Sleeping Issues

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crystalphm
crystalphm Member Posts: 1,138
edited July 2016 in Living Without Reconstruction After a Mastectomy

I thought I would keep the topic general, but I do have a specific question. I am 5 years out from a double mastectomy and I find as I am sleeping on my side my shoulders now want to bend into the center of my chest. Like if you were giving yourself a tight hug, but my shoulders are coming in too far and it is becoming very painful. I now have a calcified tendon on the one side and I am trying to come up with answers for this bad sleeping position.

I DO hug a pillow, the best thing, but somewhere during the night I lose the pillow and wake up so crunched in this "hug yourself" position I have to spend time getting my posture back.

Anyone else? Any thoughts?

I do not wear breast forms, I choose to be flat and fabulous, but that is because forms "still" hurt. The band always always rides up into my incision as I have no fatty pad anymore to hold it down. It all slides up into my concave places.

Help would be appreciated :-)

Thanks, Denise

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  • badger
    badger Member Posts: 34,614
    edited April 2016

    hi Denise, I'm six years out from BMX also flat & fab. Haven't had the sleeping posture issue you describe but do sometimes get a sudden cramp in my back around the latissimus dorsi area. It wakes me up and I have to stretch, but I'm used to sleep deprivation because still getting night-time foot & leg cramps. Would body pillows on either side keep you from curling up?

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  • crystalphm
    crystalphm Member Posts: 1,138
    edited April 2016

    Thanks Badger, I will have to try the body pillows again, it seems I mostly kick them away. But I wanted to answer you on the cramps. It can be a sign of a magnesium deficiency. If you are under medical treatment, ask a doctor. If not under medical treatment you can try any magnesium other than magnesium oxide which has a poor absorption. Magnesium can act as a laxative so go slow on your dosage. But I pretty much have the cramping under control now days.

    Maybe I am frustrated because 6 years later the cancer I had is still giving me problems :-(

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  • floaton
    floaton Member Posts: 181
    edited April 2016

    A few years pre-bc I had a body pillow that was shaped like a "J" where your head went at the bottom of the letter. It was awesome, I got great sleep and since the long part was attached it stayed next to me all night. Just thought I'd let you know such a thing exists (or at least used to :), if you to want to try it. It is very frustrating how long various troubles from this can last :(.

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  • LisaAlissa
    LisaAlissa Member Posts: 1,092
    edited April 2016

    Those (j-shape pillows) still exist. And in fact there are also U-shaped and C-shaped pillows. Search under "pregnancy pillows" and you should find pictures and links to various types of support pillows.

    HTH,

    LisaAlissa

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  • crystalphm
    crystalphm Member Posts: 1,138
    edited April 2016

    Thanks so much for your help with this. I have tried body pillows and they get away from me, but I will try the J shaped one.

    I really appreciate your taking the time to help!

    Does anyone else have this issue?

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  • starwoman
    starwoman Member Posts: 73
    edited April 2016

    Both of my shoulders have been sore for the last few months and a recent bone scan (which thankfully was clear for progression though a hip replacement is in my near future) showed 'rotator cuff enthesopathy' on both sides. I gather that means a problem where the tendon meets the bone. I didn't have any shoulder pain for nearly 2 years after the second mastectomy so not sure if sleeping position is the cause but think I'll try one of those J pillows too in case - thanks for the information. I've also developed achilles tendonitis, mainly on the left, so possibly have a tendon problem rather than a sleeping problem.

    I do hope the J cushion proves to be the solution for you, Denise.

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  • crystalphm
    crystalphm Member Posts: 1,138
    edited April 2016

    Thanks so much Starwoman...

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  • GeorgiaRai
    GeorgiaRai Member Posts: 175
    edited April 2016

    I sleep with a (don't laugh) stuffed Eeyore! The way he's shaped (in a sitting-donkey position) forms kind of a wedge/triangle, and it provides very comfortable support against my chest. He's probably about 10" long overall, so small enough to keep hold of when I turn over during the night. I, too, need something to keep me from scrunching up when I'm on my side, but I tend to move around a lot so big pillows are too cumbersome for me. I hope you find something that works so you can get better rest, crystalphm!

    I wear my silicone forms all day, every day - it's what feels most comfortable/natural for me. I hate bras that ride-up, so I can wear a "long line" mastectomy bra. It has a wide band that sits lower than a regular bra band would, but everything stays in place just the way I like it.

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  • crystalphm
    crystalphm Member Posts: 1,138
    edited May 2016

    GeorgiaRai, Looks like I will be looking for a 12 inch eeyore! I am smiling with the thought. Thanks so much for caring!

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  • gardengypsy
    gardengypsy Member Posts: 769
    edited July 2016

    I want a Winnie-the-Pooh!

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