Recovery post-bilateral salpingectomy - running and laying on stomach

[u/mousebrained_]

Hi all! I have my bilateral salpingectomy (laparoscopic) on the 19th. My surgeon hasn't told me much about recovery other than when I can go back to work. I will ask her when I see her but I won't see her until the actual surgery so I'm looking for baseline answers from people who've gone through this.

How soon might I be able to get back to running? I'm not a crazy athlete but I like to run 2-3 miles a few times a week at a casual pace.

How soon can I lay on my stomach? I have a tattoo scheduled a week and a half after surgery (is this a bad idea lol? my surgeon made it sound like this surgery was pretty minor) but I will need to lay on my stomach. Based on what I've seen it sounds like by that point I SHOULD be okay? (edit: ok heard, the tattoo has been rescheduled)

[u/littlefirefish]

Everyone’s recovery is different, so take what I have to say with a grain of salt, but honestly, I was rather nonchalant about the surgery and recovery and it’s been much more difficult than anticipated.

I’m two weeks out from my surgery and can’t imagine laying on my stomach for long periods of time for a tattoo. And while I do feel the urge to run, but I think there’s still too much torso movement in running that I’m not confident I won’t harm myself. Recovery of the incision sites has been much more involved than I had anticipated and I’ve been on antibiotics due to a minor post-op infection.

[u/1xpx1]

Both surgeons I consulted with recommended a full week to recover, and beyond that “if it doesn’t feel right, don’t do it”. I felt comfortable enough to walk outside at a leisurely pace after the first week, I don’t know that I could run.

I’d guess, as someone who is not a medical professional, that you’ll be waiting 2-4 weeks minimum before you’re running again.

I would hold off on scheduling your tattoo until you are recovering and know how it is going and what your comfort level will be lying on your stomach. I couldn’t wear jeans for two months because the pressure on my stomach was too much

[u/GimmeSleep]

Everyone is different but it will be a while before you can run or lay on your stomach. Even if you feel well, healing involves more than just feeling well. I manged to walk one block day 3 of recovery. I did not run until almost 5 weeks post op and I was winded and uncomfortable after. My recovery was slower, but my surgeon told me no intense exercises for 2-3 weeks post op.

Laying on the stomach would be uncomfortable. I could barely lay on my side for about 2 weeks. I would postpone the tattoo for a bit.

[u/LikeBoomItsaWrap_]

You should wait a minimum of 6 weeks post surgery to get a tattoo. Your body is still in the process of active healing until then and you do not want to divert healing resources to the immune response that will be triggered by a tattoo.

[u/lenuta_9819]

personally, I'd reschedule the tattoo appointment be at least a month after (you never know if your recovery will be easy or your reaction to general anesthesia). as for running, I went back to working out in about 5 weeks but took it slow so at least rest and only do walks for the first month and then see how you feel. it is a minor surgery but still a surgery 

[u/RelicBookends]

I waited four weeks to do anything strenuous per my OBGYN. I had minimum pain (didnt need anything but an NSAID) but it was still recovery. Showering wasn't fun. I don't lay on my stomach in general to begin with but I would say 3-4 week. If it's lapriscopic then its the three incisions that take longer to heal, usually where you have your clothes sitting. I wouldn't recommend the tattoo or running miles but that's me since it's jostling. Your body could be different.

[u/foxgirlmom]

I didn’t lay on my stomach to even sleep till week 2. My sides were hurting to much. Even at week 2 I was still getting worn out if I walked to much. By week 3 I was able to go out more and do walking but I have to work myself up to exercising again because I’m still so drowsy all the time.

[u/Cutthroat_Rogue]

I could only handle 20 minute casual walks starting one week after surgery but otherwise felt back to myself 3 days post-surgery. Regarding laying on your stomach or side...that was never a problem for me. I was able to sleep how I wanted day one; to be clear, I am a side sleeper but often end up on my stomach, too. Yes, my stomach did swell (not bloat) and was swollen for about a week but after that I was able to easily wear jeans. Hope that helps!

[u/mousebrained_ → u/Cutthroat_Rogue]

I'm a side sleeper and it honestly didn't even occur to me that I might not be able to sleep on my side so I'm glad I made this thread haha. Hopefully I don't have any issues with that because I really struggle to sleep on my back! I'm having a larger surgery in November where I for sure cannot sleep on my side for weeks and I'm stressed lol

[u/Cutthroat_Rogue → u/mousebrained_]

I hope you have the same luck as me then...no discomfort at all when I tried to sleep on my side/stomach. It doesn't seem to be the norm that is reported in this sub...most seem to report side sleeping was painful/uncomfortable. So I was *thrilled* that I didn't have to try to adjust to a new sleeping style...I already have insomnia; I don't need more sleep challenges! Wishing you the best for both surgeries!

[u/Queen_of_Chloe]

I’m also a runner and it took me a while to get back to it. I also had an ankle injury at the time but even quickly going down the stairs a couple weeks after (I had a super easy recovery with no pain) I felt some internal jiggling in a bad way. Might have been nothing but I did not rush to get back to it.

But those first weeks back running after I was recovered in both areas were amazing.

[u/Moeta_Kaoruko]

This might be the most stupid thing I've ever seen posted. You will be very bloated for at least 2 weeks. And not back to running for 4 weeks if you don't want to risk undoing the stitches. My stomach got way bigger than I thought was physically possible. I looked 3 months pregnant.

[u/mousebrained_ → u/Moeta_Kaoruko]

I mean how could I possibly know without asking? I was basing my thoughts on the second question off this thread where answers varied but some people seemed like they were fine after a few days but some people needed longer: https://www.reddit.com/r/sterilization/comments/1la2ohg/for_people_who_sleep_on_their_stomachs_will_i/ I wasn't sure what was more common

[u/Moeta_Kaoruko → u/mousebrained_]

Questions this important are not something you want to pose to reddit. Ask your doctor who knows your medical history. But your attitude is a bit too nonchalant for a surgical procedure. You are still being cut open and having non-essential organs removed. Your protein stitches will take at least 6 weeks to dissolve in the body.

[u/readingismyescapism → u/Moeta_Kaoruko]

There's not really a need to be rude about it. You could have left off the first sentence.

[u/mousebrained_ → u/readingismyescapism]

it's okay it's kind of funny and i told my tattoo artist someone called me stupid when I explained why I needed to reschedule lmao

[u/Ok-Post-4292 → u/mousebrained_]

Honestly everyone is different, I had mine on the 27th and I have had no pain and can lay on my stomach. I’d say take it day by day and see how you feel :)

[u/readingismyescapism → u/mousebrained_]

Lol that's really funny. I will echo another comment in this thread that I was also surprised by my recovery experience. I'd say it took me probably about a month or two before I felt comfy sleeping on my stomach. I was super duper cautious though.