When to start pelvic floor exercises after surgery?
Posted , 15 users are following.
I am booked in for a posterior vaginal wall prolapse on 26 August and wondering when do I start the pelvic floor exercises. Also do you mostly sleep after the surgery? It seems after reading the posts that a lot of rest is in order but I think this will drive me nutty, We are self employed and I do all the computer work for my husband (he is a computer dinosaur) would I be better off typing sitting or standing? This surgery is really making me feel very scared after reading all the posts of how long recovery is and the pain.
1 like, 31 replies
Jan999 rita2602
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rita2602 Jan999
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marla47988 Jan999
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Hi all. I'm booked on July 20 for a posterior vaginal wall repair and a vaginal hysterectomy. I'm quite nervous. I worry about gaining weight being inactive. I'm also worried about pain. So far unsure whether need mesh or not. Have heard there can be complications. Any advice?
nannylin rita2602
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rita2602 nannylin
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cynthia81217 rita2602
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rita2602 cynthia81217
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Raesue rita2602
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You will need to do both what your surgeon advises and what you are comfortable doing. My surgery was more extensive with the mesh... I could not sit up straight for weeks. I do mostly desk work and didn't go back to work for four weeks. I just couldn't sit. When I did go back I set up my computer so that I could stand for much of the day; the rest of the day I leaned on one side or the other.
You will want to rest a lot - you won't get your energy back for a while. I guess if you have a laptop you can do computer work in bed... You'll just have to work it out best for you.
As to pelvic floor exercises, if you mean Kegels, I didn't try for several weeks. Now I do them almost every night before I go to sleep. Again, you'll have to work this out for you. You may have less pain all around and be able to get back to (semi) normal much quicker than I did.
rita2602 Raesue
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Over_it rita2602
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Over_it rita2602
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I had the posterior repair about 30 years ago when I was in my 20's. I am 5 1/2 weeks post-op for anterior repair. I don't know if it was the surgery (posterior vs anterior) or my age, but recovery seemed much quicker in my 20's, although I wasn't as healthy back then.
The doughnut to sit on was very helpful for comfort.
Don't let our stories scare you....I'm sure there are many wonderful success stories out there...we are on this forum looking for answers to problems we have or getting more info because our providers are not very helpful in that area...and to share with others that truly understand what we are going through and receiving support from them. It is a wonderful sight and you realize you are not the only one feeling the way you do.
As for sleep, I do remember napping more with my first surgery than this one, but I was on narcotic pain meds the first time, this time I took only Ibuprofen and Tylenol for the 2 1/2 weeks. I've only napped 3-4 times and that was the first week after surgery.
I would think you could do computer work fine, you will find what is comfortable, although standing for over a half hour is not recommended...you will feel it if you overdo...it took me a couple days to recoup after I stood for a couple hours at a birthday party.
The doctor has not discussed pelvic floor exercises with me yet (I go to the doctor tomorrow and will ask). Many on this forum have been told to do pelvic floor exercises not kegels.
Prayers & blessings to you!
Trisha
Raesue Over_it
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TrishaP is right! Yes, don't worry about it. I think my surgery was more extensive because of needing the mesh and I'm almost 60, so my body is older and probably took it harder. I did not take the narcotic pain meds afterward - didn't even fill the prescription. But I did live on Tylenol and Ibruprofen! Just be prepared to coddle yourself - or better yet, have someone else who can coddle you!
rita2602 Over_it
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rita2602 Raesue
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Merlion rita2602
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Raesue rita2602
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