Sleeping on your left side following a heart attack

[RTCLP1]

Hi all, my husband had his heart attack nearly 3 weeks ago. He has 2 stents and lots of new meds. We'd been told that sleeping on the left side can take time to do again. It's not as painful as it was originally but he just doesn't feel comfortable lying on that side. I'm assuming, as with other advice, the heart muscle can take 4-6 weeks to repair so I'm assuming this issue with the left side will just improve in increments with time. Anyone have any thoughts/experience? Thanks.

[BaronFrankenstein]

There is no set time for recovery as everybody is different. I had to sleep on my right side for longer than 6 weeks but i could eventually sleep on either side.

A heart attack and having stents fitted is a major trauma and like any trauma takes time to get over.

Give yourself time and dont compare your recovery to otger people that just adds to stress and anxiety if you thinknyou are somehow behind in your recovery.

[Gibson01]

It took me a few years! I did not really notice the improvement until one day I realised that I was back to sleeping on my left as a preference. I always thought that the CPR was the cause rather than the Heart Attack itself.

[BTC1997]

To add to the 'everyone's different' point, I didn't know that I couldn't sleep on my left side after a heart attack and stent in August (2024), so did it anyway and haven't noticed anything.

[Blackknight57]

I tend to sleep on my back , I’m 2 years 3 month in 3 stents, complicated with a perforation and water around my heart(had a drain)

[albertcamus]

I had two stents over a year ago and am only just beginning to feel comfortable again sleeping on my lhs.

[LylaR]

I had a heart attack and stent fitted eighteen months ago, also pericarditis for about 6 months after. I still don't feel comfortable sleeping on my left side.