Walking and Sleeping

So, I had surgery on August 17th at Barix in Langhorne and have been home for almost two days, now.  I was told to walk every two hours and not to sleep too much.

I am exhausted and the walking is really getting to me.  I'm looking for suggestions to make it less tedious.  Was anyone else really tired after surgery, also, and what did you do?

Thanks,
Melissa

I was pretty tired too - I did get up once a night to walk around - mostly just to the bathroom and back. My Surgeon told me I could sleep at night but try and move every 4 hours at night. I would get up and walk a few minutes and go back to bed. You DID just have major surgery and until the anestesia and pain meds get fully out of your system you are going to be sleepy.

The more you walk and sip the faster and better you will feel! PROMISE! Just don't over do it obviously. If it seems tedious to you get an ipod or walking buddy to entertain you a bit. Try walking outside in the morning or evening when it is cooler (WAY too hot out there for me right now). I lived in a 2 bedroom apartment on the first floor - I would walk in each room, walk around it and back out - the first day home I'd do that twice, then I would add laps as I could. I also walked out to get the mail - things like that.

Welcome to the losers bench! Hold on tight - it's going to be a wild ride!!

Thanks for the advice.  It's the every two hours that really gets me.  I think I could probably handle it better if it were every four hours, but it's not so I'm trying to be a big girl and suck it up.

On a completely unrelated note, I am from Easton, originally.  Small world!

I'm no help since I haven't had surgery. Just surprised they would say walk every two hours. Geez, you just had friggin' surgery. I would think your body IS tired and needs the rest to heal.

The walking is to prevent blood clots.

Not sleep too much? I was told to sleep as muc as I could. I walked every two hourse, but I slept the whole night and took naps for the first 2 weeks

Yeah, I don't know what that's all about.  I guess the nurse who told me that just wanted me to keep moving, but I am exhausted and I am taking the pain killers they prescribed for me every time I have pain, which I think is also making me tired.

Ok, not EVERY time I have pain--I can only take it every 4-6 hours.

WELCOME HOME!!!!! YAY!!!!  Glad to have you on the Loser's bench - I remember walking around the neighborhood, but it was spring and not this hot.  Try to walk in the morning outside, around the neighborhood just for a few minutes at a time  - maybe ten or so - when the weather is too hot - try walking around the house and doing the exercises that Dr. P showed you in the hospital.  I had severe gas pains for about 10 days after surgery and the exercises really helped me with them.  Also, I did not have to get up overnight - but if I woke up - they suggested that I walk a little.

Hope this helps a little!  Make sure you also take naps - you did just have major surgery and your body is going through some big things.  Good luck!

Were you told to walk every two hours?  And do you remember how long you had to keep it up for?  I believe I was told to do it for eight weeks!