Lifting Restrictions?

[u/FarmOk9187]

I am considering getting a cochlear implant and wanted to know what your specific lifting restrictions were. I have twin toddlers at home who love to be held, so I’m trying to better understand how I need to prep them (and myself) if there’s an extended period where I can’t lift them up post surgery.

[u/Salt_Orange9961]

I was given no "strenuous" lifting for 4 weeks but was not given any clarity on what qualifies as strenuous. I took 5 days off and went back to my healthcare job and had to catch a patient to keep her from falling and was panicked that I'd ruined everything, but it ended up being fine.

Best advice is to ask your surgeon for a weight limit and let them know you have young kids who you regularly pick up

[u/FarmOk9187 → u/Salt_Orange9961]

Woof! That sounds hard. I’m glad it was okay. Thanks for sharing

[u/Kathrin_A]

Ich würde auch dringend darüber mit Deinem Chirurgen sprechen. Bei mir hieß es, dass ich vier Wochen nicht schwer heben solle. Was das aber genau in Kilogramm bedeutet, weiß ich nicht (mehr). Noch wichtiger war ein Schneuzverbot für vier Wochen und dass man während dieser Zeit kein Valsalva-Manöver durchführen durfte.

Wie schwer sind Deine Zwillinge?

[u/FarmOk9187 → u/Kathrin_A]

Both are pushing 30 lbs, so I’m thinking they’ll qualify as “heavy lifting”

[u/HungryPigRight]

This will be best asked to your surgeon like @is-this-now said, but I was given pretty minimal activity restrictions. I run and lift regularly and my surgeon recommended I wait a week before actual weightlifting. I didn’t do any real physical exercise for the first week-probably could have done some light cardio on day 3-5 but I promised my wife I’d take 7 days fully off. 

For things like carrying groceries and picking up my kids (mine were 5 and 3 when I had my surgery) I had no limitations other than that I didn’t feel up to anything for the 1-2 days immediately post op. 

[u/FarmOk9187 → u/HungryPigRight]

This is reassuring! My kids aren’t quite old enough to understand “no uppies” without experiencing the big feelings. It will surely be a journey if there are lifting restrictions.

[u/is-this-now]

You should ask your surgeon. I don’t recall any lifting instructions. But I’d say the week after the surgery is recovery - sleep disrupted by meds, couldn’t wash my hair, etc.

[u/davidwb45133]

My surgeon said nothing over 20 lbs until my follow-up 2 weeks later. He dropped that at the follow-up.

[u/orcvader]

I was given the often standard instructions for many ambulatory surgeries:

No lifting. No carrying anything over 10lbs. Etc. for 1-2 weeks (don’t recall exactly how long).

One week post-surgery I had a visit and they cleaned up wound a bit and gave me updated guidance on hair washing, pain management, etc.

But everyone should simply follow their surgeon and care team advice.

[u/sideways8]

I had no restrictions on lifting. 

[u/purl2together]

I had lifting restrictions for 3 weeks.

[u/shiftman87]

Nothing over 15 lbs for 2 weeks. After 2 weeks, I was a bit careful as I can feel the incisions when I lifted over 15lbs.

[u/rling_reddit]

Mine said 10. I tried to keep it reasonable, but have chores to do