Recovering from abdominal surgery? These 10 practical recovery tips and must-have items made my healing smoother, more comfortable, and less stressful.
Not long ago I had robotic hernia repair surgery for an umbilical and an incisional hernia. Both traced back to my last pregnancy and C-section more than a decade ago.
The short version? It was a long time coming.
The hernias never caused me any pain, but they were always there… bothersome and clearly not going to heal on their own. My doctor finally said it was time to deal with them, and I’m so glad I did! It feels good to have it behind me and to be on the mend.
Let’s be honest… surgery is never fun (this was my fifth). But if you do have to go through it, having the right things in place can make all the difference. And thankfully, this has been my smoothest recovery yet. (So far… knock on wood!)
So today I’m sharing the things that helped me most, in hopes they’ll make your recovery a little easier, too.
1. Adjustable Bed with Extra Pillows
If I could recommend just one thing for abdominal surgery recovery, it would be an adjustable bed!
I can’t say enough about how helpful mine has been. Being able to sleep at different elevations each night made a huge difference in comfort and, honestly, in how well I rested. (I wish I’d had this when I was having babies, but I’m so thankful to have it now!)
We have a split king, so I can raise my side while my husband stays flat. The best of both worlds!
I also used:
- One pillow tucked behind my back
- Two pillows on either side for support
Once I could sleep on my side, I wedged myself between pillows to keep everything supported and comfortable. (These are hands down my favorite sleeping pillows.)
If a new bed isn’t in the budget, wedge pillows are a great alternative and still give you that elevated support.
All About Our Adjustable Bed
We first got our adjustable bed because I was waking up several times a night from my husband moving around… and I thought it might be an easy fix to help us both sleep better. It turns out it’s also been an absolute gift for recovery during this season of life!
2. MediSafe App
When I got home from the hospital, I had 4–5 medications to take at different times of day… and there was no way I could keep track of them on my own.
A medication tracking app was a lifesaver.
It reminded me when to take everything and even flagged potential interactions, which gave me so much peace of mind.
3. Stretchy, Comfortable Clothes
Let’s just say anything with a tight waistband is not your friend after abdominal surgery.
I lived in:
- Stretchy lounge pants
- Leggings
- Flowy tops
- Slip-on shoes
But I also wanted to feel a little more “put together” when I was out and about. A few pairs of soft, stretchy pants that looked nice but felt like pajamas were perfect.
Bonus: I’ll be wearing them all summer long as easy swim cover-ups!
4. Abdominal Binder (Supportive Band)
Oh my goodness! This was a total game changer.
The hospital sent me home with an abdominal binder, and I wore it almost nonstop (except for showers). It helps everything feel supported and makes moving around so much more comfortable.
I started wearing a soft tank top underneath to prevent irritation, and that helped a lot. Looking back, I really wish I’d had one of these after my previous surgeries!
NOTE: This is the exact abdominal binder the hospital gave me. I love the turned-down corners. It’s very comfortable and easy to use. I bought one before surgery, but I didn’t like it as much as the one from the hospital.
5. Ice Packs
Simple, but so effective.
Whenever I felt swollen or tender, I placed a large ice pack across my abdomen. It helped calm inflammation and brought so much relief.
This is one of those things that’s great to have on hand before surgery. You’ll definitely use it! This ice pack was left over from my husband’s hip replacement, but it was the perfect size to cover my whole abdomen. It’s a great thing to keep in your arsenal for any post-surgery help!
By the way, my large nightstands with the lip around the edge were so nice to have when I piled all my essentials right next to me in bed.
6. A Grabber Tool
You don’t realize how often you bend down… until you can’t.
This little tool came in so handy for picking things up off the floor without straining my core. It’s one of those small things that makes everyday life so much easier during recovery.
I had to be extra careful not to drop things, because I didn’t want to pick them up. But when I did, I was glad to have this grabber tool to make it easier on me.
7. Raised Toilet Seat with Handles
This isn’t the most glamorous topic, but it’s very practical. It was another item we had left over from my husband’s surgery two years ago, and I’m so glad we kept it!
Getting up and down can be tough those first few days, and this made it so much easier (and safer). I’d call it a “nice to have” rather than a must, but if you can swing it, it’s incredibly helpful early on.
I love this particular raised toilet seat with handles because it fits right on top of the existing seat and has handles to help push yourself up from sitting.
8. Freezer Meals (Such a Blessing!)
If you don’t have a meal train lined up, prepping ahead is the next best thing. I’m so thankful I did this for my family! Before surgery, I bought two weeks’ worth of groceries and stocked the freezer with meals for the first week or so.
A few ideas that worked well:
- Freezer dinners (Baked Ziti, Chicken Pot Pie & Beef Enchiladas were big hits!)
- Breakfast burritos
- Overnight oats
It took the pressure off completely and made those first few days at home feel so much more manageable.
9. Laptop Pillow
This was perfect for working from bed without putting pressure on my abdomen. I know not everyone is self-employed and needs to work during recovery, but a laptop pillow is a nice luxury for anyone who wants to work from bed or the sofa!
Even if you’re not working during recovery, it’s great for:
- Reading
- Watching shows
- Being on your laptop comfortably
Just one of those little comforts that makes a big difference.
10. Hot Tea (Trust Me on This One)
Okay, friend… we’re going there. If you’ve ever had surgery, you know things can get a little… slow… afterward.
A friend suggested hot tea with Miralax, and let me tell you, it worked within a couple of hours. If you’re uncomfortable at all in this area, you’ll be so glad to have this on hand.
Honorable Mentions
- Stay Hydrated: Don’t underestimate this one. Keeping a water bottle nearby and sipping through the day helps with healing, energy and digestion! It’s simple, but so important.
- Line up Entertainment: This may seem a little obvious, but I saved a TV show to watch during recovery, and it kept me entertained while lying still for a few days. I hate sitting still, so it really helped. (I watched the latest season of Virgin River, and loved it!)
A Little Encouragement and Final Thoughts
If you’re heading into surgery (or recovering right now), I just want to say, you’ve got this! Keep going and take good care of yourself.
Prepare what you can, give yourself plenty of grace, and don’t rush the process. Healing takes time, but having a few simple things in place can make it feel much more manageable. I’m so glad I already had so many great tools on hand this time.
And honestly? This experience reminded me how important it is to look after our bodies well… and to accept help when we need it.
If you’ve had surgery before, I’d love to hear: what helped you most during recovery?
Let’s share ideas and help each other out! xo, Laura
