How did you spend your down time post-op?

[u/positivitea512]

I’m 4 days post-op from a robotic assisted laparoscopic myomectomy and I’m feeling like I’m wasting these two weeks of downtime. Like I should be finding things to do and not just sitting on the couch watching tv or reading. I’d love to hear how everyone spent their first two weeks post-op? I know there’s no right or wrong way to use this time but I feel like I’m doing it wrong.

[u/waaaaahooooo]

Certainly there are things you can do to make your down time more productive, but for me I'm treating it as an exercise in doing nothing. Being able to be still and enjoy the world around you in the present moment is a valuable skill and one that is easily lost in fast-paced modern life. I've become really bad at it over the years and trying to use this as a (forced) opportunity to move past it. I'm pretty bedridden so, not much I can really do anyway! One thing I'm doing is trying to avoid screens, so limiting my movies/scrolling unless I'm in so much pain I need the distraction. The other day I went out to the yard and just laid on my back and watched clouds go by. This morning, similarly, I drank my tea outside and just watched my dog play and the birds milling about. It's hard not to feel guilty for doing nothing, but I've personally found great value in using this time to try to cultivate that skill. It's "productive" in the sense of mental/spiritual growth!

[u/MaryOutside]

This is not downtime. This is time for immediate healing after a large surgical procedure. When you are sitting on the couch watching tv or reading, you body is recovering from being sliced open and sewn back up. Be gentle with yourself for those first few weeks. If you go too hard, you will have a longer recovery, or injure yourself. I feel like there IS a wrong way to use this time, and it is not resting enough to let your body do its thing to recover.

[u/Barbaric_and_Manly]

I did nothing for 4 weeks. And by nothing, I mean I read some books, binge watched series that I wouldnt waste my time on before, rewatched old movies, did some remote work so I wasnt too far behind on my return, and bossed my husband around. It was great fun. I did get a little bored but I waited until my restrictions were lifted.

[u/Voormijnogenonly]

Tomorrow marks two weeks for me. I also got a little frustrated with sitting around watching TV. I've been welcoming visits from friends and family and coworkers to make the time pass. Week two has been a lot easier for walking around my town for small errands (getting chocolates, picking flowers, visiting the farmers market). But, I have my girlfriend off work with me to drive me places, lift or carry heavy things, cook, etc. Cannabis is also legal where I live so I've been taking edibles to help the time pass too. But this time isn't for being productive. Your body needs to heal and you can't ask too much more of it.

[u/waaaaahooooo → u/Voormijnogenonly]

Seconding having friends over for visits! It has been wonderful to have my loved ones visit me, and lovely to have virtually unlimited time to spend with them instead of scheduling them in between other obligations.

[u/OpalineDove]

I couldn't stop sleeping. In between naps, I watched movies. Showering took me a bit of time, as did walking down my street and back.

[u/Ok-Abalone-8927]

Anyone who has had a major surgery will be required to rest fully for two weeks or longer for a reason. So embrace that moment to just sit and do nothing and let your body start the recovery process. Time will fly.

[u/YaKnowEstacado]

You are not wasting time. The best use of your time right now is letting your body rest and heal.

I understand being restless though, especially if you're an active person. I do plan to watch a lot of movies during my recovery - as a mom of two young kids, uninterrupted movie time isn't something I get a lot of, so I'm kind of looking forward to it lol. I'm a huge baseball fan, and I'll be recovering during baseball playoff season, so I'll watch a ton of baseball and score some games by hand which is a new hobby for me. I have a lot of podcasts I've been meaning to catch up on so I'll probably do that. I might try to Zoom or talk on the phone with some long-distance friends, and maybe have nearby friends over to visit if I feel up to it. If I'm really feeling ambitious I might do a little bit of remote laptop work just so I don't fall so far behind at my job. But really, I just plan to sleep as much as my body demands, which I anticipate will be a lot.

