Getting addicted to pillows?

Feeling guilty!! I am at 10 days today from TAH and feeling soooo lazy. I get up in the morning, make tea and toast, shower, go walk a couple blocks then back to my pillows till lunch. I mean, I just lay there with no motivation what so ever. I know I could get up and at least straighten the kitchen or bathroom or fold some towels, SOMETHING. Yet instead I just snuggle deeper into my pillow pile. I'm normally not the type to even sleep late. I want out of bed ASAP each morning. I do walk a few blocks 4 or 5 times a day but thats it. Then of course I had to talk to a relative about the Mothers Day in-law gig and she had her TAH about 7 months ago. She asks if I've gone back to work yet and I told her no my dr. said at least 6 weeks at home. "Oh really" she says. "My dr. just said no driving for 2 weeks, wow." you know in that condescending sister in law tone. Yes I know she had 2 toddlers to get better quickly for not to mention younger and in better shape then me but man oh man, can women just convince themselves that they need to be in bed? I'm really starting to feel like I'm just taking advantage of the situation. How do I get motivated to start giving up the pillow pile? (at least I have an excuse to ditch the in-law get together) Sorry for being such a whiner but I feel better just saying it loud - cyberwise anyway. thanks for listening.

I'd just tell snoopy sis that YOUR doctor feels that rushing to do too much can cause damage requiring more surgery and that perhaps since he attended MEDICAL SCHOOL he might be a little more qualified to assess your situation.

I'm a little over 2 weeks (TAH/BSO 4/23) and I LOVE my pillow pile, this is my "work" for now along with some crocheting (an afghan that I started last year and was working so much I didn't get finished). Heck, the laundry will wait, so will everything else.

As my mother reminded me, I haven't had a break in 30 years and I should take advantage of this time to get good rest, relaxation so I can go back to work better than ever. (I have four kids, 32, 23, 19, 16 and worked the whole time I was pregnant and back to work shortly after they were born, worked for Gov. Tom Ridge from 1995-2002, now for a non-profit economic development foundation). So I don't really CARE what anyone but my doctor says, I am taking it easy. As long as you aren't depressed, you will get the urge to do things in a week or so, I am doing dishes and light cooking since I am hungry and no one else wants to cook!

Good luck and REST, REST, REST!

Mary

It sounds like you're doing just fine for only 10 days post-op. I was told that my only activity was to take walks and to get lots of rest. You're doing both.......so no guilt allowed!

If your sis-in-law didn't have any restrictions on activity she is surely the exception to the rule.

Sending wishes for a great recovery!

I swear people forget how it really was. I've heard "when I had it done, I was working in 2 weeks." I highly doubt it. I needed the vacation from everything and was thrilled to be able to lay in bed and enjoy myself for a month. It was wonderful. I think we should be able to enjoy it. We've earned it after all we went through.

My DR told me "basically bedrest", no work at all, of any kind until the 3 week appointment.

Sitting up for short periods is o.k., but counts as an activity, 20 minutes at a time is plenty.

No driving for 2 weeks. Some have longer driving restrictions. Riding in the car while someone else drives is not very comfortable. When you need to do that, be sure to put your tummy pillow between you and the seatbelt. It will take some of the vibration for you. Lots better!

The anesthesiologist told me to be very careful for the first two weeks because the anesthesia meds can stay in your system that long. They can make you think you feel better than you really do. Don't listen to your body for the first two weeks!!! Just BEHAVE!!!!! That is what he told me.

You are walking ALOT more than I was able to. I had walked my dog almost daily for 30-45 minutes pre-op, but I could never have done that much walking, that soon. We are all different, but be careful. If you overdo while the anesthesia is still "talking" it can come back at you later.

The frequent, short walks are to keep your circulation going and reduce the risk of blood clots. Also, to keep you from getting that lethargy you feel if you just lay around. It also helps with the gas and getting your bowels working again post op.

Healing takes energy amd resting alot is very good for you at this point. Just go with it. Nap as often as you feel like it! Snuggle into those pillows and enjoy it!

I could micowave packaged dinners for myself, use the remote, watch videos someone else got for me, hand stitching, talk on the telephone, etc.

Later, I could fold light laundry and do other very light things around the house.

I avoided bending over, twisting, stretching, pulling and pushing (even grocery carts), too. They are hard on your abdomen and put stress on the surgery sites.

No lifting over 10 pounds, no doing the laundry, no sweeping, no mopping, no vacuuming, nothing physically strenuous, no swimming, bathing in the tub, or sex until the DR. gave the o.k. That usually happens at 6 weeks visit

As for restrictions, here is a light-hearted, but very serious list of Do's and Don't's for post op ladies. Please try to follow this for the first 2-3 weeks, at least.. then proceed cautiously with light duties only.

Toonces Do's and Don't's List for Post Op

-Picking up pillows and repositioning them…..allowed
-Turning on dishwasher AFTER SOMEONE ELSE HAS LOADED IT…..allowed
-Changing roll of toilet paper…..allowed
-Flipping on lightswitch…..allowed
-Folding laundry…..allowed
-Taking short, easy walks and gentle stretching…..allowed
-Lifting the remote control…..allowed
-Asking others for help...allowed and encouraged
X - Vacuuming…..NOT ALLOWED
X - Sweeping or Mopping…..NOT ALLOWED
X - Carrying laundry across house to washer…..NOT ALLOWED
X - Lifting, Bending, Reaching, Driving…..NOT ALLOWED
X - Lying around the house all day doing nothing…..NOT ALLOWED (see above)
X - Bending to access oven or empty litterboxes....NOT ALLOWED
X - Going to Wal-Mart for some bargain shopping....NOT RECOMMENDED
X - Pushing a shopping cart….NOT ALLOWED
X - Sitting for prolonged periods of time i.e. at computer….NOT ALLOWED
X - Opening windows, particularly the hard-to-open ones….NOT ALLOWED
X - Making other people’s problems your own…..NOT ALLOWED
X - Picking Tomatoes, Weeding, and other such nonsense...NOT ALLOWED

WOW!!!! I think your doing awesome for 10 days. Because at 10 days I could barely get up yet!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! I mean get up at all!

I am just now getting to the point of doing light stuff. 5 weeks and even then I notice I over do it far to often. Like yesterday when I mopped my floors.

I notice if I stand to much I start to hurt.
And even at 5 weeks there is no way I could walk around the block with out being in horrible pain when I get back home! So I think your doing awesome!

And I dont think your taking advantage of it at alllllllllllll!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Pamper yourself, take it easy, be lazy, and remember you just had major surgery. Now if it was say 6 months post op and you were like this for no reason, then I might start to think you were taking advantage, rofl!!!!! But 10 days post op??? NAHHHHHHHH

Enjoy your pillows!!!!!!! Because far to soon you will be fully healed and back to work, and laundry, and dishes, housework, etc etc etc!

I'm 5 weeks postop on monday and I still like the pillows. My tummy pillow goes with me everywhere. I am allowed to do lite house work (DR;s Orders) I do know when I have over done it. So like everyone else I am allowing the pampering to continue at least until I go back to the dr on the 23rd that will be my 61/2 week post op. So don't feel bad because I don't and I look forward to the pillow pile.


merrilyn beal
lg mass with 3 fibroids on uterus and lg cyst on ovaries.