ANA Discussion Forum
General Category => AN Issues => Topic started by: bdsgurl on February 19, 2009, 09:03:49 pm
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hello all,
i went to the dr today and had my stitches removed, everything checked out great and they told me the only limitation i have now is no heavy lifting..so thats all good news! i have one question though, i have a 20 lb baby, i know i cant lift her out of bed, seat, floor, but can i hold her if someone hands her to me, like carry her around as long as im not using my arms to lift her up? Im not sure if its the same thing, but i was confused when they said just no lifting up and down as opposed to carrying/holding. Can you help me? i feel totally strong enough to carry her, i walk around on my my own, have been doing really well, but dont want to put myself in any jeapordy either. Thank you all,
annalisa
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Annalisa~
I think I would call the Dr. on this one...rather be safe than sorry. Heaven forbid, but what if you did stumble or something and then you would do EVERYTHING you could to protect her and then you might strain...I don't know, just a thought...maybe someone else can chime in. If not, call!
K
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I agree with Kaybo.......to call the doctor on this one.
My first thought was if someone would hand you the baby, you could hold her ONLY if you were sitting down......b/c like she said, you could fall if you were walking around.
Lacey
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I agree as well. I didn't lift or carry my son. I sat down and then he either crawled onto my lap, or someone put him there. I was a little wobbly anyhow. Best of luck.
-Amy
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for how long did you just have him handed to you? the first month? thats what ive been doing, maybe i should stick to that just to be safe!!
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Hi,
I was told no lifting at all the first month. Between 1-3 months, listen to your body. After 3 months, no restrictions at all.
Best regards, Kenneth
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I was told no more than 10 pounds for 12 weeks.
Fortunately my kids are in their 20's, so lifing children wasn't an issue.
Samantha.
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for how long did you just have him handed to you? the first month? thats what ive been doing, maybe i should stick to that just to be safe!!
I was told for 4 weeks. You definitely would want to ask your docs since it seems they all differ.
Amy :)
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Hi,
I just emailed my doctor to see when my restrictions can be lifted. He told me at the 4 week mark which is this Monday!
Jen
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I agree with Kaybo.......to call the doctor on this one.
My first thought was if someone would hand you the baby, you could hold her ONLY if you were sitting down......b/c like she said, you could fall if you were walking around.
Lacey
That's what I did. I would sit and someone would hand her to me. I didn't try carrying her around until I was closer to the 1 month mark (probably about 3 weeks out).
Vonda
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I had no limitations but used common sense. Call the doc and follow your instincts. I hope you are doing well.
Best,
Marci
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Hi Annalisa...
Not sure how long since your surgery... i am guessing 2 weeks if you just got out stitches.
I am in Toronto Canada and i was not told about ANY limitations after surgery... but i tried to go (roughly) with things i had ready here. I have a nearly 2 year old, who was 1 year 3 months after my surgery, i think she was over 20lbs. I avoided lifting her altogether for a good two weeks, but did have her put in my lap. I think by about 3 weeks the urge/need to lift her was overwhelming... and i did... carefully. I tried to bend a bit at the knees and put my left hand underneath her crotch and my right arm around her shoulders. it did not feel like i had to bend much, and i easily managed, no worries.
that's just my experience.
good luck!
trish
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Hi All,
I thought I'd bring up this thread again. My husband keeps pressuring me to lift our 30lb son. I told him I know I CAN lift him, but the doc said 2 more months. I am just now 3.5 weeks post-op & doing incredibly well. Driving short distances regularly, no balance, walking or double-vision issues, even thinking about horseback riding again. Sometimes I think because I'm doing incredibly well, my dear hubby forgets that I just had major brain surgery. Anyone else out there w/the same partner situation?
Is the lifting issue a potential CFS leakage issue? or because of balance, double-vision etc? It seems like everyone has had different time limitations, so I'm very confused & dying to be able to lift our son.
By the way, he's been adjusting to the "too heavy" for mommy thing. Of course, he's a little monkey :)
Carolyn
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Are the restrictions put on to prevent a CSF leak? I am curious too. How many weeks post op can we hope to be past that hurdle? I was told no straining what-so-ever for 4 weeks.
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As far as I know, the restriction is to prevent any kind of damage to the healing incision...including those that lead to CSF leaks. I would , from unfortunate experience, warn everyone to avoid leaks if at all possible. I'm sure they happen sometimes no matter what precautions you might take. My recovery would have been picture perfect if it weren't for the leak and subsequent meningitis! I have no idea if I caused the leak or nor. I was feeling pretty darn good, and may have picked up something heavy or strained in some way. The result was a lot of pain, a second hospital stay, and a PICC ine for 2 weeks. Better to be overly cautious, IMO! :-\
Priscilla
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Priscilla - How many weeks post op were you when you got your leak? How did you know? And how long til the meningitis set in?
