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Pre Op exercises
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03-21-2003, 09:34 AM
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HysterSister
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Posts: 44
Hysterectomy: April 22nd, 2003
Surgery Type: SAH
Ovaries: Removed both
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Pre Op exercises
Does anyone know about exercising prior to surgery? What exercises would be beneficial and make the recovery easier and more complete? Also, where do I find good info on what exercises I can do after surgery?
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03-21-2003, 10:10 AM
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Guest
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Maybe???
I posted a similar post before I read yours. I have been walking on my treadmill, doing lots of crunches, and maintaining the best posture. I do not know if this will help. But it seems if I am in better shape going in I will be stronger coming out. I could be totally wrong??
Any advice from people who have already been there?
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03-21-2003, 10:31 AM
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HysterSister
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Posts: 162
Hysterectomy: March 4th, 2003
Surgery Type: TAH
Ovaries: Removed both
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Pre Op exercises
I can't claim to have been on a specialized exercise program, but when I found out I was going to need surgery, I started riding my oft-neglected exercise bike for 15-25 minutes at least 4 or 5 times a week, plus occasional crunches and brief stints on a rowing machine. There's no way to prove it, but I think it's helped me, both physically and psychologically, with my recovery. I also credit pre-op exercise with helping me recover quickly from my previous abdominal surgery in '97. I'm not what you'd call athletic, BTW; this was just an increase in my basic level of physical activity, not an attempt to become an instant Ironwoman! :-)
Other benefits: Exercise can help you think of yourself as being healthy, which is important when you're coping with the whole medical/surgical thing. It's also great for burning off stress when you get the jitters.
I'm interested in an answer to your last question, too! I'm looking forward to being cleared for exercise again, and am wondering if anyone's designed a program specifically for women who are recovering from pelvic/abdominal surgery. That would rock!
Juliepede
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03-21-2003, 10:51 AM
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Guest
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Posts: 51
Hysterectomy: March 11th, 2003
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Pre Op exercises
I just had a TVH last week and I am recovering very quickly. The next day I could squat down to pick stuff out of my suitcase in the hospital - not even thinking about it! I was driving very easily on the 6th day. I am 52 and credit it to my regular exercise program (for many many years). I alternate days: powerwalking, light weight lifting (includes crunches, squats and lunges). For you, it depends on how far away your surgery is - if you have a few months, you might do a cardio program such as walking or treadmill and some ab work - there's a video called "8-minute abs" that works all different parts of the abdominal muscles. It's only 8 minutes, but it's a challenge.
Good luck!
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03-21-2003, 11:15 AM
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Guest
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Posts: 35
Hysterectomy: April 15th, 2003
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Pre Op exercises
I was told to start on kegels as well as crunches and walking; helps to keep pelvic muscles strong after surgery... Best of luck!
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03-21-2003, 11:29 AM
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Guest
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thank you!!!
I thank all of you that have given very good ideas. I only have 2 weeks to recover so I have to go in as prepared as possible.
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03-21-2003, 01:51 PM
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Guest
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Posts: 1,258
Hysterectomy: May 14th, 2002
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Pre Op exercises
Hello,
I think it's great to get in the best shape you can before the surgery, as long as you don't overdo it.
I can recommend a book I was flipping through the other day: A Woman's Guide to Hysterectomy by Haas & Puretz. The authors, women, are not MDs, but nonetheless (or maybe for that reason), it's a very reasoned discussion of this surgery and hormones--much more balanced than other books I've read--AND it has a section on exercise post-op, which has some good suggestions for ab exercises for instance.
good luck!
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03-21-2003, 11:55 PM
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HysterSister
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Posts: 44
Hysterectomy: April 22nd, 2003
Surgery Type: SAH
Ovaries: Removed both
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Pre op and Post op Exercises
Hi
I am so happy with your responses. I plan to see if I can find the book referenced tomorrow. I agree that we can't suddenly become totally fit if we aren't there already but every bit helps. I find it empowering to have a little better control of my body both before and after. I backed off on my conditioning because of all the rotten symptoms I was having that led to this hysterectomy decision. I didn't realize how much of myself emotionally and physically that had been lost as I went into denial about the surgery necessity. I try to look at this as moving on in my life and taking control of my body once again and the exercise also helps to calm my heeby-jeebies!!
But, when the Dr. said don't do too much too soon or I could get a hernia, I felt the need to pursue it on this thread.
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03-22-2003, 04:05 AM
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Guest
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Posts: 861
Hysterectomy: January 15th, 2003
Surgery Type: TVH
Ovaries: Removed both
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exercise
You need to follow your doctors orders on what you can do post op. Even squatting to get into your suitcase, though you feel ok, can cause a strain you don't feel. There are over a hundred internal sutrues and besdies that the possibility of a hernia if you do too much. Any exercise program you do before surgery is going to really enhance how you ecover. But walking is probably going to be what is suggested up to 4-6 weeks and then very specific things will be added by your doctor that you can do. Rmember to be very specific in askinghim post op exactly what you can do of your normal exercise routine. You don't want to overdo it and find yourself back where you were a few weeks before. Also listen to your body closely when you do resume your exercise and don't overdo. It willtake a while to get back to your original routine and believe me, your body lets you know.
Also there is the wonderful swelly belly to experience postop and from what I have read for the last 9 weeks is that no exercise will take care of that, so don't tink crunches will take care of it. It is something that the more you overdo, the worse it gets.
Pre op exercise should include on working on the deep breathing and coughing they will have you do in the hosptial. If you do this it will strengthen your abd muscles in how well they respond to the coughing. Though I have to say in my experience it is not necessarily the more fit tummies that have less pain wit this, that goes along with eachof our own tolerance for pain, whether a tight or flabby tummy. But if you take 4-5 good deep breathes and on the last one on the bretah out cough, this will get you into the practice of doing this and will be easier to get started with it. That coughis one of the most important tings you can do, it opens up the timy little air sacs at the base of your lungs where the gasses exchange (better O2 exchange). After surgery we breathe more shallowly due to pain, med and anesthesia so it takes a conscious effort to work on this. Also, practice foot pumps and quad sets. This helps prevent pooling of blood in your legs which can lead to blood clots. Getting up and ambulating the very next day at the latest will also help prevent blood clots, pneumonia and helps get your gut back into action again also.
So drink lots of water, ambulate and when in bed do these eexercises and make sure you turn from side to side to back every couple of hours too. I guess you could think of these things as your immmediate post op exercise regime. Your tummy will feel pretty stiff and sore but I tell my patients that it is like needing to keep working the muscles to get them out of the stiff mode. If you just let it sit, then the stiffness just gets worse, you have to work through the pain a bit to get the muscles into fit order. Oh, and for the gas pains, besides walking, try laying onyour left side, it helps the natural anatomy of the colon help the gas flow out.
There you just had Nurse Linda's preop and post op teaching all rolled into one. Hopefully your nurses will remind you to do these things.
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03-22-2003, 07:27 AM
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Guest
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Posts: 1,258
Hysterectomy: May 14th, 2002
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Pre Op exercises
Dear Socks,
Just wanted to add that I too had reduced my exercising in the years before my surgery because I was so uncomfortable (I had numerous fibroids...). I felt better very soon after the surgery and was able to start doing long walks (of course, I always made sure I got plenty of rest, ate well, etc.) Gradually I added some gentle stretching. I recovered very quickly, was back to jogging at 6 weeks, and am now able to exercise more than ever before, and it feels really great!
I hope you have the same experience!
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