I went to my pre-op visit yesterday. They gave me an incentive spirometer. I have to take 10 breaths per hour up until surgery. Supposed to help with healing and avoiding pneumonia. Anybody else get one before surgery?

Yup I use my still & I'm 2 days post surgery :-)

I've never heard of using the spirometer before surgery but I guess it makes sense to prepare. After surgery I really didn't like the thing but I guess we all can say that after being under anesthesia and trying to rest to recoop. After all, this is the thing everyone is reminded to do 10 times per hour up until we're able to give that BIG cough after surgery showing our lungs are clear. When I had my surgery in September, 2012, the respritory therapist repeatedly came in to remind me to use it then the last time I remember breathing into it I coughed real hard and the respritory therapist turned and smiled at me and said "That's what I needed to hear. You let us know if there is anything you need." After that I never was visited by another respritory therapist during my two night/three day stay following surgery.

Good luck to you both.

Yep. I had one to use after surgery. I would definitely use it! It's easy now, but hard after!

I forgot mine at the hospital. Oops... I didn't realize that we could take it with us, I honestly forgot all about it when packing to leave the hospital.

I got mine in the hospital, but honestly have not used it.

I didn't get the spirometer but did anyone else get the portable leg compressors to prevent blood clots to take home before surgery so that when you go home from hospital you put them on to prevent blood clots?

they resemble the wrists blood pressure cuffs they have now.. and they go on the back of your calves..

I had them put on me after surgery, they were attached to the bed, but I didn't like those either. Lol, it was hard enough getting out of bed without trying to wrestle the leg compressors off too. After almost wetting myself a few times because I was moving too slow I just left them off.

They gave me multiple shots of heparin though and those I didn't say no to.

I got one too and I'm supposed to use it after surgery. I totally forgot I had it until I read this post!!! Now I forget how long I'm supposed to use it.