Susan's Place Transgender Resources

Hey guys,

I wanted to ask this question to those who've already undergone top surgery.  How long after were you able to start sleeping on your sides/front/other positions that some naturally sleep in, after you had surgery?  How did you cope sleeping on your back for however long was needed?  Thanks for your help!

Cheers,
Joshua

It took me months before I was comfortable.  How many, exactly, I don't remember.  But longer than I thought it would take.  Every time I tried to be on my side my incisions/scars burned.  I got used to sleeping on my back.

What helped right after surgery was sleeping reclined rather than flat on one of those wedge pillows.  Made it easier to get out of bed, too.

Jay

I think it was about 3 weeks before I could gingerly roll onto my side. I don't move much when I sleep, so it was doable, but not comfortable. I was so tired by then though that I fell asleep. It helped somewhat still having the binder on.

Dennis

I can't remember exactly but it was a while over a month less than three.

LOL I'm starting to think I was a wimp!  I also couldn't lift weights for >6 months due to pulling.

The best advice I can give is to listen to your body.  If it's not comfortable, don't do it.


Jay

semi-related question for the future: I know you're not supposed to raise your arms above shoulder level for some time after surgery to keep from stretching the scars. But that's something I do in my sleep - I always seem to sleep with my arms stretched out above my head, even if I fall asleep in some other position. Anyone have a solution for undesirable postsurgical sleep movements?

Quote from: sneakersjay on May 31, 2010, 06:19:02 PMThe best advice I can give is to listen to your body.  If it's not comfortable, don't do it.

This. What worked for us won't necessarily work for you.

I find it extraordinarily hard to fall asleep when I'm lying on my back. After my surgery, I couldn't even think about sleeping on my side at first. Eventually--after a couple of weeks, I think--I worked out a sort of halfway solution that had me half on my side and half on my back. But I think it was a couple of months before I could just sleep on my side.

Quote from: kyril on May 31, 2010, 06:48:43 PM
semi-related question for the future: I know you're not supposed to raise your arms above shoulder level for some time after surgery to keep from stretching the scars. But that's something I do in my sleep - I always seem to sleep with my arms stretched out above my head, even if I fall asleep in some other position. Anyone have a solution for undesirable postsurgical sleep movements?

I think your body will rebel, even in your sleep, and go OUCH! and stop you from doing it.  Either that or you will wake up.

I'm not sure the 'don't do this to prevent your scars from getting bigger' really works or whether it's just what your body does (with respect to scarring).

I followed the surgeon's instructions to the letter and I still have prominent scars.  I'm not sure there is any true prevention of scarring.  I also used the Kelocote gel recommended by Dr. Brownstein (and it was expensive) and applied it religiously for 3 months.  Still have dark scars.

Jay

Quote from: sneakersjay on May 31, 2010, 07:09:59 PMI also used the Kelocote gel recommended by Dr. Brownstein (and it was expensive) and applied it religiously for 3 months.  Still have dark scars.

I was extra-careful, too, and used Kelocote for two months. I don't think it did much for me. I just scar easily and heal slowly.

Hmmm, sounds like its going to be fun after surgery...I've never been keen with sleeping on my back.  Will have to get use to it!  How long after the surgery were u able to have shower? 

Quote from: JoshB on June 01, 2010, 09:51:44 AM
Hmmm, sounds like its going to be fun after surgery...I've never been keen with sleeping on my back.  Will have to get use to it!  How long after the surgery were u able to have shower?

Your surgeon will tell you but I believe it was about a week, after the drains and stitches came out.  You can shower with your back to the water, and hit your waist and lower from the front.

I took sponge baths before then and washed my hair in the sink.  My brother helped with the sprayer the first couple of days.


Jay

I hadn't given much thought to this. I don't like sleeping on my back, although much of that was due to the weight and shifting of breasts making it uncomfortable. Maybe I should invest in a bed-wedge.

Also, Dr. Brownstein's office recommended I get silicone sheeting for my post-surgical scarring, although I haven't bought any, yet. I wonder if Kelocote+silicone sheet would work better.

I've heard people mention that the silicone stuff really helps with the scarring.  My friends suggested that i get some to use so I need to look into buying some before I go.  It would be nice to have as little scarring as possible... evenutally i might take to sunbathing and getting some colour which may help with is as well :P

The silicone sheets aren't cheap, which is why I haven't gotten them yet (I'm still looking into which will be the best options) but it seems like it'd be foolish to skimp on post-surgical care. There are sheets that can be reused for a long time and apparently they get worn 23 hours a day (with a little time to clean them, clean the skin, and reapply).

I do recall one time when I had a hugely raised scar on the thin delicate skin on the top of my foot. For a while I just put a bandaid over it, then I got a little pack of silicone sheets and used those. It did work and I can't find where the scar used to be. I don't know if it was coincidence or not, of course. In any case, they told me that you have to wait to use any of this stuff until after the incisions are sealed up so it'd be after the stitches are out anyway. But I know it's something I'd want at hand for use the moment it was okay to use it.

I'd really like to know how those sheets work out. I might want to get my paws on those.

I thought the silicone sheets definitely helped me. I bought one and cut it into enough strips to last for 6ish weeks. Definitely worth it, at no point did I have to tape them on they adhesive on them worked fine for the amount of time I kept each set on.
Myles

I didn't want to use the silicone sheets because I have to put hypoallergenic goop on my skin after I shower. I figured that the adhesive wouldn't stick--and my skin is so sensitive that the adhesive itself might have caused problems. So I used Kelocote spray.

Back to the topic--if you have trouble sleeping on your back, you might find it helpful to use pillows and stuff (or even a full-length body pillow) to support you until you can get into a more comfortable sleeping position. I had an easier time sleeping with my upper body propped up than flat on my back, and (as I mentioned earlier), I eventually found a middle ground between my back and my side. But I needed pillows to help with that.

My doc told me that all of the innards don't fully fuse for about six weeks, so you should resign yourself to sleeping on your back--or finding a propped-up compromise--for that long.

I guess back sleeping will be worth it in the long run!  When I arrive home, my gf and I are going to have to resort to sleeping on a single bed, so i feel more for her having to probably squish up against the wall while I have the comfort of spreading out :P

Quote from: JoshB on June 05, 2010, 10:16:20 AMI guess back sleeping will be worth it in the long run! 

Yeah, do everything you can to not stress your chest/stitches. It's galling to have to always ask for help and stuff, but it's worth it.

I know im suppose to sleep on my back for 4 weeks. It seriously sucks! I think lastnight was actually the first night that i've slept decent since my surgery, which was almost 2 weeks ago. I just keep telling myself that it's worth it!