William (Bill)'s Journal

Marie Myers  I think It took me a couple months to be comfortable sleeping on my side. I pretty much slept on my back in the rented recliner for a month. During the first 2 months post op, I was napping every day. Eventually, I started to sleep worse at night, so I started cutting back on the napping. I did find that sublingual melatonin helped me more than pill form did. It was my cardiologist who made that suggestion, by the way. Sometimes, getting a prescription for a sleeping pill (which I eventually asked for) is necessary. I got temazepam 15 mg, and it worked great. Hope you get some better sleep soon; you feel so much better when you sleep well.

Barbara Wood  I found back sleeping to be terribly hard. Had a full sternotomy. My surgeon gave me the go ahead to begin side sleeping as soon as I wanted. I got one of those large body pillows & began moving a little bit at a time towards side sleeping, leaning into the pillow for support. I started about 10 days after surgery & was able to be completely on my side after about a week - such a relief! Best recovery wishes Bill...

Rose Madura  I tried a wedge after surgery but I didn't like it much. Then I tried lots of pillows. I'd sleep intermittently and then would end up in the recliner for the rest of the night. I used a travel pillow in the recliner and that helped. Eventually I learned to sleep on my back which helped. I was glad when I got the go ahead to sleep on my side!

Rita Savelis  Sleeping can be hard after OHS. I hear you. I finally got used to sleeping on my back weeks after surgery (and now it's a skill I have retained). Sometimes you have to ask for and take a sleeping pill. Because your body does need some rest. I don't like pills, but I used them when I had to. Take care Bill.

Rita Savelis  Sleeping can be hard after OHS. I hear you. I finally got used to sleeping on my back weeks after surgery (and now it's a skill I have retained). Sometimes you have to ask for and take a sleeping pill. Because your body does need some rest. I don't like pills, but I used them when I had to. Take care Bill.

Rita Savelis  Sleeping can be hard after OHS. I hear you. I finally got used to sleeping on my back weeks after surgery (and now it's a skill I have retained). Sometimes you have to ask for and take a sleeping pill. Because your body does need some rest. I don't like pills, but I used them when I had to. Take care Bill.

Pat Bluemel  Back sleeping is rough for us side sleepers. I think I made it to just under week three and actually woke up on my side one night. My body and subconscious decided to make the decision for me:-). Good luck getting comfortable. Good sleep will be back before you know it.

Jeff Tisza  Thank you all for your collective comments. I too, am a side sleeper and will have OHS in a couple months. Have been working on retraining myself to sleep on my back. Not going all that well. Will continue to work on it. Again - thanks to all.