How did you spend your days after surgery?

I'm expecting my surgery to be early July-ish, which means I'll be off work, recovering in the middle of summer.  How did you feel? What did you do?  Will I be lying on the couch the whole time or can I make a couple day trips to the beach and enjoy the summer?  

I spent two weeks at home relaxing, sleeping, and sorting out schedules with a brand new stomach! It took awhile to get it all down pat, between the eating what when, the not drinking around meals (once you're back on solids) and of course, the new vitamin regime.

I was also told not to go anywhere for about four weeks post-op. I don't know if that means 'day trips' and things like that though. As long as it's driving distance, it shouldn't be too difficult I wouldn't think. As long as you CAN get to your centre if there's a problem, that would be the main concern initially.

I would ask your centre or your surgeon what their guidelines are. I'm sure they've encountered this before.

I say take advantage of the summer weather if you feel up to it!!  I felt "back to normal" after a few days and actually felt a little guilty not being at work.

I was off in February/March so the weather was terrible.  I kept myself busy doing organizing projects around the house that I never get to do.  And my husband and I went on a couple antiquing day trips to Toronto which was fun.

Just take lots of water with you and have all your food in a cooler or something and stay on schedule with your eating.  Enjoy!!

I took about 6 weeks off work during August/September timeframe, so weather was pretty good.  For the first two weeks, it was simply about recovering, napping, fitting in the food and liquids, etc.  I didn't go too far from home in those early days.  Once I had that under control, I upped my walking.  If the weather was nice, I would pick a neighbourhood I hadn't been to in a while, and take a leisurely walk and re-familiarize myself with my City.  If the neighbourhoods were a bit away from me, I would drive there, park, then explore.  At the same, I would do a bit of window shopping (and some real shopping), and just really enjoy being out and about.  It was a good way to get out of the house and get my walking in.  Towards the end, hit a museum or two.  After four weeks, got cleared for the pool...so started add in exercise (beyond walking) at that point.  I do know that I didn't feel comfortable eating away from the house for almost six weeks.  I was never sure what was going to sit well, and what wasn't.  So all my little trips we're in between food times.

It was overall a nice, relaxed recovery.  It was really the first two weeks that I found difficult.  I found that one day I would feel a bit better, but the next, it was like taking a step or two back...that lasted two to three weeks in total.  I also found that it took weeks if not months for me to get a good night's sleep.  So napping was essential throughout. 

Good luck with the surgery and recovery!

That sounds like a great plan!  I'm interested in what you said about having trouble sleeping. Was it because you napped too much in the day and you weren't tired or because you were uncomfortable? Or was it something else?

I don't think it had anything to do with napping, and not even discomfort or pain. Not sure what itis, but I've heard many say the same thing post surgery about not sleeping well. Even the naps were short, even though I could have used the sleep. Lasted six to eight weeks or so in my case.