Hurting my eye at night -- what to do?

[MushyMushy]

I am a stomach sleeper -- I sleep flat on my face, with a little air pocket to breathe. I've tried changing positions over the years, but I still end up on my stomach. Lately, I've been hurting myself in my sleep. I've been curling up my right arm underneath me and now my elbow is hurt. It's so sore and has been for a while.

The worst thing I'm doing, though, is pretty creepy. I'll dig my face into my pillow (usually along the seam at the edge of the pillow -- yikes) to the point where one of my eyelids will come open and I'll wake up with my eyeball plastered to the pillow. I don't know how long I'm lying like that, but it hurts SO MUCH! I'll use a little Visine Tears the next day, but my eye still feels raw most of the next day. This happens 2-3 times a week.

I don't know what the heck to do. Have any of you successfully changed sleep positions in your life? I can start out on my back or side, but I roll right to my stomach when I'm asleep. I even did this through both pregnancies, right up until I got so big that I couldn't, but even then I'd find myself rolling into that position ALL night long. I slept horribly while pregnant.

 

[The Mystery Machine]

The way you sleep is one of my nightmares. I don't like laying on my stomach AT ALL. If my face was flat on the pillow I would be on the verge of an anxiety attack.

Perhaps you could contact a sleep disorder clinic? They might have techniques or gadgets for you. I would hate to suggest glasses or something because that could be more damaging.

Also I would take a trip the the eye doctor. Your eye maybe damaged from sleeping like that.

 

[MushyMushy]

That's so funny! I feel way too exposed when I'm sleeping on my back. I used to sleep completely covered from my ankles to my head, with the pillow over my head instead of under it, then I'd have a little air pocket to breathe. And yes, my feet stuck out. Even though I want the top of my body bound up, my feet have to be free from the blanket.

I think you're right about the eye doctor. Doing this on a regular basis can't be good for my eyes.

 

[AprilShowers]

I don't have any suggestions for changing positions, but maybe a sleep mask would help protect your eyes. I would give that a shot. Waking up with your eye plastered to the pillow CAN'T be good!

 

[allie&mattsmom]

Uugh. That sounds painful. No real suggestions here except like AprilShowers suggested maybe a sleep mask. I am a stomach sleeper too. No matter how hard I try, I can't get comfy unless I'm on my tummy. I hate when I wake up with lines all over my face from being plastered to the pillow. Not pretty. And especially embarassing when you have to be somewhere right away and everyone can tell you just rolled out of bed.