Climbing Stairs After DS

It just occured to me that in order to get back home after having surgery, I'll have to climb close to 30 steep stairs, as our condo is on the 2nd floor of the building. Is this going to be hard and painful? I had a c-section in September 2010 and, while climbing stairs wasn't the hardest thing to do, it certainly wasn't the easiest - and, at that point, we lived in another house and only had 5 stairs on the porch. Obviously I can't do anything about this aside from toughing it out. I'd just like to know your experience with tackling stairs a day or two after surgery. Thanks!

Hi Erika - I have VERY steep stairs in my house to get to my bedroom and granted, there are only 12 of them, not 30 - it was not easy but it wasn't hard.  I literally took one step at a time and I took my time getting up those steps.  You'll probably be so drugged up when you get released, you will be okay as far as pain is concerned.  Just have someone behind you in case you get woozy. 

It wont be easy but it won't be hard either.  make sure you have support behind you and sit and rest in between if you need too.  

I live in an apartment on the main floor.  Its been too hot outside to walk since I'm afraid of dehydration so early out and walking around the apartment for exercise is booooring so I'm using my upstairs neighbors steps as exercise instead.   I just go up and down them twice then lay down, sip, and repeat. So steps are definitely manageable (I'm a week out)

After back surgery, I went up our stairs sideways and one step at a time. I could hold the railing with both hands...  After my DS, my DH stationed me on the first floor living room couch right between the kitchen and the bathroom.

--gina

"a day or two after surgery..."  you're going to be released from the hospital after a DS that soon?

Must be a new thing...maybe insurance incentives to do it. I was released within 24 hours of my DS surgery in 2007.

--gina

I think that's insane, not to mention dangerous.

I was released after 2 days.  If I didn't develop thrush I could have went home after 1 day since my surgery was so early in the AM.  My DS was performed laproscopically 10 days ago.  

For the first two weeks after surgery I stayed at my sister-in-law's house and had 30 steps to climb up to the bedroom. I did it 4 or 5 times a day and took it very slowly, a couple steps at a time. I figured it was good exercise.

I sure was excited when I visited last month and climbed the while flight with our stopping or getting out of breath.

I went to the hotel after the hospital and I used the stairs in the stairwell as part of my walks :)

Just take it slow and have someone there to support you.