Lifting with prolapses

I just had a rectocele and cystocele repaired last week and my prolapsed uterus removed. I was told by my dr not to lift anything over 10 lbs for 6 weeks. From another website I was told I should NEVER lift more than 20 lbs or move furniture ever again for the rest of my life or I will risk re-prolapsing(is that a word?LOL!) Has anyone else been told this? We are military and move every 3 years or less. I can't imagine never lifting boxes or moving furniture. Even some grocery bags are more than 20 lbs. When I play around with my kids I lift them for short times and they are both over 40lbs. I don't carry them around but we play around alot. I don't want to ever have to go through this surgery again and am ok with not lifting for a yr but a lifetime?

Anyone else with an opinion?

Denise

Hi Denise!
I just wanted to send you some support. I had a TAH on 10/15/02 for a prolapsed uteris. I was only told no lifting over 10 pounds for 6-8 weeks. Sounds like you might have the extra restrictions because of your rectocele and/or cycstocele repair? My husband is in the Army and believe me, I can RELATE to all the moving...it's exhausting and physically challenging. One thing for sure, if you re-confirm that you're not to lift like that, let those military movers do as much legwork for you as possible. When they unload your stuff have them set the boxes in the rooms they are to go in, they're supposed to do that for you anyway! Well come to think of it this last time they just dumped all our stuff in the living room..and of course lost a few items...broke a couple of things...you know, the normal military move. But tell them you have medical restrictions and they are to put those boxes where they can be easily unpacked. I know it's hard...you wind up with all this stuff including pets, kids, immediate must-haves in your car..it can get be some heavy lifting even with the movers. I will say that I am 6 weeks post-op today, and for some insane reason decided I was feelin' pretty good and MOVED MY DINING ROOM TABLE BY MYSELF! HUGE MISTAKE! Bad bad princess, that's me. Tonight my got big again, and I'm so so sore. You would think I learned my lesson back in my 3rd week post-op..when I overdid it and landed myself on my butt for 3 days straight. Whatever the outcome on your restrictions, your health comes first. It's hard for me to imagine never moving furniture but I think I'll let my big strong soldier handle that from now on. Every time you think you want to lift too much just think PROLAPSE. Sorry I could not help w/the lifetime of no lifting restriction, just wanted to send a smoke signal and tell you I can relate. I'm wondering if I'll ever be able to lift like I used to again. Take care!

I'm sorry you are so unhappy about this. I'm sure your DR is trying to support your efforts to avoid surgery in the future for prolapse. My Dr told me if I truly wanted the repairs, particularly the rectocele repair, to have the best chance at remaining successful, I would have to limit my lifting to 10 pounds for the rest of my life. I nearly had to drag it out of her. She really did not want to tell me when I asked. Heavy lifting IS most often what tends to cause prolapse post op.

JMHO-You have to stop lifting your kids at some point. Maybe this would be the right time for that. I quit lifting mine at about 3 yrs old or 35-40 pounds. You will find other ways to be close.

jlculp is right! Tell them you have medical restrictions, etc. Your health is worth it!

Denise
My opinion for what it is worth is don't do it!!! Restrictions have to be the better option. I had a front and back repair done about 3 years ago. Results were brilliant but I returned to my bad old ways - moving furniture, filing cabinets, trees in pots etc etc. Result was three prolapses resulting in recent surgery. Have I learned my lesson? YES!!!!! As the Dr said lifting at work is covered by Health & Safety legisaltion for a very good reason. It's going to be tough having to ask for help and so breaking habits of a lifetime, but no more prolapses for me !!!
Hope that helps. Take care and good luck with your recovery and adaptation to not being Shwarzzeneger!!!!
Soo

Hey all,
I'm 51/2 weeks postop- TVH for prolaspe rectocele and cystocele repair. I too am on a lifting restriction-10lbs for 12 weeks then no more than 25 lbs thereafter. While is was bummed at first by the prospect of giving up some of my favorite activities-- heavy gardening ( I used a pickax to take out a stand of sumac last summer- That's when my cystocele got REALLY bad) throwing 60 pound bales of hay around etc. But after having this surgery I decided I DO NOt want to do this again!!-- So I'll just have to turn into the princess when i want something done: " Oh Honey, would you be sooo swweet and PLeeese shift that hay stack 10 feet to the left?" (lol). Seriously, I agree- we women need to take care of our selves and if that means asking for help- then that's just what we'll have to do.

Happy healing!

Thanks so much for all your comments. I wish I was warned about this before surgery. I am slowly starting to accept that this is something I am just going to have to learn to live with. After a lifetime of being so independent, asking others for help won't be easy. But I'll do it. I don't want surgery again!

Thanks again,

Denise

Denise
I soooo agree with you. When growing up my mother's mantra was, 'Time & tide waits for no man - if you want something doing, then do it yourself!' Made me very independent but I've paid the physical cost. Twice - idiot that I am!! Like BJB, I'm going to have to mend my ways and admit I'm not as strong as I'd like to be!!! On the plus side it might enhance my DH's ego if I'm a little less independent! lol
So you take care and practice being good!
Soo

Denise: I just came from my pre-op with my gyn (prolapse and rectocele) and went over the lifting restriction with him. He would like to see me stay under 10-25 pounds FOREVER and not just post-surgery so as not to create another prolapse (my most feared being vaginal vault prolapse). Truly, I mourned this whole 'no lifting' thing more than anything else. I am SO independent and a 'handle it' kind of girl and the thought of not lifting anything heavy is (this is total drama queen) sad. But I also hate being labeled and when my gyn said " I see this in women who can't wait for their husbands to move something or lift something and just want to handle it themselves" it made me laugh. That is totally me !!! So - here is to slowing down a little bit and letting someone else take over on the heavy things. I really don't want to go through the waiting for this surgery again !!!

Cheers, Janice

Oh gosh, me too... I am a single mom to two DS's who live with me and are getting to be big enough to do all the "he man" chores around the house, plus have a DBF who lives all of about 10 minutes' drive from me, and yet when something needs to be done that involves lifting something heavy, it takes every ounce of willpower I have to stop myself from doing it. I feel like whatever it is, I have to do it NOW and therefore I should do it myself... and then I remember that I really don't want to go back and have to have the repairs redone. It's the most difficult part of the whole thing.

I am having to learn to bat my eyelashes and ask the guys to do the heavy stuff... and you know what I found out? They love it! Guys need to feel needed and appreciated, so the new me says, it's OK to need them, especially if it can make them feel good in the process.
s,
-Linda

Cookie
Your posting made me really laugh out loud, cos your gynae could have been describing me!!!! It's going to be tough - but it has to be done. Need to admit I can't do everything!!!
Take care
Soo
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