how long did you use your incentive spirometer

I'm 2 days post-op and just got home from the hospital.  They sent me home with the incentive spirometer and said to use it 10 times an hour but they didn't tell me for how long I need to use it.  Just a few days?  Thanks in advance for your advice!

I used it for about 10 days, but not on schedule.

I used mine for 2 weeks after I got home although I didn't do it 10 times an hour, more like 4 times an hour. It's important after surgery as the deep breathing helps to open up the air sacs in the lungs and prevent secretions that could lead to pneumonia.

My instructions were 4 times a day (15 breaths) for 2 weeks.  I am sure every surgeon has different requirements. 

I was told to do it during commercials until I continued more normal activity. Honestly I didn't really use mine that much.... I kept falling asleep I did it when I remembered and kept it in reach but I just didn't use it much. 

I used it for the 3 days that I was in the hospital after my surgery (not counting surgery day). I left it there when I went home! I have honestly never used it for more than a couple of days for any of my dozen surgeries (and did not use one at all for about half of them).

Lora

Just reading the post about the incentive spirometer. Would it make sense to get one BEFORE surgery to get my lungs in better shape?