Sleeping at night

ready2bedone

HI - I am 2 weeks post op from BMX with TEs. During the day, pain is quite manageable - more just discomfort as in occasional sharp pain if I reach for something, soreness from the drains, an occasional nerve "zing" and general tightness. But at night when I am trying to sleep it is so much worse. I have to sleep on my back, so just getting in a comfortable position is a challenge. I have a wedge pillow and a few different regular pillows of varying thicknesses that I rearrange and swap out all night. But being even partly horizontal causes upper back spasms, really sharp pain where my drains are, increased tightness and the TEs feel like they weigh a ton. I also get a really bad neck pain and headache from laying on my back because I just can't get pillows in the right position so my neck isn't thrown out of whack. So - needless to say, I am not getting much sleep!

I had been avoiding pain meds because I got so constipated right after my surgery that I thought it was going to require an ER visit. But this no sleep is for the birds, so I am taking my pain meds, muscle relaxer and gabapentin with a laxative chaser. That is good for about an hour of sleep! Then I am wide awake again in pain. Getting up helps - once I am vertical for a while, the pain lessens and I can try again in about another hour to sleep, but again, I wake up in about another hour in pain and I can't take meds again that soon. I can't take NSAIDS and Tylenol doesn't make a dent in this. My PS said no ice packs or heat.

Any suggestions would be greatly appreciated! I have a recliner but it also hurts my neck too much because I am short and the overstuffed headrest forces my neck in an unnatural position. I am not allowed to sleep on my side for "several months" according to my PS. Help!

LisaAlissa

Hi ready2bedone,

I don't like those recliners with overstuffed headrests either. I'm shortwaisted and they push my head down too. Before you do anything else here are a few ideas:

1. Try adding your wedge or pillows to fill in that hollow below the headrest and see if that helps. Try searching images of read in bed pillows. There are lots of varieties. Maybe using one or more of those in your bed will work?

2. If that doesn't work, consider renting a recliner from a furniture rental place. Try them out in the store to find one which seems to be comfortable for you. Take your pillows & wedges with you, so that you can try adding those to see if you can find what will be good for you.

Advantages are that you can try it out, and if it doesn't work, trade it out for something else.

3. If you are ready to replace your bed/mattress set, go to a local store and try out some of the beds that will allow you to raise the head/feet/knees and see if something there will work. And take your pillows/wedges, etc. with ou there too.

Finally, talk with your PCP...maybe there is a sleep clinic which can help you discover a sleep position that will work for you?

HTH (and sweet dreams!),

LisaAlissa

MinusTwo

Try looking at TE Primer or Exchange threads. Sorry to tell you, I HATED my TEs. The entire time. Every minute. But they will eventually go away.

If you've recently had them 'installed' or filled, maybe get the PS to remove some of the saline. I managed by only having fills every other week, or every third week and NEVER allowing more than 50ccs at a time,

Correct - do not sleep on your side. Many women do sleep in a recliner the entire time. Look at trying one of those small, curved pillows that go behind your neck in an airplane. I just bought one at Target, since I agree about the overstuffed headrest. Good luck.

ready2bedone

Thanks! MinusTwo - My PS was able to put my TEs on top of my muscle instead of under - just under my skin instead. So that helped a lot as far as that part goes. I had a LOT of loose skin so when I woke up from surgery, I was inflated to almost my normal size! Except the sad 34D tube socks that I had are now perky 34Ds! A couple of days ago, he swapped out the air for saline, and that didn't really feel any different. The good news is I won't need any more fills. I am much more sore from him removing 2 of my four drains. But the rest of the pain I have at night has been the same every night since surgery.

I will have to keep experimenting with pillows. I have an airplane neck pillow around here somewhere. Thanks for the tip.

LisaAlyssa - I have a new memory foam mattress that is amazing normally. My lower back would probably be really killing me if it weren't for it. I have no room for any additional furniture in the house (even rented) so I will see what I can do with the recliner I have to make it more comfortable. It seems the more vertical I am, the better, so that may be my best option if I can get it to work for me.

macb04

ready2bedone, so sorry you are having so much pain. Why can't you use heat packs on your back, away from all of your drains/incisions, for your back spasms? Also for pain, what about CBD, or Lidocaine Patches?

Also, I have a thread

Topic: TE/Implant OVER pectoral Can exercise, comfortable &NO RIPPLES!

Would you like to give me your PS name to add to the list of PS's doing Prepectoral Implant Reconstruction like you had done ?

jcpriest0469n

I understand not sleeping at night. I am a ways out from surgery, but still have neuropathy in my feet mostly and it acts up at night and Early morning. I use the marijuana at night to get to sleep and lidocaine during the night. You can get lidocaine over the counter. I am also on pain meds.I have back problems also. I have use fentanyl patch for a short time. That stuff put me right on my back at night. I don't have problems with constipation. I wish you luck and hope it resolves itself soon.

ready2bedone

Mach04 - I will have to ask if I can use heat or patches on my back. I also have hot flashes because of the hormone therapy, so not sure I would want heat. But worth a shot. I will message you with my PS name.