Sitting up

Hi All!

I have a very quick question.....how long does it usually take to sit up after the sugery. My sister-in-law said it took her two weeks. Is this the average???
Hugs
Kookykaren

Hi Kookykaren
I havent had my hyster yet but have had other major abdominal surgeries before and with all of them i was sitting up the next day,infact i was walking around the day after one of my ops,everyone is different but i have never heard of it taling 2 weeks to sit up before

I was sitting up part of the way the evening of my surgery with the help of that lovely hospital bed and pilIows. In my opinion I think it just depends on how well your pain is managed and how well your incision is supported. I had a TAH with a vertical incision with 40 staples, but I had a really supportive bandage. And of course this may not be the norm, but I found that trying to sit up at least as much as I could really helped with getting out of bed the next day...which I insisted on doing and my dr. encouraged. In my previous surgery experience, even just trying to roll over a little to the side if I couldn't sit up each time I woke up the first couple of weeks really helped. However, ask your dr. how much he/she how much they recommend. My dr. allowed me to do whatever was comfortable for me as long as I was careful. It also helped me to have a pillow on each side to act as a buffer. Hope this helps.

Hi Queenpink!

Thanks for replying so quickly. I am not too sure why it took her so long, but I guess everyone is different. Have a great day!
Kookykaren

Hi Southernleo!
Thanks for responding so quick! Did you bring extra pillows to the hospital or did you just use theirs?
Kookykaren

I begged extra pillows from hospital because they wouldn't let me bring my own. I am an extra pillow gal at home (4 at least) and it drives my dh crazy!!!

Are you in the U.S.? Here in Canada we are allowed to bring our own if need be! I love to have lots of pillows myself. I read somewhere that a body pillow was good but I am not too sure how you would use it.
Kookykaren

southernleo,i too found it easier if i could get onto my side as quickly as possible,my mum suggested this too me and at first i thought she was crazy lol..getting onto your side with a tummy incision is the last thing you want to be doing..but i found it to be a great help as i could push myself into a sitting position to get out of bed so much easier

Yes, I am in the U.S.- Gulf Shores, Alabama...the beach, but...I was born in Saskatchewan...parents were from there..moved to the States as a baby but have lots of relatives there...in Alberta mostly. I personally don't like the body pillow, but it might be just the thing for this type of surgery.

Kookie,
Your right, canadian hospitals will let you bring even the kitchen sink in if you think you need it.. Maybe its a way of keeping down the "free" healthcare costs! lol Well there was that exception of when we had the sars epidemic... I couldnt even bring a magazine in with me. Just the clothes on my back and had to wave good bye to hubby at the front entrance. All the nurses etc. stayed in their own little areas and when I left after having my knee surgery I didnt even get the benefit of an escort or wheel chair to the door.. Just a wave goodbye from across the room. Boy times were strange then!
Arp