Do you still need a tummy pillow if you're having a LAVH/BSO?

Hi sisters,

I was just wondering this. I see recommendations to take a tummy pillow along to the hospital, etc....but how do all you LAVH girls feel in the tummy post surgery who are reading this? I would assume there is a lot less pain with the 3-4 tiny incisions as compared to a large cut?????

Thanks again so much for all your support.

I had a TAH and did not use a pillow at all either at the hospital or at home. Some ladies say a pillow provides extra comfort. However, the pain and discomfort will not be as bad as you imagine right now.

I had a TVH and still needed something to support the belly while coughing. I didn't use a pillow since I didn't think I would need one. My hands worked ok to support the belly but then I couldn't cover my mouth to cough either.

I had my gallbladder removed by laproscope in 1994 and had 4 small incisions. The nurse gave me a pillow as soon as I came out of recovery. The pillow worked wonders for coughing, sneezing and laughing. There are only small holes but they can cause quite a bit of pain if not supported while doing certain things.

Hope this helps!! Good luck to you and wishing you a speedy recovery!

Yes, coughing and laughing can hurt. I had little coughing jags - my throat was dry and irritated probably from the intubation - and tried to minimize the power of the cough. That's when I grabbed a pillow and hugged it. I didn't use a pillow while in bed to support my belly though.

I had a LAVH and did not use tummy pillow. But a heating pad did become my best friend for the first 2 weeks.

I got an allergy cough and went into coughing fits. I only needed to hold my tummy with my hands. What I found even more effective than holding was to sit on the edge of my bed (it's kinda low) with my feet on the floor, bend over a bit and everything felt secure enough to get through a long coughing spell. I felt that it was the insides I was holding, not so much as the incisions.

Cathy

I didn't have a tummy pillow the first day home but I had an allergy attack while eating breakfast and when grape nuts flew across the table as a result of sneezing, DH found a pillow for me to use so I could still have one hand to cover my mouth. A throw pillow off the couch worked great.

I used a tummy pillow for my coughing and laughing fits, plus having a tiny pillow was useful in arranging myself in the hospital bed. Was good for squeezing during blood draws too.

Thank you all for your tips. I sure do appreciate all the support you've given me. Best of luck to ou all.

Hugs