Today's helpful hint for Post-Op Princesses

Don't hang up your Superwoman cape... just leave it crumpled on the floor. The odds are good that it will still be there in 6 weeks, waiting for you.

THINGS TO DO: Take your pain meds on schedule... don't be a macho woman, the prescription says: *as needed*. You NEED it so your body can forget about hurting & work on healing. Write down your medication schedule if you get confused or are worried about addiction. Ask your doc if you should take extra vitamins or minerals to help your recovery.

Drink lots of fluids, stay in your jammies eat healthy foods, watch tv, watch movies, read, WALK! it's good for your circulation , do crossword puzzles, do needlework, put all those photos in albums or scrapbooks, plan your garden, WALK!, talk on phone, chat online, shop online, browse the internet for new recipes, WALK!, investigate a new hobby or interest online, play cards or board games w/ your family/friends, do a jigsaw puzzle, try out some new software you've been interested in, WALK!, sit outside & enjoy the sunshine.

THINGS NOT TO DO: Lift anything over 10 lbs. (this includes small humans, large pets & laundry baskets), vacuum (I am still on my vacuuming sabbatical.. hee hee!), push a shopping cart, move furniture, mow the lawn, housework (bribe someone else into doing it or close your eyes).

DO NOT visit your place of employment during your medical leave (then they want you to come BACK!).

This is major surgery, and you only have one chance to heal; and you're WORTH IT!! My doc told me that at 6 weeks post-op, you are only 40% healed. At 6 months post-op, you are 100% healed.

Sending cyberhugs

Great List! I'm printing it out. Thank you for those reminders! We need to be told those things periodically.

Great list, Twyla!!! I'm 11 months post-op. Had my TAH last Feb. I stayed out of work (I'm a teacher.) for the whole month of March. Living in New England, we got plenty of snow in March, and I finally had a good excuse not to shovel!
I was out of work for almost 6 weeks. I seriously advise taking a full 8 weeks off from work, if you can. I'll never forget how exhausted my body was after my first day back. I don't know how I made it home. It got better quickly after that, however.
I would also like to add that recovering princesses should lay down as much as possible at first. Someone here wisely said that sitting is an activity. Well said.
I feel great now and have been going to Weight Watchers and have lost 26 lbs.! I'm almost like a new woman!
Diane