgery.com\/heart-surgery-blog\/2010\/06\/29\/stomach-sleeping-tummy-heart-surgery\/","title":{"rendered":"“When Can I Sleep On My Tummy After Heart Valve Surgery?” Asks Nicole"},"content":{"rendered":"

I just received an interesting question from Nicole about sleeping on your stomach after open heart surgery.<\/p>\n

Nicole writes, “Adam – I had my mitral valve repaired 2 weeks ago. The surgeon used a sternotomy, so my chest is still sore. I’m a tummy sleeper,<\/em> so I’m not sleeping well. How long until I can sleep on my stomach? Thanks! Nicole”<\/p>\n

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\"Stomach<\/p>\n

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Like Nicole, I am a tummy sleeper as well.<\/p>\n

For me, it’s the most comfortable position to sleep. Plus, Robyn (my wife) has learned that when I sleep on my stomach, I don’t snore… as loud. That said, after my surgery, it was a tough adjustment sleeping on my back – for me and Robyn.<\/p>\n

As for Nicole’s question, I do not have a definitive answer for her. It needs to be stressed that healing is a personal process. Some patients heal faster than others. I know, from experience, that benchmarking healing milestones (spending time alone, driving, returning to work, etc.) can really upset and frustrate patients during their recovery.<\/p>\n

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If you are curious… My return to “tummy sleep” was a two-step process. First, at 4 weeks, I began sleeping on my side for a few hours each night. Then, at about 6-7 weeks, I was sleeping on my stomach full-time.<\/p>\n

Again, please remember that we heal at different rates. I’m sure many of the former patients who visit this blog had completely different experiences specific to sleeping after cardiac surgery. I hope this helps Nicole (and perhaps you) learn more about sleeping after heart surgery.<\/p>\n

Related Links:<\/p>\n