Question on bouncing back 9 days post op lap rny Dr. Bell

My body is killing me. I had such a bad night. Today I am 9 days post op. I was feeling really good yesterday and I wanted to move around some more. So I did some cooking for my family, poor things havent had a decent meal in weeks. I went downstairs, got some items from the pantry, and did some bending and stooping a little to get pots etc. I had my son do the lifting of a pot for water to boil spaghetti. I tried to be careful. But starting last night,all of my muscles in my torso started to give me sharp pains. and today when I breathe Its like these sharp poking pains. under my collar bone and my rib area, my back. I dont know how to gauge it. Shouldnt I be able to this type of stuff by now, or am I pushing it. I dont understand. Were many of you still in the sleeping stage at this point. I thought by now I would be exercising and have been chastising myself for being afraid to get on the treadmill. but if light cooking did me in, what will the treadmill do to me. Many of you are younger than me. so all you 45 year old post ops out there, how long did it take you to start bouncing back?

Lauren- first off- try not to be too hard on yourself- OK? There was NO way I was cooking at 9 days post op. So...maybe you're just not ready. I was still napping half the day right up until I went back to work at 14 days PO (1/2 days), which was a FAST return to work. I do believe that you should be walking on your treadmill by now. I did that starting day 4 post op. Take it slow and just do 5 to 10 minutes to start. The more you're active, the better you'll feel in the long run. Besides it's good to get your lungs working a bit. Are you wearing a binder? That could help you a bit. Watch the bending and stretching and lifting...but DO walk. best wishes to you, lisa C

Hi Lauren, when I was about 6 days post-op, I decided I felt good enough to do some light housework. Things like picking up my daughter's clothes off the floor, sweeping, etc... I did too much even though at the time it didn't feel like too much, and I ended up with what sounds like the same pain you have. I called the doc and they told me to take it easy for a day or so. They did MAJOR work inside there and it takes a while to heal. I did take it easy and it went away within a day or so. I think you probably could do the treadmill, but what does your doctor say? I was not supposed to exercise for 3 weeks. I didn't exercise for waaaaay longer than that, but that is because of my aversion to exercise.. Take it slow! Anne

Lauren, You know me that I walk alot after surgery at hospital and at home too .I feel good BUT I did not cook for my hubby and my kids for 2 weeks and my house was messy!!!I cannot do housework because of lifting or bending down. The kids and my hubby are trying their best with their own ways. Of course they use alot of take out foods Honey, Remember you had a major surgery and it needs time to heal your pouch. Take Lisa s advice about walking for 5 min or ten min. I am sure it will help you feel little better. I started to excercise on five days post op for ten min or less and listen what my body tells me stop! Hugs Kathy

Lauren, Everyone is different. Some people bounce back easy, some take a bit longer. It may depend not just on your age, but how active you were before surgery. I was 43 when I had the surgery 10 weeks ago, and pretty active for my weight. I was doing some vaccuming and stuff not until the end of about three weeks. This includes cooking. I wouldn't bother with cooking until you can actually eat something. I would get on the treadmill a bit though, the sooner you start exercising, the sooner you will be back to your normal routine. But don't overdue it. Get up, exercise, and then take a nap in the afternoon. Anne is right, you just had major surgery. Pam

Hi there, I Just hit 14 days out from lap RNY....I have had good days and bad days...I have walked outside everyday since surgery and I know that has helped...but there were a couple of days that I got up and felt "normal" and acted "normal" for a few hours..cleaning and once taking a tub bath and really ******g off my tummy muscles gettin out of the tub...My left side is STILL sore....I know you had Lap also..but let's face it..our stomach muscles have gone through a LOT and we had major surgery...stooping and bending at certain angles have sent my stomach muscles into spasms that made me see stars and had me taking pain meds at night at bedtime again. So ..if I overdo..I will pay for a couple of days. Being obese..i did not have good abdominal muscle tone to begin with...and where the Doc put the camera through on the left..oh WOWEE. I also had problems with fluid retention and slow loss..but that has resolved and I am down 15 pounds!!! My pouch is no longer numb either...(so thanks Dr. Tishler! Ya done good!). When I walk..I walk at a slow pace..a comfortable pace and have been building gradually..it has been over 32 degrees and I have headed for beautiful parks..the fresh air has done me good...I am driving now... Oh..and the first time I did that I was having a "good day" and I went to the grocery store, put bags in the back of the car..and then could not bend and twist to get IN the car..muscles had enough...of course I eventually made it. I am single and independenrt and I did not have anyone to help me with day to day things that must go on...that has turned out to be AOK... Lap RNY can be a fool's paradise..the fact is that I am 50 years old and I have to move in steps right now..not leaps and bounds. Hope you feel better, Sher'

PS..I am a side sleeper..and the day I can sleep on my left side again..I know I will have ARRIVED!!! Thank God I can sleep on the right and on my back propped with pillows.... Sher'

Hi Lauren, Well first of all you are not old..... so that is no excuse!!!! Seriously though, as others have said, get moving girl friend. The more you move around the more energy etc. you will have. When I first read your post my thought was that those pains sure sound like gas moving around to me. You will have alot of gas for awhile that needs to be released from your body and the only way to really do that is to walk and move. Don't over do it but get moving. I was 51 when I had my surgery last year and was out side walking around my hilly neighborhood at about day 5. Each day I increased the distance a bit more. I moved on to the Walk Away the Pounds tapes when it got too cold out there and then joined the gym when it openned with a pool. what ever it takes. Your energy will return tenfold. Good luck with your journey and from what I hear from several friends is that Peapod is the bomb!!! Linda

Thanks for the advice all. Ok, I have been on the treadmill, doing a little everyday. I will increase. I was worried I was doing too much, not too little. I want to feel better. People say nap, but I cant nap during the day. I just cant sleep during the day. I start to get real tired about 5pm, but then its too late to sleep then, so I hang in there until 10pm, so I can sleep thru the night. My sleep apnea is going a way I think. Im waking up feeling more like a human. I have lost 18lbs so far. Can anyone advise me as to how much walking I should do right now, and give me quidelines of how much to increase and when. Ladies I have never exercised. thats why Im fat, I need to be taught what is the best way to do it. Right now Im doing just about 10 mins on the treadmill and I stop. Should I increase by 5mins a day? thanks for the pointers.

For what it is worth..My doc says to work up to a solid hour a day...he does not care about the distance,,he just cares about the time spent in the activity. Sher'