One word for every sister having surgery this week

MOVE - yep, that's the word. Every surgeon, every nurse, every physical therapist, every doctor I have discussed my surgery with has said the same thing when I asked for advice - MOVE. Yesterday, I cornered a surgeon and asked his advice for recovery. He said "You need to get up and move as soon and as much as possible. Don't listen to anyone who tells you not to. The more you move, the better you will feel and the faster you will recover. And do not lift anything."

So I pass it along to all of my nervous, anxious, worried, scared, praying sisters who are facing the knife this week - put it in your head, inscribe it on your heart and mind - no matter what, I am going to move. And every day I am going to move more and more!

This is true. The evening of my surgery, my nurses had me sit up and then stand up. It was very hard and my whole body was shaking because I was only 8 hours past surgery. The day after my surgery, I had to walk in the hallway of the hospital 3 times during the day.

You do have to get up and move after surgery so you don't develop blood clots or pnemonia or other complications.

But, remember to LISTEN to your body!! Don't move more than your body will allow you.... in other words, only walk as much as your body will let you. Every woman is different. Some women are able to go on long walks the week after surgery, and others are able to only walk to the bathroom in their house and back to the couch. So, just listen to you body. If you are moving too much, your body will start to show signs you are doign too much, like more aches and pains, or more bleeding. Slow down if you notice your body is hurting more or bleeding gets worse.

I know for me, for the first 10 days post-op, I was only able to walk to the bathroom, and then do one loop around my house, and then back to the couch. How I knew that was enough? Well, I'd start to get shakey, my abdomen would start to hurt, and I'd start to get shortness of breath because the pain set in. So, I only stuck to walking around my house up until this weekend, which was 20 days post-op. But, now I am walking around my house for 25 minutes at a time without a problem (I set the timer on my microwave oven so I can time my walks). But for me, after walking for 25 minutes around my house, I start to feel achy and little twinges, so that is how I know it's time to stop and rest.

But, that is me... there are some women on the post-op side who are walking a lot longer and a lot farther than me, so everone is different. I am really fit and am an athlete. So, as you can see, from my own experience, it doesn't matter if you're really fit or not fit.... your body will react the way it's going to react after surgery. For me, I just happened to have a lot of pain the first 15 or so days, and that kept me from doing a lot of long walks, and that is why I just walked inside my own house. Everyone is SO individual in how their body handles recovery.

So, I totally agree... you HAVE to move, but just listen to your body and don't move more than your body will allow. Use this time to rest and recover!!!!

Also, if you haven't yet, TALK to your doctor and ask him/her HOW much walking is acceptable (maybe in terms of minutes, or speed, or terrain) after surgery. Make sure you and your doctor are on the same page with what type of activity you can or cannot do after surgery. This is really important!! So, if you haven't asked your doctor yet, ask them before your surgery at your pre-op, or ask when you're in the hospital.

Good luck everyone!

ps. I just wanted to add.... don't feel pressure to move more and more each day. Some days will be harder than others. Some days, you will feel you can walk a lot, and then the next day, you might find that walking even half the amount of time you did the day before is difficult. So, do not get discouraged if you feel you take a step backwards once in a while. This WILL happen. So, my suggestion is to just go DAY by DAY and do ONLY what you can do that day. Do not make it a goal to do more and more each day or to do more than you did the day before, because you might not listen to your body that way, and also you might set yourself up for dissapointment. Just my opinion based off my own experience.... :-)

Just make it your goal to move each day, but your goal should be "to move ONLY the amount your body wants to move that day." Don't push yourself 'cause overdoing it will only cause set-backs.

I agree. Four hours after surgery I didn't feel like walking the halls just yet, but I wanted to get up and sit in the chair next to my bed for a few minutes. I met with a lot of resistance from the nurses, but I finally won. I managed 30 minutes and returned to bed feeling accomplished.

My doctor told me the nurses would be hesitant to get me up, and he was right, but he said if I felt like moving and had family to help me then by all means, do it.

I wanted to get up so badly and walk later that night, but my Nurse Ratchet just wanted to give me pain meds and keep me in bed until the morning. I felt like she was trying to keep control over me instead of gradually returning control back to me. Eventually the charge nurse came in and listened to me and understood, saw my husband was there to help, and she allowed me to get up and walk. It was more of a shuffle than a walk, but I did it and I felt even more accomplished.

It is extremely important not to overdo and push yourself if you believe you're not ready. Definitely listen to your body. Mine said get up and walk and that's what I did.

Good luck to everyone!

I agree wholeheartedly with Loves To Run. Listen to your body! Definitely move, but don't overdo it, and don't always be trying to beat "yesterday's record"! A slow shuffle up and down the corridors of the hospital will suffice to begin with!

To some extent, I disagree with the Sisters who say "keep everything within reach". Yes, keep a drink (hydration is so important!!) and pain meds in reach. But if snacks and such are out of reach, it will force you to get up and at least walk around the house a bit!

Also, in the hospital, time your walking with your pain meds. If your pain meds are IV, plan on walking about 15 minutes after your pain meds, when they will have kicked in. With oral pain meds (typically), it can take up to an hour for maximum relief (though you can start to feel relief as soon as 15-30 minutes). Time your walks for when your pain medication is at its most effective! This way, you will get more walking in, and heal faster!

Also, strive, as much as possible, to stand up straight. The natural impulse is to hunch over, as it pulls on tummy muscles to stand straight and tall, but straight and tall is better for you in the long run!

When I had my weight loss surgery almost two years ago, I started walking the halls the very next morning. About half way down the corridor, there was a set of upholstered chairs near an elevator (I guess for visitors). My first goal was to make it to those chairs! I did, and sat there for about 15 minutes, getting my "wind" back, then shuffled back to my room. By the next evening, I was walking to the chairs and back without stopping to rest. Once home (I was lucky, it was spring-time), I would walk just to the corner of my block and back. But I didn't keep everything in arm's reach, just to force myself to get up out of the chair every hour or so and walk around the house a bit!

Just to reiterate: do not lift, do not be tempted to "pick up", but walk!! Your body will thank you!

Oh, one more thing, if you get a little exercise (like walking) during the day, you'll sleep better at night!

My Dr. instructions regarding exercise is, walk as often as I'd like and as soon as I'd like. I'm prone to being active, however; if it hurts in that sharp, acute, you've just gone too far way, I'll sit down..
If I'm able I'll go for it I will...
I also expect to spend hours on end sitting afterwards. .
Meehan