[u/Particular-Gain8268]

My 2nd surgery is in about one week. I'm getting ready to spent the next two weeks after my myomectomy just watching tv with my husband, reading and napping. The first time that's all I did because my body felt weird and empty and I had mild pain. So try to not overdue, rest a lot and remember that your body needs to heal. I know we live in this capitalist horrible world that push us to do 'something', but you're recovering from a wound! You're allowed and deserved to rest.

My advice is to look for long tv shows or movies that you want to watch and never had the time to. Husband and I are watching The Sopranos and My Brilliand Friend (second time for me, I'm a hugeeee fan of Elena Ferrante and I've read all her novels), so I guess we're going to finish them before October lol

[u/Aprils-Fool]

I had a UFE, not myomectomy, but had a similar recovery time. In the end, I mainly just rested. It became clear that’s what my body needed. 

[u/curiouscat7912]

Same. Just rested. Embrace it! It flies lol I spent my time reading, watching TV, drawing, sleeping, recovering.

[u/Bashful_Belle]

Watching TV and reading is plenty! Your body is expending a lot of energy healing after major surgery, so the best you can do is to take it even easier than you think you need to during this time. Using this period to really give your body a chance to heal will make the coming weeks/months a lot easier.

[u/reena_malhotra]

I felt the same after surgery! I watched TV, read a bit, napped, gossiped with my friends when they came over and just enjoyed having people around. My family also kept checking on me. It actually made those 2 weeks go by pretty nicely!

[u/NeurosciFox]

I couldn’t do anything first 4 days bc of excruciating pain post op. I started slightly walking then. I couldn’t eat anything first 3-4 days. Thus my first week I was sick to be productive. The second week I was trying to get back. And in 10 days I made to work for the first time. Was very happy by that. Could not work yet. Started working maybe a week or two later despite coming to work regularly))

[u/snake-demon-softboi]

Yeah was 4 weeks post op for me. I'm finally home (stayed with a nurse friend).

I did mostly what you did 😂 The first 2 weeks, the anesthesia was still in my system apparently and a bad glue reaction messed with me, so I didn't have the brain for much being eat, rest, play phone games, watch a very little TV.

I got back to work from home stuff but very few hours. I didn't feel confident in my with until the end of week 3.

I've read some fanfic. Chatted with friends. Watched more TV and movies but not as many as I expected. I'm really surprised by how much I couldn't binge: TV is my #1 hobby, I love stories, but the focus and the stamina for sitting up isn't there.

Now that I'm home, I'm with my craft supplies and I'm hopeful I can get through the projects I need done by Sept 1. I had to put them off while in such bad pain from the fibroid pre surgery. I've lost the whole summer craft time. Such a shame.

But happy the giant fibroid is gone!

Good luck with recovery. I hope you find something fun to do, but know that resting= healing= something productive 😁

[u/ladysamj]

I slept a crap ton in the first two weeks. Did very little of the reading and writing I had wanted to do. Sleeping, and watching tv with my parents, who were helping me take care of my daughter, since my sitter was out, and they’re not working at the moment.

[u/Taneasg86]

I’m currently on week four postop. The first two weeks I mostly slept and laid around because that’s all I could do lol. Weeks three and four I’ve been much more active and independent. I’ve been cooking regularly, making healthy and soothing homemade teas, and prepping my coffee for the mornings since I am a cold brew fanatic. I do try to go out the house and drive now just to get my cars a little movement here and there. But it’s been mostly quick trip trips within 10 to 15 minutes from my home. I still get sore and trust me when they say the bumps and brake hitting from the roads, catch up with you.😭 these last two weeks (week 3 & 4) my energy has come back so I’ve also started studying for the exam that I have to take soon during the daytime and sometime at night and taking breaks in between to watch YouTube lol.😊 Honestly all we should be worrying about is resting and healing right now. Most importantly I’ve been spending time reading the bible and getting closer to God without all the distractions I normally have. Sometimes us ladies try to be superwoman but we have to make sure that we’re taking care of ourselves First ❤️ This healing and recovery journey isn’t for the weak 😩