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Posted 2/18/2011 2:38 PM (GMT 0)
I had my colon removed and now have an illiostomy I am sore from sleeping on my back, any suggestions?
Posted 2/18/2011 2:49 PM (GMT 0)
How long ago did you have surgery? Once you've recovered, you can sleep pretty much however you want.
Posted 2/18/2011 3:22 PM (GMT 0)
i sleep on my tummy with no problem. i just bend my right knee a little so i won't lay too flat on the stoma.
Posted 2/18/2011 3:53 PM (GMT 0)
I sleep on my side every night and sometimes on my stomach. It has been four years since my surgery; however, I think I may have used a pillow at first. Give it a try and see how it feels.
Posted 2/18/2011 6:13 PM (GMT 0)
I sleep on my side mostly. was always a tummy sleeper before gizmo [ilio stoma] but am gassey at nite from pepsi and don't want bag to explode and fly me around the room like a balloon.lol
Posted 2/18/2011 8:27 PM (GMT 0)
I sleep on my back or either of my sides (not much of a belly sleeper) and have since my surgery. No problems except that the filter on my pouch always gets gross and clogged, but that happens no matter how I sleep.
Posted 2/18/2011 11:32 PM (GMT 0)
Sleeping on his back and sides for hubby now. Pillows do help to relieve and alleviate some of the soreness and stiffness following surgery. His low back he remembers pulling playing golf before the surgery 8 weeks ago and it definitely gave him some aggravation. Today he felt great and we walked a bit - so maybe it has finally worked itself out. If you have any tenderness or discomfort with your back hopefully it will work itself out soon.
Posted 2/19/2011 2:20 AM (GMT 0)
I can no longer sleep in my stomach after my ileo first done in 1992, so start off on my side and end up on my back. Seem to turn over onto my back naturally. If I sleep on my side, cause my stoma produces quite a lot even through the night, I have found the bag has been full enough to pull itself away from the flange.

I have arthritis and damaged discs in my neck so 6 years ago we bought a tempur mattress and pillows and this is amazing if you get joint pain, it is like sleeping on air.
Posted 2/19/2011 2:40 AM (GMT 0)
once your incision heals, and you dont have stomach pain anymore, you can sleep on your stomach.
I kept a waterproof pad, sewed a sheet on it, and i sleep on that. That makes me feel more secure so that i can sleep on my stomach. I have found if i go somewhere and forget that, i can't sleep on my stomach i get too nervous!
Usually i start out on my stomach and i either wake up on my back, or start dreaming about having to go to the bathroom and wake up to empty.
Posted 2/19/2011 3:02 AM (GMT 0)
Try sleeping on the same side as your stoma and gently press a pillow up against your stomach. If you need to roll onto your back or onto your other side, keep the pillow pressed against your stomach while you roll. Once you're fully healed, you'll be able to sleep any way you want. :-)
Posted 2/19/2011 7:10 AM (GMT 0)
You guys really sleep on your stomach? I was told by nurses at the hospital to completely avoid sleeping on my stomach. My entire life I've been a stomach sleeper and was devastated when they said I could no longer do that. I'm almost 7 months out from surgery; you think it's ok to sleep on my tummy? I'd be nervous to damage Mt. Vesuvius!
Posted 2/19/2011 7:37 AM (GMT 0)
Yes, I sleep on my stomach, and you can, too! I always empty before I go to bed, and then, I lay on my stomach and bend my right leg and hug a pillow on my right side, which lifts that side up a bit. It's so comfy. Give it a try! :-)
Posted 2/19/2011 5:56 PM (GMT 0)
OMG...thanks so much for the advise. I didn't think either that you could sleep on the stomach. I hate being a side/back sleeper now. I'll give it a try!!
Posted 2/20/2011 6:53 AM (GMT 0)
I will definitely give it a try too! Thanks so much fchurchlady! I may need to get another pillow, but if it means I can sleep on my stomach its totally worth it! :)
Posted 2/20/2011 7:11 AM (GMT 0)
Why would anyone with an ostomy WANT to sleep on their stomach?

Not being sarcastic or anything, but why would you want to do this?

Rosemary
Posted 2/20/2011 5:31 PM (GMT 0)
cece you sounded like an infomercial!

I don't see how it could hurt anything to sleep on your stomach, once you are healed of course. Like i said, the key to me being able to sleep on my stomach is that pad, that way if it does blow up, it will only get on me and the pad. I do usually sleep with one leg up, but not on a pillow, just pulled up.

And i want to sleep on my stomach cause thats how i have always slept. And that's how i like to sleep, a bag doesn't keep me from doing anything else i want to, i don't see why it should take that away from me!
Posted 2/20/2011 10:55 PM (GMT 0)
Yes it's the same thing with me...sleeping on my stomach is the most comfortable for me and it's how I fall asleep the fastest. Why wouldn't I want to sleep on my stomach? lol As long as it doesn't hurt my stoma, I don't see a problem with it. :)
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