You will have been in surgery for some considerable time and so breathing and circulation exercises are important to keep your lungs clear, and reduce your risk of developing complications such as a chest infection or blood clots.

Practice breathing exercises

Relax your shoulders. Take 3-4 slow deep breaths in through your nose to fill your lungs as much as possible. If able, hold your breath for a couple of seconds and then try to sniff a bit more air in, before you then breathe out.

Supported cough: If you need to cough or sneeze, try to hold a pillow firmly over your stomach to support the wound. You can also try opening your mouth and forcing the air out hard, as if you are steaming up a mirror. This helps to bring any phlegm to the back of your throat. Don’t be scared to cough to clear any phlegm, you will not harm your wound.

You can start the breathing exercises as soon as you wake up. Try to practice every hour for the first 5 days or until you are up and walking regularly.

Circulation

As with the breathing exercises, it is vital you practice ankle exercises regularly. This helps to keep your circulation moving while you are more immobile and reduces the risk of a blood clots. This is until you are up and about and walking regularly. Remember also not to sit or lie with your legs crossed.

Practice paddling your feet up and down and circling from the ankle every hour 5 times.