Question about Tummy Muscles

The last two days I've been more active than the previous 5 days.  Ive been out shopping yesterday for say 3  hours.  And then was walking a bunch around the house doing christmas stuff but not bending over.  For some reason it didn't dawn on me how effected my tummy muscles would be.   So my question is, how long does that last? I don't want to get a herneia and I guess the PA at my surgeon's office put the fear in me beacuse I am still succestible (sp) to one if I over do it.   Any tips on how to meausre pain level or know if you over did it or how to make sure a hernia isn't created etc.. Im going to try to stay quite today but I still have 2 more places to go for christmas.

Amanda, you have to remember that you just had a fairly major surgery and should restrict your activities accordingly. Try to relax a little and allow yourself to get well. The easiest way to get a hernia is to lift things and lift things that are too heavy for you. My surgeon advised me to restrict myself to lifting no mnore than 5lbs the first couple of weeks, 10 lbs the next few weeks and less than 25lbs until 3 months were up - but I had open RNY.  And, by the way, I still ended up with incisional hernias and when I had my lower body lift I had to have a few hernia's repaired too- and I was pretty careful....... So my advice is  try and stay quiet - do lots of walking and very little lifting....... walking will not give you a hernia - overwalking will tire you and your stomach muscles out........ REST! :-) Jackie

Jackie  THANK YOU so much.  It is good to know that lots of walking is .. well ok but not going to cause the herneia. I am being good about lifting and bending over too much.  I am in my recliner watching ratitouille and in my favorite slippers and robe... so today is a quite day. I can finish the other things up tomorrow. I guess the good thing too on my side is that I did have it laproscopically and not open. But none the less I had major surgery and I can't take that for granted... I can be a bit stubborn can you tell?  

Many of us wanted to run before we could walk but please just listen to your body - if it is hurting you a little it is telling you it has had enough and needs to rest........ your body will thank you!  You will be fit soon enough and I can tell there will be no holding you back!! Jackie

Amanda I wanted to add I also had open RNY as well and my general ruke was what Jackie has said above. I had a Panniculectomy back in Aug. and had alot of skin removed from my lower belly because of course I started out at a higher weight than most here so I had a huge apron that they removed at this time they didnt find any hereias, but even after this surgerys I was warned about the lifting rules for a while, and even now Im still careful because I can tell when to much is enough. And they said I could still get one. So as Jackie said becareful and listen to the DR's and your body. Its tough at this time of the year to relax and rest but  take a hour out from time to time for you. Happy Holidays. And be safe... 

Thank you Dahling!! I'll follow the Dr's and VA OH'ers orders

BTW Dahling I love the new pic of you!!!

Thanks, I got a wild hair stuck and decided to go red and this was the day after it was done, its a mahagony I guess, and its lightend up to be kind of a dark strawberry. Im normally a highlighted blonde and am just about ready to go back... but its been fun being a red head for the fall.

I'm so glad you asked about this!  After two days of being out and about shopping and walking for 3 or more hours each I was feeling the same - tired tummy muscles.  I'm glad to hear that walking is not a cause for hernias.  I have also been careful about lifting.  Although I didn't know that bending would cause a problem.  I think I've been pretty good about that too though.