Learning how to sleep again after ostomy surgery may sound odd. After all, we’ve been sleeping since the day we were born. But when you have a stoma, your old sleep positions may need a little adjustment.
Here are some tips:
- Put pillows around you to prevent you from rolling over on your pouch.
- Wear a shirt to bed that's a couple of sizes too small; it will help keep your pouch snug against your body while you sleep.
- Try sleeping on your back. It may take a little getting used to, but after a while it can become second nature.
- Be conscious of your pouch’s condition. Be ready to empty or change your pouch at night, if necessary.
I have a night drainage system so I don't have to get up every hour to drain my bag. If I don't sleep with my night drainage on, I just get up, drain it and go back to sleep. It's second nature.
Jearlean
Living with 2 ostomies since she was 2 years old
I've always slept on my side, having an ostomy hasn't changed that. If i have a leak when I'm asleep, I'll wake up because my skin will itch. I feel it and think, 'oh my pouch is full'. The same way someone wakes up and says 'I have to go to the bathroom.'
Stephanie
Living with an ostomy since 2010
I sleep better now because I don't have to deal with the illness I had. Over time, your body gets used to things, and so I just wake up at night when it's full now.
Ted
Living with an ostomy since 2012
Featured products
ConvaTec® Night Drainage System
SUR FIT Natura® Two-Piece High Output Pouch
SUR-FIT Natura® ConvaTec Moldable Technology™ Skin Barrier
Join me+ today
Featured articles
10/10/2024
Travel
Traveling with an Ostomy: What to Pack
The idea of taking long trips with an ostomy may seem daunting at first. But with a little extra preparation, you can enjoy the trip of a lifetime! Here’s our tips below to help make packing for your next adventure a little easier.
Read more10/17/2024
Everyday life
Travel
Road Trips with an Ostomy
Now that you have an ostomy, the idea of taking long trips can seem daunting. But with a little extra preparation, you can enjoy the trip of a lifetime.
Read more10/17/2024
Travel
Ostomy Travel Tips
Extra security precautions are being taken at airports and other transit hubs worldwide. A little pre-planning and understanding of both security rules and your right to privacy can help you avoid problems in transit and enjoy your travels.
Read more12/2/2024
Diet
Everyday life
Living with an ostomy: Hydration
Drinking more is one of the simplest ways to improve your health and well-being. These tips can help you stay one step ahead of dehydration.
Read more12/20/2024
Fashion
Fashion Tips for Men Living with an Ostomy
After ostomy surgery you can wear the same clothes as anyone else – and do it with style! Here are some fashion tips for men living with an ostomy.
Read more12/20/2024
Fashion
Fashion tips for women living with an ostomy
Here are some practical fashion tips from Jearlean Taylor, a successful model, author, and businesswoman who has never known life without an ostomy.
Read more12/19/2024
Everyday life
Tips for Managing Anxiety After Ostomy Surgery
One of the biggest worries for people who have recently had ostomy surgery is what other people will think.
Read more12/19/2024
Everyday life
Fashion
Returning to Work with an Ostomy
From industrial jobs to the classroom, from long shifts at the hospital to dancers – and all workplaces in between – people living with an ostomy are successfully returning to work following ostomy surgery.
Read more12/19/2024
Everyday life
Back to school with an ostomy
As your child begins to recover from ostomy surgery, it is normal for them to feel fearful or anxious about their needs when going back to school.
Read more11/19/2024
Activity
Exercise After Surgery: Back to Basics
No matter what level of physical activity you want to pursue, ostomy surgery shouldn’t hold you back.
Read more12/20/2024
Everyday life
Bathing or showering with an Ostomy
Showering or bathing with an ostomy should not interfere with your regular cleaning routine. Here are some tips on bathing or showering with an ostomy.
Read more12/19/2024
Everyday life
Peristomal Skin Care
Knowing how to identify irritated skin around your stoma early and keeping it healthy could help avoid greater complications and make for a stress-free experience with your ostomy.
Read moreCommunity
me+ Community Stories - Dana
In 2015, Kimberly was in the midst of cancer treatments, with a bowel perforation and an obstruction that required emergency surgery.
Community
me+ Community Stories - Meghan
Instagram Star, Meghan Brown, Shares How Easy Pouch Removal is with ESENTA™
Community
me+ Community Stories - Walt
Inspired by stories of others living with an ostomy, Walt Brilhart had dedicated his life to sharing the message of hope and faith.
Community
me+ Community Stories - Ronald
It was late Summer 2014, age 74, when I first learned that I had bladder cancer. Read Ronald's story.
Community
me+ Community Stories - Kimberly
In 2015, Kimberly was in the midst of cancer treatments, with a bowel perforation and an obstruction that required emergency surgery.
Community
me+ Community Stories - Ellyn
For most of her life, 73-year-old Boca Raton resident, Ellyn Mantell, has suffered chronic stomach and bowel complaints.
Community
me+ Community Stories - Lauren
What do you get when you cross a yoga-loving ad exec with a house plant- obsessed fashionista? You get Lauren Beach of Boston, Mass.
Community
me+ Community Stories - Jearlean
Jearlean Taylor has never known life without an ostomy. She has had two ostomies since she was just three years old. But with the support of her family and her own inner drive, she triumphed to become a successful model, author, and businesswoman.
Community
me+ Community Stories - Maggie
My name is Maggie and I received my ostomy at the age of 16. Originally, I had gone in for a resection of my terminal ileum and colon due to Crohn's disease.
Relationships & Intimacy
Date Night with an Ostomy
Are you feeling nervous at the thought of date night after ostomy surgery? You’re not alone. With a little planning ahead, you can be sure to have a great night out.