Upcoming hysterectomy - what abdominal exercises are recommended?

Hi! I'm nervously scheduled for surgery next month. What are the abdominal exercises they recommended? Did or do you wear a compression garment for your tummy. Thank you

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Originally Posted by ladyharlan Hi! I'm nervously scheduled for surgery next month. What are the abdominal exercises they recommended? Did or do you wear a compression garment for your tummy. Thank you

The only exercises I was asked to do were gentle pelvic floor ones.

There is a lot of internal healing after this surgery, so abdominal exercises will be much further down the line.

I didn't wear a compression garment, but I found jogging trousers with a wide waistband gave me support in the early weeks.

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Originally Posted by ladyharlan Hi! I'm nervously scheduled for surgery next month. What are the abdominal exercises they recommended? Did or do you wear a compression garment for your tummy. Thank you

I understand your nervousness, I was an anxious mess. It's totally normal before major surgery. Not sure if you mean exercises before or after surgery?? Before I could do whatever exercise I chose. I did do lots of Kegels/pelvic floor muscles. After, nothing and you won't want to! I woke up in recovery wearing an adjustable Velcro abdominal binder and I found it very useful the first 1-3 weeks... I wore it a lot. It also helped with semi side sleeping. Now, I wear it off and on and especially when I leave the house for several hours... It seems to ward off swelly belly and gives me more support to tolerate being gone longer before needing to lie down. Some sisters hated a binder or anything on their stomachs. Some Drs don't like them either but mine was fine with it as my choice. Good luck!

Before surgery I tried to get a little more upper body strength since I knew I would be using my arms more to get in and out of bed, etc.

I did an internet search, and once you are cleared for exercise, there are multiple sites with after abdominal surgery exercises.

I have been using an abdominal binder, available in the hyster sister store. I really like the one with the hot/cool pack. I did not get one in the hospital and it wasn't offered. I find the binder helps with the evening swelly belly. And I like that the feeling of it reminds me not to over do it.