?bending lifting 2 wks post op

I am 2 weeks post op today. I having the typical 2 steps forward, one step back but think I am heading in the right direction. On the bending and lifting - I probably bend and pick-up 15-20 times each morning. It might be dropping a pen, it might be pickup a lunch box, or 2 wet towels, etc, etc. I am not sure how much is "acceptable" and how much is too much. When I have a set-back/ "bad" day, I can not for the life of me think of any reason I would have increased pain and tiredness. Any rhyme or reason to this, or just "normal" - par for the coarse. I do have a family of five, and called on extensive help for the first 10 days. I called my doc yesterday, who called in a new pain Rx and gave me the OK to drive (each case is individual) - but I want a good recovery and don't want to botch anything - with adhesions, scar tissue, tears, etc., etc. I am so thankful for this site and my "sisters" cause I don't know how to balance during this balancing act.

Did you have an abodominnal hysterectomy? I had TAH and today is 6 weeks. For me, alot of bending caused me pain very easily the first few weeks. I did very little lifting and when I did do too much, my body let me know. My experience has been it's best to take it easy. Instead of bending over too much, I used my toes to pick stuff up. :-)
Hope this helps!

Advice is bend as little as possible. With a family of 5 there is always someone to help and really that is what you need to do no matter how tedious and pathetic it feels.

Thanks ladies! I needed to hear from someone. This is one of my weaknesses, so I am having to look it square in the eye. I do things for my family that they should be doing for themselves. They did everything for 10 days, then I started assuming my "usual" gradually.

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Originally Posted by suthngrl Did you have an abodominnal hysterectomy? I had TAH and today is 6 weeks. For me, alot of bending caused me pain very easily the first few weeks. I did very little lifting and when I did do too much, my body let me know. My experience has been it's best to take it easy. Instead of bending over too much, I used my toes to pick stuff up. :-) Hope this helps!

I had to show this to DH, it just creeps him out when I use my toes to pick anything up LOL

I have picked a few things up thinking they were lighter than they actually were and my body let me know quickly! I try not to bend over too much as this is still weird feeling for me, and I had TVH! Like everyone says, listen to your body.

I also have days when I do nothing and have more pain and fatigue than if I had worked. Just our bodies way of reminding us its healing.

I had my hyst on the 22nd of Aug. I was bending down and picking up things if I dropped them ...like a pen or something very light. I was also pushing myself up in bed... when I was in bed trying to get comfortable....little things like that. Then I started to feel alot of pressure and pain on my tummy & back! Now I have a swollen area above one of my incisions....caused by the "light lifting" or bending I don't know but I sure am trying not to do it any more! I go to the Dr. tomorrow! Hopefully everything is OK! My sister had a hyst and she listed alot of things she was told NOT to do and I had done some of them. So hopefully I didn't do my self more harm!

Thanks for the input!! It is so valuable to hear from others and get a little guidance. I hope you have a good check-up. Let us know. And pamper the princess :-)

Well, I went to my Dr appointment & I was told NOT to lift and NOT to bend without using mostly my legs. They said to sort of squat and not bend at the waist ---ONLY if neccesary & if I can tolerate it!! I also had to get a shot of estrogen because my body wasn't absorbing the pills every well. As for the swelling he just said to take Ibuprophen and for pains to take Tylenol. & that the swelling was probably because of the bending & scooting the baby to change diapers! Oops! So everything is getting better and I can't wait 'til my 6 wk post-op appointment! I hope everything is going better for all of you my sisters!