Getting around

Hi there. I'm new to this site (as you probably already know). Actually in a few weeks I will me new to the pos-op hysterectomy altogether. My questions are: Can I use the stairs at all during the first week? How often if at all would you recommend it? What are some of the resolutions some of you used following this surgery? Any answer you can give is much appreciated. I'm a bundle of nerves right now.

My doctor told me I could do the stairs once a day - come downstairs in the morning and go back up on the evening - for the first week.

When I got out of the hospital two days after surgery, I was just too tired and sore to do the stairs. So I stayed in the first floor guest room (I anticipated this and made it up before surgery) the first night. The second day home I went upstairs in the morning to shower, rested there for a few hours and then came back downstairs for the rest of the day and then back up again for sleep. (Down is actually harder for me in the early days than up.)

Since then I've been going up and down once or twice a day - it gets easier and easier and I'm sure the exercise is good for me.

Talk to your doc about what's best for you. Different procedures and how you handle the surgery and what sort of meds you're on can all dictate how soon you'll be able to do it. Narcotic pain relievers can make you very dizzy and you should absolutely not do the stairs by yourself the first few times (my DSO spotted me for the first few days.)

HI there
I did not do the stairs the first week of recovery as I went to my Dad's for about six days. My surgary was fri was out of hosp on monday am. Came home sat. I did stairs once a day as I lived in an upstairs unit. I went out once a day for a short walk. How I went up and down was key. Here is how to do it safely. I went down side ways. Then I went went down one foot and stair at a time. Here is what I mean by that: you put one foot down on a step...you leave it there put next foot down on the same step. Then the next foot goes down on the next step etc etc. I found going down sideways did not put a strain on abs.
My resolution after surgary was to quit smoking. I succeeded. I have been smoke free for over five months now. I was really ready. I have also lost weight and I eat more healthier too. I gave up soda pop basically and other junky things. so that is what I did. I felt like I got a second chance at life and I was going to live it more healthy.
Hope your surgary goes well. Being nervous is normal! Any questions about the recovery this a good site to go to! This site kept my sanity during recovery.
a big to you!
teresa

Hi:
Yes the same for me about the stairs that has been said. The first week after surgery (7/27/04) I went down the stairs very slowly and back up just once a day. I didbn't dare try the basement stairs (steeper and more stairs). The day I left the hospital I asked my doctor about the stairs and she said as long as I felt OK I could go up and down the stairs. Plus I really wanted the exercise and now at three weeks post-op I know that it has help me alot.
Before my surgery I was a walker (about 3 -5 miles every other day). I am healing rather fast and my doctor says she thinks my walking exercise before the surgery is helping me recover rather well now.

Just take your time. Three days you are really going to be quite sore and tired. Get lots of rest and go slow.

Cheryl (Maryland)

My bedroom is upstairs and my bathroom is downstairs, so I didn't have much choice about the stairs (I wasn't about to start using a commode!) Sleeping downstairs wasn't possible so I just had to manage. I was in hospital 4 days, and I managed OK. It was uncomfortable, but not impossibly so, and I had to take them really slowly, one step at a time (both feet on the same stair)
Good luck - thinking about it is worse than the event, or that's what I've found anyway!
Mx

I was a good little princess and followed all my Dr instructions........until today. I have been up and down the basement steps 3 times so far and did 3 very small loads of laundry. I know I will pay for it later but it made me feel better emotionally. DH, DS and DD- in- law have been so good to me. Waited on me hand and foot. DD- in- law has been a big help with bathroom cleaning, emptying the dishwasher, vacuuming and doing the laundry. DH does all the cooking, making the bed for me and general pampering. DS has been great but seems unsure as to how to help beyond the usual things he does around the house. (they live with us BTW). This morning, I noticed that my DH had neglected to put some of his favorite shorts and shirts in the laundry so I decided to do them myself. So far so good. It will probably hit me later tonight. He should be home from shortly. I don't think he'll be as pleased with me as I am with myself, but he'll pamper me all the more later for it.

Thank you all for your suggestions. I will have to make some advance preparations for a plan B (just in case). I hope I can manage the stairs once a day, at first.

Teresa, you need a blue ribbon girlfriend....what a trophy for God to love your body He gave you enough to quit smoking and make the best you can of what you have, I am very impressedyou are going to be very blessed if not already and you are an inspiration for anyone out there that needs to do the same, thank you for sharing...hugs, Denna