Recovery and housework

Hi girls, I know it's right to listen to your body but when would be a safe time to continue with housework like hoovering , changing bed linen etc. I can do a few light duties like washing up at the moment. I'm 13 days PO and it's driving me mad. I still feel like I have to be carful. My husband is helping like all the cooking abd keeping it tidy. But it's the little things like cleaning the bath etc that he just don't gave the time for. Should I wait for a certain time to come or is it just when I feel able ? Xxx

Hey Anne, if you still feel like you should be careful...then be careful. At 13 days po your still tender. I was up and running properly really by week 3 (end of) I'm losing count of the wks now but pretty sure I'm either 6 or 7 wks po tomorrow and back to myself completely. I don't even feel like I've had a BA!

My advice is give yourself at least another week, you will know when your up to it xx

Thanks I feel by the end of next week I will be driving as well. I hate relying on other people too. My teenage sons bedroom is a sty!!! Driving me mad xx

Also sometimes when you feel fine it can be easy to over do it because you feel fine but it's all the healing inside that I can't see. I'm so dying to get the Hoover out. Xxx

My nurse tried telling me not to Hoover for 3 months haha. Xx

Lol I'm dying to Hoover as well, I did brush the floor the other day but it's not the same as the Hoover! I've been doing most of the housework but I'm exhausted. I've no choice though, if I could get someone else to do it I would. My hubby works everyday and with 3kids there's a Lot to do but when there at school, I do rest all day.

You need to treat it in the same way as exercise. Something like vacuuming will be the same exertion. I wouldn't start scrubbing until after the surgeons all clear for exercise (normally 6-12wk). The dirt and mess will still be there!

No ironing, no hoovering, no changing the duvet, these all add pressure to your upper body so you should be avoiding those for the recovery period stated by your surgeon. Xx

Ask Santa for a cleaner!

Heeeheeee good idea mammamia. 

I actually asked for one a couple of years ago and voila! Up she popped and I couldn't do without her now. Xx

if not you can get a little robot that hoovers up lol, it looks like the turtle at school (the one that you type in a direction and it went there) x x

ha ha I really want one of those little hooverbots. I will look into that. I have just had double bunion surgery and cannot use feet for 2 week. My house is slowly turning into a mess around me. My other half does help, but its not the same as doing it yourself. And I hate keep asking him to do stuff. Honestly, sometimes they just don't realise how much work we ladies actually do around the house. I am roping in a friend who needs some short-term work to clean my house properly once a week form now until after my BA -its win-win as he gets some much needed cash for xmas and I have found a way to stop the grubbiness spreading!! 

Seriously though Anne, the mess and grub is just going to have to wait as you have spent so much money on your lovely new boobs, you need to do all you can to make sure they heal perfectly. Another few week isn't going to stop the world, although I really do understand how frustrating it is. Anyway..Happy New Christmas Boobs xxx

Just looked at robot hoovers and WOW they are expensive. Best cheapie is £199 but going up to £750!

I will wait for the all clear before overdoing it. Thanks for your advise ladies xxx

I think my husband must have thought that the fairies made my boobs bigger overnight because having an op didn't interrupt my routine at all.

That's lucky. I take it you don't have kids xx

rhy_fach wrote:I think my husband must have thought that the fairies made my boobs bigger overnight because having an op didn't interrupt my routine at all.

I was very much the same, hoovering I waited a few days and I didn't lift anything like a basket of washing, but I was more or less doing everything after day 2. Within reason of course. Consider myself very lucky - my biggest issue in recovery was getting fed up of not being able to do more because I felt so well.

Haha xx

rhy_fach wrote:I was beginning to think I was the only one. Although there is evidently a danger of coming across as being a bit smug, I do think it is important to give all sides of the story.

Before my BA, I did a fair bit of research into likely recovery times, an to be honest, after reading threads on hers and elsewhere, I fully expecting be laid low for weeks. The reality couldn't have been more different. Like kezjb , I was fully functional from day 2. No pain, no strain.

Anyway, back on topic... no, I don't think that there is a certain time you have to wait before doing specific tasks. Everybody is different. Take advice from your surgeon and listen to your body.

From my experience though, I'd leave helping out your hubby with the woodcutting until after week four.

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Hi ladies, 

Wow fully functional from day 2 !! With all 3 of mine I couldn't even lift the kettle for nearly a week! 
Just because you may feel ok to be getting on with household tasks just remember you've just had major surgery, your body will be healing for weeks and months internally. 

Lifting that one thing too heavy or pushing a Hoover around could potentially damage your new boobs or at least hinder your recovery long term. 

Is it worth risking any damage/healing so early on after all that money you've just paid?! 

Cleaning and hoovering can wait, husband/family/friends will always do a few tasks you can't for the first few weeks, and trust me I'm incredibly OCD! 
X

Hi mrsball,

I actually meant to say "I felt fully functional from day 2." I did take it easy for a week. That said, lifting the kettle wasn't a problem from day 1. How big is your kettle?

rhy_fach wrote:Hi mrsball,

I actually meant to say "I felt fully functional from day 2." I did take it easy for a week. That said, lifting the kettle wasn't a problem from day 1. How big is your kettle?

Well when full of water quite heavy. 
I also had unders which when lifting uses the muscles that have just been split. Although overs still just as bad, just no split muscle. 

I'm glad you felt fully functional so early on, but again feeling that and doing it is 2 different matters. Just because you feel it doesn't mean you can/should early post op.

I have to say the whole "recovery" thing is stressing me out slightly, it's not a problem because hubs will be at home for a week, (more if I need him) but I know what I'm like (a control freak ) I've had a few ops before on my stomach area because I have endometriosis, and after those I have just got up and got on with it, however I know it's totally different Having your insides lasered compared to having implants put in your chest, so I'm making a very conscious effort to tell my self I'll be out of full on cleaning/dog walking for at least a week... Out of interest does any one else have a large breed dog ? We've got an 8 month old large breed puppy (she weighs like 33kgs already) how soon will it be before I'm ok to walk her?? ( she is trained well ...however she does get very excitable and jumps around a lot with other dogs she's meets etc)

Nooooo! Large dog walking is strictly forbidden young lady! Its going to be waaaay longer than a week before you can do that, that's classed in with exercise. Check with your surgeon, but if that pup pulls on your pups...owch.

Full on cleaning too. Light dusting or tidying fine, but no scrubbing, vacuuming, mopping, anything with upper body effort for a while, 6-8wks likely.

Charlii wrote:...anything with upper body effort for a while, 6-8wks likely.

Oh dear! I was doing press-ups at four.

With my surgeon's blessing. obviously.