Sleeping after surgery

[Agoodyear55]

can anyone please recommend pillows to use after open heart surgery? Thank you

[ChoochSiesta]

I just used the same ones as usual. The hard part was finding the most comfortable position whether it be left side, right side etc. I realised that there was only 1 position that worked, but found it claustrophobic because I knew I couldn't move from that 1 position (I think it was lying on my left side).

[Snowflake01]

I found a v-pillow to be very useful in finding a comfortable position (Silentnight pillow)

[Beatles1956]

I used a V pillow, John Lewis and Dunelm sell them. Only way I could sleep to begin with, being propped upright. You may find that you don't sleep very well at night, for various reasons, so when you feel tired during the day, allow yourself to give in to it.

All the best.

[Traveldreams]

I bought one of the bed rests from Amazon and added my usual pillows

[MountainGoat52]

I just used several pillows arranged until I found a comfortable position which, for the first six weeks, was on my back. I rarely sleep on my back so it was not easy, but slowly things improved and I was able to sleep on my side which improved my quality of sleep no end.

[Freshorangejuice]

I used ordinary pillows but lots of them. I tried sleeping on my side but found that too painful so had to learn, having never done it before, to sleep on my back. Now I can't sleep on my side but always on my back!Other people have found it useful if they can't sleep on their back to have one pillow between their legs and another to "cuddle" providing support to the sternum.

[Dimelza66]

I was given a fabric corset/jacket. It was super. I even wore it in the day. It supported my ribs and had handles on the front to pull together in case I needed to cough or sneeze. It was very comfortable to sleep in too. No pillows or cushions for me!

[CyclingTime]

I used a V pillow as it kept me in one place and stopped me moving all over which can be painful for a few weeks.

Worked a treat once I adapted

[Thanksnhs]

Hi I just used my own pillow which is a dunlopillow it is quite firm and not too high. I slept fine on my side with it. Char

[momander]

Hi,I used a recliner chair as it was a good while before I could sleep properly and comfortably in bed

[Agoodyear55]

thank you for all your suggestions

[Cavkingcharlesdogs3]

my husband is 5 weeks post OHS and I bought him a wedge and V shaped pillow and lots of normal pillows. He found the wedge with 3 or more normal pillows and uses the a pillow on one side. The wedge I got off Amazon for a reasonable price £18

Hope all goes well

[Agoodyear55 in reply to Cavkingcharlesdogs3]

Thank you, that’s very useful

[Cavkingcharlesdogs3 in reply to Agoodyear55]

Should say he uses the V pillow not a pillow 🤦‍♀️

[fishonabike]

I have tried all sorts of combination, including back tests and V pillows

the best and easiest is normal pillows arranged in whatever form is comfortable at the time

a useful arrangement for sitting up & semi-reclining is:

a base pillow

+ an upside-down V on top of that

+ another pillow across the top

[Carsry]

A v cushion was a godsend for me!