Although I am not a heart transplant recipient, I was a double lung transplant recipient (May 4-5, 2022). In case you are not aware, for double lung transplant, they open you like a clam shell (horizontally not vertically like most people think) cutting the sternum in half. As Dana noted, I had severe pain in my rib cage that I thought would never go away. Then around 6 months, the pain eased up. I didn't want to take the strong medications, so after 1 week post surgery I was on Tylenol plus morphine and then just Tylenol by the end of the second week. At first I said that I didn't want any pain killers, but had to give in and they don't even ask when you first get out of surgery any way. I am also a side sleeper. I had to work up the amount of time that I was able to sleep on my side a little more each night until I was finally able to sleep on my sides (one or the other). Now it is no longer an issue. I do still have the head of my bed up on bricks, so that I am not flat due to other issues.
@exhcmposttx please let me know what they are doing about the cramps in your hands. I get cramps in my hands and feet to the point that I am not able to use them and it is very apparent where the cramp is. Sometimes my pointer will get stuck over by my thumb and sometimes it will go the other way and go toward the pinky. My knuckles will go the opposite direction (instead of on top of my hands they will stick out in the palm of my hand. I am not sure if yours is the same (the feet do the same thing). However, they are doing different tests to see what the issue is and what can help.
Due to the meds that I am on, I need to watch my potassium levels. However, one of the doctors that I saw said to try electrolytes. However, most are very high in potassium. My team told me that I can have 1 Gatorade a day though.