Will I need help getting out of bed after surgery?

dietpeach · September 7, 2008

After my c-sections, I remember that lying down was fine, and standing up was somewhat painful but ok, but GETTING UP from lying down into a standing position was the killer. Is it like this after getting banded? Or were you able to get yourself up and out of bed? Thanks.

marie715 · September 7, 2008

HI DietPeach, I am 3 days out from surgery. For me, getting up out of bed is much, much easier than when I had a c-section or the hysterectomy. The difference is that our lower abdomen muscles are not effected by the banding surgery. So we can use them to pull ourselves up. Now, you do reach a certain point, in the getting up process, where the area by your port is affected and that hurts while you are getting up. I've been able to get up out of bed on my own but I do need something to grab on to help hoist me out.

I remember having to hold a pillow to my abdomen when walking after the c-section and hysterectomy. I don't need to do that now, after the banding. For me, there is no pain as I walk. Good luck.

Jachut · September 7, 2008

I didnt have any problems getting out of bed a few hours after surgery, but lifting myself with the thingie hanging down over the bed.

But then I popped half my staples out after a caesar jumping around the room, lol, I was quite mobile after that too. But the lapband was MUCH less traumatic than a caesar- my ability to move after my caesar was more down to the copious amounts of pain meds they kept forcing on me, I couldnt feel a thing!.

blueriley · September 7, 2008

I had no problems getting out of bed, the first couple of days it hurt a little to do so though. Good luck!

ShrinkyDink · September 7, 2008

It hurt me a lot the first day, I had to have help both getting up and lying down. After the first day I was able to do it myself, but it was still painful for several days. Holding something like a firm pillow against the site as you move helps.

Lanakila · September 7, 2008

It's not really an all-over ab pain. The only thing that really hurt for me was my port incision, and that was a deep pain rather than a surface pain. I was up and around just fine after the first night. It was 3 days before I could sit down to and rise from my front steps, where I sit to watch the birds in the morning.

From a physical standpoint, here's a recommendation for how to get out of the bed after abdominal surgery.

1. Roll onto your side and swing your legs a little over the edge of the bed. They don't have to hang down all the way.

2. Tuck your arm a little between your waist and the bed, and put your upper hand on the bed near your boobs.

3. Push up with your arms...to help yourself sit up without using your abs too much. As you push up your legs will swing further down.

I have a higher bed, so I was able to almost slide into standing up at that point. I see that some folks had things nearby to hold on to and push off of, which I think I would have needed that first day.