After 48 hours you may sleep flat on your back, you may not sleep on your stomach or sides for four weeks. Fluids: Fluids are critical following surgery. Drinking fluids is very important to help rid the body of the drugs used in surgery. Clear juices and water are best.
Sleeping On Your Back
One of the best sleeping positions after any kind of surgery requires lying straight on your back.
Sleeping in a semi-upright position is recommended, using a few pillows to elevate the head and shoulders to avoid putting pressure on the abdominal area. Avoid sleeping on your stomach or the side where the incisions were made.
You should feel better after 1 to 2 weeks and will probably be back to normal in 2 to 4 weeks. Your bowel movements may not be regular for several weeks. Also, you may have some blood in your stool. This care sheet gives you a general idea about how long it will take for you to recover.
When Can You Sleep on Your Stomach After Tummy Tuck? You should avoid sleeping on your stomach for as long as possible to encourage the best healing. However, usually, you can resume sleeping on your stomach if the tightness in your abdomen has dissipated, which usually takes place between 4-6 weeks.
It takes about two years for the strength of your abdominal wall to return to the strength you had before the operation.
The first four weeks of your post-op recovery are the most important, and you'll be increasing the intensity of your walks one week after the other. During your first week, you should stick to taking anywhere between 2 to 4 ten-minute light-paced walks a day.
You may need to take off 4 to 6 weeks if you lift heavy objects in your job. You may shower 24 to 48 hours after surgery, if your doctor says it is okay. Pat the cut (incision) dry. Do not take a bath for the first 2 weeks, or until your doctor tells you it is okay.
The stress of surgery and direct bowel manipulation cause a surge in sympathetic stimulation, overriding parasympathetic stimulation and slowing bowel function. The effects of this are most pronounced in the colon, where it may take 2 to 3 days for normal peristalsis to return in the postoperative period.
Generally, you can start sleeping on your side after about two weeks post-surgery.
Side-sleeping is discouraged during the first week after surgery. That can lead to swelling on the side you sleep on compared to the other side. After one week, you are free to sleep on your side or your back. We recommend waiting until about four weeks to try sleeping on your stomach.
Why? Keeping your head elevated minimizes post-op swelling and discomfort, prevents strain to incision sites, and can even help you feel ready to go out in public a little more quickly. Many patients find that sleeping in a recliner is the easiest and most comfortable way to maintain the correct sleeping position.
Possible causes for excessive fatigue in the weeks following surgery include pain medications, infection, anemia, and depression.
Recovery at home takes up to six weeks. Many people get back to most of their usual routines within two weeks after surgery. Try to be extra gentle with yourself in the first few days after you get home. Getting up to walk around is good for you, but you may feel weak.
They include: Infection: Your surgical wound can become infected. You may also get an infection in the lungs (pneumonia) or urinary tract. Injury: During the procedure, the intestines, bladder, or blood vessels near the bowels may become damaged.
It is normal to lose some weight after this surgery. Soon it will level off and slowly you will start to regain some of the weight you lost. Try to have a good calorie intake to keep up your energy. Your bowel actions may change after your surgery.
You should aim to sit out of bed twice a day, at first for one hour then gradually increasing the time each day. The best exercise after surgery is walking and this will start on the first day after your operation. The nursing or physiotherapy staff will help you until you can walk safely by yourself.
Straight after surgery to remove part of your colon, your poo might be a bit looser and more frequent. But this usually settles down after a few weeks and medicines may help with some of the symptoms.
You can walk, climb stairs, shower, and bathe soon after surgery. But don't drive until your provider says you can. Follow all special diet instructions you are given. Take care of your cut (incision) and any drains, as directed by your provider.
Swelling and Bruising.
Tissue injury, whether accidental or intentional (e.g. surgery), is followed by localized swelling. After surgery, swelling increases progressively, reaching its peak by the third day. It is generally worse when you first arise in the morning and decreases throughout the day.
Dehiscence is a partial or total separation of previously approximated wound edges, due to a failure of proper wound healing. This scenario typically occurs 5 to 8 days following surgery when healing is still in the early stages.
Lying flat stretches out the abdomen, putting strain on the incision line, which can lead to pain and potential damage to the sutures. When you rest, it's recommended that you sleep in a slightly bent position that avoids pulling on the stitches.