How long in bed with LAVH?

Hi ladies.

I'm having a LAVH on Thursday (Yay!! ) and I wonder if some of you can get a little more specefic in terms of how long is average for staying in bed. I know they say the overall recovery time is 6-8 weeks, but that can't possibly mean to stay in bed for that long, can it? (I'm far too hyper for that!!)

I have a very good support system with my DH and staff, so I'm not concerned with being pressured to go back to work too fast or anything like that. I'd just like to have a firmer idea of how long I'll be on bed-rest. I'm thinking 2 weeks and then mabye after that I could not be all gung-ho, but also not be bedridden all day either...

Overall I CAN'T WAIT to get this done and be rid of all this pain!! Thank you for this wonderful resource!!

Jess

Hi Jess!
I love your attitude! I haven't had much "bedrest" since I left the castle.......I have had terrible insomnia...but that's another story.....naps are good...as many as you want . Since you are hyper, you will be happy to know that you will be up and about, probably from the second day out. The bigger problem is trying to keep yourself from doing too much. Take advantage of any help you can get. You can walk, watch t.v., go on the computer......No housework and no lifting, especially in the beginning. This site has "Checkpoints". You can find them at the top of the page. They are very clear of what you can and cannot do. It's so helpful.

Keep your positive attitude and a sense of humor.....You are going to do great!



Jennifer

I was actually SHOCKED at how little "down time" there was for me as well!
I had my LAVH/BSO August 1, tomorrow I will be 2 weeks post op.
It was/is the same situation with me, it's been more difficult trying not to overdue than anything else.

Be mindful that everyone is different and recovers in different ways. There was a chance that my surgery (as is the case with most laproscopic procedures) that my DR may have had to revert to a TAH...thankfully he didn't and I attibute my faster recovery time to that.

Be sure to listen to your body and get plenty of rest, you will need that at least for the first week post op.

Good luck and may you have a speedy and uneventful surgery and recovery!

's
Heni

Hi Jess,

I agree with Jennifer about reading the Checkpoints articles, they really helped me prepare for my recovery period!

You will likely have some restrictions on your activites, especially restrictions on lifting and things like vacumming; however, this does not mean you'll spend two weeks in bed!

I had a TAH; I was up out of bed sitting in a chair 6 hours after my surgery (with all the tubes still in and I had general anesthesia).

My first day post op I strolled (slowly and often holding a handrail) around the hospital unit several times.

I gradually increased my walking, and that is pretty much all I did for the first several weeks. My doctor restricted me from walking beyond my driveway or up and down stairs more than once a day for the first week; and she wanted me to go easy on the walking for the second week.

I didn't lift a laundry basket until after my six week post op checkup, but I did fold clothes and by the 3rd week I would load the dishwasher.

I found that the fatigue and my swelly belly served to keep me from doing too much too soon. I still take naps during the day when I can.

I had my LAVH and the first week I was laying on the couch..gas pains were killin me. 2nd week I was moving around more, but still sleepin alot. 3rd week I was helping pick up the house..longer walks outside. I didn't jump right into things, I moved gradually. I was scared to death of doing something wrong and getting adhesions..
Hugz
Bernadette

I pretty much spent the first week parked on the sofa, reading or watching TV. After that, I cruised around the house, as tolerated. No lifting, etc. (follow the hospital/doc instructions on restrictions). By week 3 I was walking on the treadmill and returned to work at week 4.

Good luck.

I had my LAVH BSO with posterior repairs July 18. I went home the next afternoon. I spent a lot of time the first week on the couch, but had to get up and walk around the house every hour, per doctor's orders. By the end of the second week, I was driving to my doctor's appointment. I could also prepare light meals, fold clothes, and was walking around the block every day by that time. I had to start back to work, taking it easy and resting whenever possible, after 3 weeks. I am feeling fine, just get tired more easily. Take it easy as long as you can, but my doctor wanted me up and around as much as possible as long as I didn't overdo it. Good luck with your surgery!

I had my LAVH-BSO on June 1.
I was released from the hospital after only one night, and had no gas pains (had them when I had my laparoscopic tubal ligation)

I felt great post-op! Then some insomnia and headaches settled in for awhile.
I found that I had to get up and move during the day, and do activities out of my bed (don't sit in the bed on the laptop), so that I could return to the bed at night and hopefully get some good sleep.

I was also very cautious at 3-4 weeks, as I did not want to get adhesions!

I was convinced I'd be up and back to work at 3 weeks.
But then I chose to take it slow, and gradually recover. No need to hurry back to work that soon!
I was really tired the first 2 weeks I went back to work. Still am a bit.

Shoozie

If you don't have any complications or pain, you won't want to be confined to bed rest for the first 2 weeks. Like some of the others have posted, you will have to remind yourself that you've just had major surgery and need to take it easy.

What can you do? First, I would try to be as active as possible. The more you're able to get up and down and walk around, the sooner your bodily functions (such as passing gas and bowel movements) will return to "normal". I was very careful and deliberate with every step I took for the first couple of weeks. You might say to walk "gingerly" around the house--inside and out. You'll want to get outside and enjoy the fresh air a couple of times during the day.

I wouldn't spend too much time in front of a desktop computer. Use a laptop if you have one. That way you can half-sit and half-recline (my most comfortable position while on the sofa) if you want to surf the web or watch television. You'll soon learn the television schedule, so vary your activities during the day and day-to-day.

If you're a crafter, why not start those Christmas gifts now. If you mail a newsletter at Christmas, you can get a head start on that. Read the book you've always wanted to read--"War and "Peace", "Gone With The Wind", and let's not forget, "The Holy Bible".

The best advice is: DON'T OVERDO! You have only one chance to heal properly.

Good luck to you!

Carol

6 weeks of bed? No way. I was up and walking around the house after coming home from the castle. Of course about the time your DH is due home from work, that is when you get back on the couch as though you have been there all day. I wasn't doing backflips but I would walk around the house, step outside, etc. and then lay down when I was tired or sore.