Getting comfortable after umx

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Lefty_Lucy
Lefty_Lucy Member Posts: 50
edited February 2020 in Surgery - Before, During, and After

Hello!

Had my umx done two days ago. Overall, pain is fine. But I hate not being able to sleep on my side. I haven't gotten a decent stretch of sleep since surgery (or before it!) and I'm so wiped out. Last night I laid on my back, but curled my legs to the side--otherwise I definitely could not sleep at all. This morning my back is killing me from being curled awkwardly like that. Even up and sitting during the day, my back and butt get so sore. I'm buying some wedge pillows today. I did not realize how big of a thing this would be, but it's non-surgical spots that are the most sore for me.

Any other tips? We don't have the money or space for a big cushy La-Z-Boy, and I'm not up to going out and shopping for something like that yet anyway.

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  • Spookiesmom
    Spookiesmom Member Posts: 9,568
    edited February 2020

    I had bmx 8 years ago, and more surgery on the right side last year. Drains then too. I also can not sleep except on my left side. So I did. Nothing like a major surgery was gonna stop me. I just got in usual position and sawed logs. You may want an extra pillow to help

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  • TB90
    TB90 Member Posts: 992
    edited February 2020

    I held a pillow firmly to my affected side. It prevented movement from causing any discomfort.Rode home from the hospital (long journey) with that pillow too. Here, they actually give out these small pillows through the cancer society, but my sister-in-law also made me a beautiful one. But any pillow would work. It’s a similar concept to holding your side when you laugh to prevent your stitches from hurting. Done that too! See if that helps. You definitely need your sleep. It does get better quite quickly but hope this can help in the meantime.

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  • MinusTwo
    MinusTwo Member Posts: 16,634
    edited February 2020

    It took me months to learn to sleep on my back. I had a bilateral, with expanders for 6 months so I couldn't sleep on either side for most of a year. I had to prop very firm pillows on both sides to keep me from rolling over by mistake. Changing you sleep patterns are really hard.

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  • mightlybird01
    mightlybird01 Member Posts: 217
    edited February 2020

    I had right UMX and I just slept on my left side for the first 1-2 days. After that, I gently moved over also to my right side for a little while each night. Why can't you sleep on your right side?

    Hope you get some sleep soon!

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  • HeartShapedBox
    HeartShapedBox Member Posts: 172
    edited February 2020

    I had my umx a month ago and didn't have a recliner (or the $ or space for one), and also a side and stomach sleeper normally (actually I'm used to shifting positions throughout the night) I got a large U-shaped "pregnancy body pillow" on amazon, which was a lifesaver! With the combo of 2 other pillows to prop up and soften the curve of the upper "U" part, and an add'l small "hugger" pillow, I could find a better position where I could shift my hips/ legs to a side sleep pose (with a "leg" of the pregnancy pillow between my knees), and my torso/shoulders only slightly shifted to the side, but it was enough to be way comfier tham on the back, and it stopped me from accidentally rolling TOO far over Ina painful way.

    COMHO Full Body Pregnancy Pillow,... https://www.amazon.com/dp/B07Z1Q1Z4Y?ref=ppx_pop_m...

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  • Lefty_Lucy
    Lefty_Lucy Member Posts: 50
    edited February 2020

    Oh wow, so many great ideas! I'm definitely going to look into that pillow, HeartShapedBox.

    mightlybird, they told me I'd heal better if I slept on my back? May be something particular to my doc, idk. Right now I have the pain ball on my right side, too, which makes it extra difficult.

    Thanks, y'all.

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  • mightlybird01
    mightlybird01 Member Posts: 217
    edited February 2020

    It seems to me that there is just no consensus out there on how to best heal. Everyone seems to be given different instructions. My surgeon did not give me any restrictions, apart from not moving my arms too much for the first week, basically until the drains are out. That was it. But it is always best to follow the advice of the people who treated you, so as long as you can get at least some sleep, you just have to tough it out. It will soon be over, so hang in there.

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  • LiveLoveLaugh2020
    LiveLoveLaugh2020 Member Posts: 322
    edited February 2020

    Heart I totally agree.. I have one of those too! It really does help. I was told to sleep on my back as well so I go between the recliner and my bed with that pillow.

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  • WC3
    WC3 Member Posts: 1,540
    edited February 2020

    I used a bed wedge but I essentially had to sleep on my back for a year due to port discomfort and the surgeries. I got to a point where I could get partially on my side after my third port was placed on my other side.

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  • LiveLoveLaugh2020
    LiveLoveLaugh2020 Member Posts: 322
    edited February 2020

    Sucks for us side sleepers....I haven't slept well in months! Can't wait until I get to sleep on my side again :)

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  • Lefty_Lucy
    Lefty_Lucy Member Posts: 50
    edited February 2020

    I got a wedge system yesterday (before posting this and hearing about the pregnancy pillow), and it was an improvement last night. I piled up pillows on my side and hugged a small one on my mastectomy side and it gave me a little of the cozy side-sleeping feeling. No sore back this morning as I didn't have legs curled awkwardly to the side. I even got two longer stretches of sleep last night. Relief.

    I am still going to look into the pregnancy pillow. Seems easier to get cozy in and I'll have several more weeks of this (and likely more discomfort) after surgery #2.

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  • AnnC2019
    AnnC2019 Member Posts: 203
    edited February 2020

    I bought the pharmedoc U-shaped pillow on amazon and a few others. It was a life saver. I am still using it six months later. I am a side sleeper and it allowed me to sleep between side and back. I copied the pillow set up from someone online.

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