Exercise after surgery

I just had surgery on 7/20/05. I have been up and around my house but not doing any "walking" of any length of time. Should I be walking more? I still have to have hubby dig out the treadmill becasue it is tooooooo hot to be outside. What do you all do for exercise and how often??? How soon after surgery did you start exercising? Thanks a bunch! Lisa

Welcome, Lisa How much walking &/or exercise you do right now depends on how much you can tolerate. If you didn't exercise before surgery start really slowly. I believe at one of the PMRI meetings that Brett (former PA in docs office) said if you've never exercised before, start walking only for 10mins at a time at first. Once you tolerate a level, increase a little at a time. Of course, ask your doc first -- everyone is different. Dianne

I haD MY SURGERY ON THE 13TH. Hubby took me to the mall to walk when it was too hot. Also just doing regular housework helps too. Unloading & loading the dishwasher got the gas moving out very well! All that bending I guess. But you must keep walking. The more you can do the better you will be and the more weight you will loose. Dee

Hi Lisa: I had my surgery on 7/19/05 and I have been trying to do as much walking as possible around the house. I went walking outside on Sunday in the a.m. and the heat about killed me. I was told at PMRI to start at 10 minutes per day at first. Hope all is well. I passed you walking around the nurse station (lol). Kim

Hi Lisa! Congratulations on your surgery! Hope that your recovery is smooth! Your surgeon has the final word on how much exercise you should be getting. Dr. Irgau had me walking as long as I could each day. That started out to be about 15 minutes. It soon grew to 30 minutes (a slow mile). Now I can walk a mile in 17 minutes and I regularly walk 5 miles or more. The more you walk - the better and stronger you'll feel. Is there a YMCA or other inexpensive place you could go to walk indoors? Right now, even a stroll around the mall would be better than nothing. Just things to consider. Good luck! Cassandra Surgery-1/3/05 - down 120 pounds

hello lisa,congrats on your successful surgery and welcome to the losing side.sweetie you do have to go by what your doctor says about exercising,but walking is required everyday and i walk on my treadmill,i started out 5min. 3 times a day and i upped it 2 min every third or forth day.and you got to walk at least 30 to 45 min.i was walking this my second week after surgery.i now walk 20mins and do hand weights,thigh master,crunches.but all this is fine for me and dr.peters gave me the ok at my 1 month check-up.so each person at there own pace,good luck sweetie.how are you doing,great i hope.you need anything just give a yell.your friend bonnie

Thanks everyone! I walked the mall last night w/ hubby. Since it is cooler outside now I plan on walking everyday with my dog (as long as it's cooler). Poor thing has been dying for a walk but it's been too hot for her too! I plan to do some walking everyday whether it is my treadmill(after we get it unburied and hooked up), outside, or in the mall. Thanks again! You all are wonderful! Lisa