seating

[rasor]

Hi after my ( ivor lewis op ) i now sleep in a chair ,and in an upright position i know suffer from a sore bottom , any ideas anyone ,thanks and stay well

[Kate1503]

Have you tried using a donut to sit on? Soft foam ones are available from Amazon and help relieve the pressure on the base of your spine. Also, try to remember to massage an emollient cream/lotion onto your bottom after every bath or shower (Zerobase, Dermol or Avene are good). I only know all this as a former nurse and it's so important you don't get pressure sores! Hope this helps. Kate

[rasor in reply to Kate1503]

thank you kate

[brucemillar]

I am not you, so it's easy for me to say.... But.... Try sleeping in a bed again and maybe us a wedge pillow or pillows to prop you up a bit. Are you avoiding bed as a consequence of reflux? If yes? There are a whole load of simple proactive steps that you can make to help combat this. Our bodies are very smart and learn to adapt to what is given to them. If possible you want your new plumbing to adapt to sleeping in bed and not in a chair.

[sallym]

It may be useful to speak to occupational health who provided my husband with a full length mattress which is blown up and covers the full length of a recliner chair. Cavillan cream by prescription was also very good for helping with sore areas. sally

[liz_crisp]

Hi Rasor, I fully agree with Kate, it's really important to avoid pressure sores, Is it a recliner or just a normal chair,I actually slept in one of those zero gravity sun loungers that tip backwards for a while,. I had a super King duvet folded up in the bottom a blanket to tuck in round me and then another duvet over the top. It was surprisingly comfortable, (not the easiest to get in and out of alone when you are feeling fragile. ) I still take one with me in the car if we are going anywhere strange to stay for a while. X

[rasor in reply to liz_crisp]

thank you liz, i will try the duvet

[ANichol]

As Sally suggests, my husband got a repose inflatable mattress through the district nurse. It is single size with straps that adjust around our king size mattress. It has made such a difference and can be taken for nights away. Also have smaller version, which is back pillow, for use in arm chair. In addition, we have a memory foam seat cushion, bought from Amazon which goes everywhere with us; car, restaurants, cinema etc.

[Npride]

Hi Rasor, I would advise you contact your OT if you have one, or ask to be put in touch with one if not. It was only about 2 years through that Mal was given a district nurse visit frequently about once a month, but more if needed (I wish I had have known we could have had one from the beginning), anyway, they helped make sure that he didn't have bed sores etc. There is a special cream (brain block again, if you want to know I can tell you later as I still have a tube locked away) - You will have to 'need' it as it is around £50 a small tube so they don't just give it away. The other things they did were special cushions. First it was a simple blow up ridged one, but they break easily. Next was a raised square with compartments and special pyramid filling that could be removed and placed in different areas so that you could adjust to your own comfort. We used this on the wheelchair mostly. The other one, when he was at high risk of bed sores due to literally being skin and bone had an air pump to keep it at the correct pressure. They also changed his mattress, now I appreciate you are sleeping in a chair, but I assume this is because you cannot get comfy in a bed? In the end we bought a bed, (a definite must) that can raise up and down and the head and feet, otherwise for the other three years, we struggled with four or five pillows and a triangle pillow. At first we had a mattress that matched the cushion, a simple plastic type air filled. It was comfortable, except the getting hot and sweaty part. Next came a clever foam mattress that had hundreds of squares cut in the top half. This allowed each square to move around and mold to the body. Then he had a posher hospital mattress, but was quickly replaced with the most expensive air pump ones that they only give to people at high risk of bed sores. I have to say, they did make a difference but the cream did the biggest job. It puts a barrier over the skin, helping it to not break. I hope you sort something out. Take care, Carrie

[rasor in reply to Npride]

Hi

Thanks for advice Carrie ,most appreciate it ,will let you know how i get on stay safe

[Hidden]

Sometimes, the thin bottom develops after being so long in bed without exercise, so as well as all the other sensible advice, starting to walk and to do some gentle exercise does sometimes help. You can usually tell whether the muscles tone has been lost by looking in a mirror.

[Redandover70]

Hi Rasor, I use a V pillow (I find they lose their shape quickly) and a full length body pillow curved around my back plus a couple of others, I also have a pillow roll under my knees which reduces my slipping down, that way you are not sitting directly on your bottom but I do get backache and have to get up and do some Pilates before I eat or drink anything.

Hope you can get some comfort.

Christine

[rasor in reply to Redandover70]

thanks for advice

[Pogul]

I have to sleep upright too after my Ivor Lewis; I sleep in bed with a wedge pillow, two normal pillows on top of this in a landscape position resting on the headboard then a 'bat wing' pillow. I find this quite comfortable. I put a pillow under my knees as well that's been folded in half. I have to say I find this very comfortable and soon get off to sleep.

Don't we have to be inventive post op!!

Regards

Pogul

[rasor in reply to Pogul]

hi

I will try your idea,thanks so much

[ceca1997]

Hi- I helped order a bed from REM in CA. It is tempurpedic mattress - has a zero gravity setting and both head a feet go up/down. My 32 year old nephew adjusts his bed many times during the night - if you got a doctors order? Help w/payment

No one can ever be flat again - your new stomach is only 4 -5 inches down from your throat - can even be a disability for some

Bed - worth it ! Our stroke pts (nurse here) use another rotating pressure cushion - I’ll get back to you on name

Sitting all the time is very hard on your back and disks too-

[rasor]

Thanks Ceca for your advice ,every one on this website are so helpful,

[Tsuzuki]

I try to sit up while sleeping due to asperations during the night. The only thing I have found to help a sore bottom is a large soft pillow to sit on. Some of the donuts are just too hard. Im in a reclining couch that has arms so I stack pillows on either side and one under my knees to keep my from moving too much.

Good Luck!

[rasor]

Hi Tsuzuki

Thank you for your response ,will try it ,

[petercaron]

I usually don’t experience bile reflux until about 5 am. What is working for me is I sleep until about 4:30 am in my bed inclined and then move to a recliner I have in my bedroom for the balance of my night sleep.