What can you do so interanl stitches dont break? no lying on side? bending? lifting? make certain no solids so you dont vomit? dont eat big amounts at once?

I can't say that I have ever worried about that. I am of the opinion that the doctor has done his job and that his sutures will hold unless there are unusual circumstances. You know that your body will heal and fortify those stitches long before they are dissolved.

I wouldn't worry about doing anything except heavy lifting which can cause a hernia.

I did a pre-op group meeting last Friday. The doctor talked about potential problems and how to avoid them---breaking stitches didn't come up.

He did say that you need to get up and move around at least every hour you are awake, and that you need to do deep breathing and coughing to keep the Fluid cleared from your lungs. He said that holding a small pillow over your stomach when you sat up might help with some of the discomfort...using it kind of like a splint.

I would say, given the instructions I received, that breaking the stitches isn't too much of a concern. Like Kansascase says, heavy lifting is the big thing to avoid. (Dang! Can't carry the laundry basket around for a couple of weeks!)

Surgery in 9 days!

Choromom