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My leak was contained at the incision site, in the form of a big goose egg. It showed up about 4-5 weeks after the surgery. The meningitis set in about two weeks after that, with major, migraine like headaches. Then the usual meningitis symptoms started up. It was diagnosed w/a lumbar puncture and I was hospitalized for 4 days, then two weeks on home IV therapy. The spinal tap reduced the pressure in my head and the leak eventually healed. I'm really feeling good now, w/only a few minor headaches/neck issues every now and then. I went back to teaching full time and finished out the school year with my class, and that made me very happy. :) :)
Priscilla
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Something else that probably needs to be noted is that when all this took place I turned 60, so my healing was more than likely slower than a lot of you young whippersnappers will experience! :D
Priscilla
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Hello Ladies,
I agree with Priscilla, "Better to be overly cautious".
Scarlett just pasted 12 weeks as a postie. We went to her second VPT yesterday at MGH in Boston. She told the therapist of the pressure and aches that she has in her AN ear and incision area. The therapist told us that even though the scar looks to be healing very nicely, there is still a lot of healing going on inside.
When Scarlett was in ICU the nurse told her "slow and steady wins the race". We have recited that phrase over and over, and so far (knock on wood) she is doing very well. She does some light exercising, walking on the treadmill, and stuff around the house, but I won't let her lift anything close to heavy. It's just not worth it! Like the rest of you, she has been through too much crap, to risk a set back.
Carolyn, you said "he's been adjusting to the "too heavy" for mommy thing", please listen to your intuition, 30 pounds is alot! Do you really want to chance it?
Just my two cents!
Continued healing to all of you,
Rich
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Carolyn ~
Your situation is, as previous posts indicate, quite common. I would follow your doctor's instructions regarding lifting restrictions and I would cite Priscilla's ('msmaggie') experience as basis for that opinion. Doctors don't impose lifting restrictions and precise time-frames for no good reason. I was pretty scrupulous about the lifting restrictions, post-op, but even some months later, when I attempted to lift an item that was 40 pounds or so, I could feel the strain at my incision site. I quickly put down the item and asked my adult son to lift it, instead. Even now, 3 years post-op and fully healed, I avoid lifting anything over 50 pounds.
As compelling as the natural urge to lift your child may be, it really isn't worth the risk. Once healed, you'll have plenty of opportunity to lift him to your heart's content. As for your husband, he's probably very relieved that you're doing so incredibly well and just wants to see everything (mostly, you) be 'back to normal'. Perhaps a quiet talk that acknowledges his feelings but also points out the reality of your surgery and that you can't just ignore the doctor's instructions with no fear of negative consequences, might be a good idea. If you do this, be sure to emphasize that it's temporary - and that you'll be lifting your son again in a few months. You might add that if your little boy understands, daddy should too....or try, anyway. :)
Jim
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Please please please listen to you doctor on this one! I tired to use my own judgement and ended up with a CSF leak. Its not worth it. Please don't try to do too much. The time will go by quicker than you think..
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HHmmm....this thread has me worried about my thoughts of paddling in the CCBC on August 15th. I'll be 2 months post-op. I may have to base my decision on the conditions that day.
This brings up a thought though. What may be heavy for some would be lightweight for me (not bragging, just genetics). While the paddle isn't easy, it isn't the same thing as lifting heavy weight. I've had differing responses from the docs. Going to have to look into it more.
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Stoneax~
I would go out & really look at every aspect - even resistance of water from various angles. When I was ging birth 2, 6 & 7 YEARS AFTER my surgery, the Dr. (OB-GYN) was still a bit concerned about the pushing & straining of giving birth. Of course, that is VERY intense, full bodied straining...I had EXTREMELY easy births (2 pushes w/ the FIRST! & by the 3rd, she just slipped out), but they were still prepared none the less w/ the forcepts and consideration of C-section! DEFINITELY talk to your Dr. about that!
K ;D
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Bob,
I'm sure your body and your docs will work together to tell you what you can and can't do by the time August rolls around.
It will be time to take a deep breath and just let nature take its course post op.
Slow and easy, no rushing. If you race, you race,
if you don't, you'll be there to cheer em on! One way or another you will be there.
Like people said, don't want to push yourself. There are other races, but only one Bob!
But we'll cross that bridge when we get there. ;)
Maureen
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Thanks for all your posts and encouragement everyone.
I will definitely still take it easy. Just the thought of a leak and a few more days in the hospital is enough to keep me takin' it easy. I already had one leak post-op in the hospital. My doc did say to start trying to push myself, cardio-wise, but no weights. I guess my excuse for not going to the gym should be nullified!
OK, Stoneaxe...you look big & burly in your pic, but I know from my windsurfing days that those boards are not light. At least think about someone helping to carry it for you!
Carolyn
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I do daycare and I'm constantly lifting children up to 45 lbs. My doctor said absolutely no lifting anything heavier than my purse for the first 6 weeks. Then I could lift up to 25lbs. until 10 weeks. After that I had no restrictions. I do know when I pushed it I got really bad headaches. It's not worth over-doing.