What did you do post surgery?

Max-

Walking is very good for you post op. Gets everything going again and helps relieve gas pain. I walked around the hospital and at home a lot. But remember to listen to your body. It will let you know when it needs rest. After a week or so I was doing a little shopping at the grocery store. Couldn't go for more than a half hour or so at first. This surgery does take a lot out of you.
Be careful with lifting things for the first few weeks. I was told no more than 5 or 6 lbs the first 4 to 6 weeks. That's about a gallon of milk. I did go out to eat occasionally after a couple weeks. Just be careful what you order and don't be disappointed if you can't eat very much for a few weeks. A lot of people have a hard time eating more than a 1/2 cup. If you try to force yourself to eat more you will feel awful after wards. Slow and steady is what this recovery takes.

This time of year isn't the best for it, but I found just getting outside to sit and take in the sounds and fresh air helped me the most. That may be because the last 2 I was stuck in the hospital for close to 2 to 3 weeks and wasn't allowed out of the surgery ward.

Some sleeping tips... I slept in my recliner or on our couch with recliner ends. I found this to be the most comfy since laying down hurt for a few weeks. If you do lay down, be sure to roll to one side and then use your arms to push yourself up to get out of bed. This will save you a lot of pain from your belly incisions until they heal.
Myself I would be concerned about going home the same day as surgery. I had too much pain to go home the same day, but my last ones were very complicated and long surgeries. Please ask to stay longer if you feel your pain isn't able to be controlled without IV meds. I know some have went home the same day without problems, but I am not one of them.

Take care,
Bill

Just like Bill I walked a lot. Actually a lot a lot.
Excersice I slowly started after 3 weeks, but I guess that depends on how you generally feel.

Max-

A wedge would definitely help or if you have extra pillows you can make a wedge with them. I used the recliner and recliner ends on the couch because I just happened to have them. If you were looking to get a recliner in the near future this would be a good excuse, LOL! Seriously, if you do want a recliner you probably could look at the want adds of see if Good Will has one for a good price.
When I did start sleeping in bed I still used several pillows to make a wedge. Since I have now had 6 chest/stomach surgeries I have gotten a lot of use out of my recliner and couch.
Oh, also a heating pad works wonders for the muscle and internal pains after the surgery. The first couple days ice will help with swelling, but after that heat helps with healing.

Take care,
Bill

Hi max

Like others I did a lot of walking after my surgery, just around the hospital ward to start with then around the house & yard once I got home. It really helped with the gas & shoulder pain.

During the first couple of weeks I found it useful to have a small pillow/cushion handy to hold against my incision for support when I coughed or sneezed (I had an open nissen). I also slept with it to give extra support when I needed to turn over in bed.

take care

Lynda

Max I would suggest walking and don't overdue it cause you could have a little bit of pain when you over due it. I know I did the first week out of surgrey. I wish you all the best with your surgrey on feb 6th. So where are you having yours done? drink lots if you can I have been having alot of warm water cause I am having a bit of the spasms in my throat with really cold stuff. have alot of soups clear  fluids and jello on hand even tea is good too. Good Luck Hope All Goes Well, LexiPoo

You'll do great. One big thing to remember is not try to rush healing. Your body will heal at the pace it wants to, and you can't change it. A couple of times I got frustrated that I felt I wasn't improving quickly enough (I was actually improving exactly as the surgeon expected) I was just really impatient! I had to learn to relax, enjoy the time away from work at home (it goes by too fast!), and just know that each day gets a little bit better.

As everyone else said, walks were my favorite thing during early recovery. I felt so good when walking, or even just standing in general.

Don't try to be brave with the pain meds. The day I got home from the hospital I thought I'd be a tough guy and not take my dose of medicine when it was due. Once those lovely hospital drugs wore off, I realized I had made a huge mistake. Take your pain meds as prescribed or before you think you will need them... they take longer to kick in if you take them AFTER you have pain.

Get some comfy pajama type clothes, stock up on liquids, turn on HBO for a month (starts to get boring at home), and if you can, invest in a little hand held blender. I relied on mine every day. Turns a chunky soup into liquid within a minute. Really helps you with taste variety... a liquid/soft diet gets boring quickly.