Question:
My Dr said NO Recliners after surgery.
I have read where a great deal of you have used or even slept in a recliner. My Dr's office said no recliners due to pooling of blood in the groin area when in one. Do most Drs; ofject to using a recliner? I love being in one now before sugery but I know I can't get out of my husband's chair at all. It puts stress on my stomach muscles. So what is your opinion? — Sally P. (posted on November 29, 2002)
November 29, 2002
I know I slept in a recliner for my first two weeks home. I don't know
what I would of done with out it. Even now at 4 weeks post-op I have a
hard time sleeping a full night in bed. I feel the postion I was in the
recliner is similar to the hospital bed.
— Kelly T.
November 29, 2002
All doctors seem to have their own rules. I had no recliner and had no
intention if using one but when I got home I could not lay on my bed or sit
on my couch at all. I borrowed a recliner and slept in it for two weeks
then was able to get back to normal. Good luck.
— Pam G.
November 29, 2002
OK, I know our docs are all maddeningly different, but I can see why you'd
want a better explanation for this recliner rule. I'm just a layman, but
it seems to me that blood shouldn't be pooling *anywhere* after you're
released from the hospital, should it? I thought that's what drains are
used for (even considering that our docs all vary in their use of drains,
including the length of time they leave 'em in).<P>Given that you
already know you're uncomfortable in other chairs as a pre-op, I'd call
your doctor -- not someone else in his office -- make him aware of your
concern, and ask him specifically why a recliner would be a problem, and
why there'd be any pooling of blood in the groin area. You sure don't want
to be uncomfortable after you get home, and some folks really find that
they can't lay flat comfortably for a few days. Just my 2c!
— Suzy C.
November 29, 2002
I can only speak from my c-section post op experience, but I would NOT have
made it through without a lazyboy chair. My doctor recommended it because
of the ease of getting up. Granted - from a different type of surgery.
Also, I always thought it was good to sleep a bit sitting up for
breathing... but that's of course my non-medical understanding.
— w8free
November 29, 2002
As the other posters have said each doctor has their own rules. But my doc
never said no recliners and he knows most his patients use them and he's ok
with it. I had to use mine for 8 weeks before I could sleep comfortably in
bed. And I had no problems specifically resulting from using the chair. I
would definitly do as the other poster said and speak to your surgeon about
it. Good luck in whatever you decide to do. :)
— Diana L.
November 29, 2002
Sally,
I've read many posts about people who slept in a recliner post-op. I did
not do that and would not even sit in a regular recliner post-op. I
purchased a recliner which lifts one to a standing position for my DH after
his cardiac surgery. We both had WLS and din't sleep in the recliner. We
both slept in our own bed from the first night home. We both have sleep
apnea so our CPAP machines help us to breathe while lying flat. After a
previous abdominal surgery, I tried a regular recliner and found that the
lever was too hard to operate. If you really are concerned about sleeping
flat post-op, consider renting a hospital bed. I did that after surgery in
1990. My insurance covered 80% of the cost. Perhaps your surgeon wants
you up and walking every hour or so during the day. Good luck.
— Janis D.
November 29, 2002
It's funny because the bari-beds that are used in most bariatric surgeries
are a LOT like a recliner...and thank god for that I say. I kept mine in a
near sitting/reclining position 90% of the time while in the hospital. I'd
think if this was bad for you, they surely wouldn't let one do it in the
hospital.
— [Deactivated Member]
November 29, 2002
I did not have a recliner when I had my surgery and wasn't about to go buy
one. I know that a lot of people have used them post-op but but I would
say that if your doc advises you not to I would do your best to try and do
without. I didn't have too much trouble. I just propped myself up with
pillows a little and seemed to do okay. See how you do without and if it's
just intolerable, then try the recliner a little. But I think the thing
that keeps your blood from pooling most is walking. Get up and move
around as much as you can tolerate and I think you'll do fine. I started
with a BMI of 48.2 and managed to do fine without a recliner. Good luck!
— Laurel C.
November 29, 2002
I just had one more thing to add to my previous post. You mentioned that
it's hard on your stomach now getting out of the recliner. I think I did
better without one for the simple fact that I was able to roll on my side
and push up to a sitting position with my arms, not so easy to do in a
recliner. But the choice is literally up to you. Hope that helps.
— Laurel C.
November 29, 2002
Hey there, I'm 2 weeks post op Lap RNY, down 24 pounds. I camp out in my
recliner. I've had hellacious back and L sided pain for about a week now
from the residual gas. The bed can take a hike for all I care. My surgeon
says that I can sit, sleep, or recline anytime I feel I need to rest. It
is unnatural to try to sleep straight-legged or like a robot. If I hadn't
slung a "rod" by now, chances are I won't. I'm not scared of that
anyway. I'm just focusing on getting to feel better so that I can go back
to work next week, and continue to take care of my two small children. All
lot of post-ops have great advise, I'm just letting you know my situation.
Good Luck
— Leigh G.
November 30, 2002
To reiterate what a previous poster said, most hospitals have huge
recliner-like chairs that are made for people who have had chest or stomach
surgery, so why would an individual doctor object to the use of a regular
recliner? As for me, I don't have a recliner, but spent the first 10 days
post-op in a large chair with an ottomom and lots of pillows tucked in
everywhere. The reason most of us need a recliner or a good imitation of
one is it's so hard to get up from a supine position because of the
soreness from the surgery. Even if your doctor says not to use one, my
guess is you'll revert to it out of necessity. Good luck with your
surgery.
— Arlene S.
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