Question on Post Op Exercise

Good Morning! I know the importance of walking is stressed to us and I plan on doing that as much as possible after surgery. How about aerobic activity or other forms of exercise? I honestly have no idea how I will feel 1 week after surgery and if I would even want to attempt doing a "work out". See, a friend is coming to stay with us a couple of days the weekend of the 16th and already she is going on saying how she is going to get me off the couch and working out with her. All I could think was "ouch! will I really be healed enough to do full blown exercise?" What do you all think?

No way! I still have a G-tube and it hurts like fire if it's pulled or tugged and there's NO way I want to sweat like a pig and get that tender area wet with sweat!! I take my shower daily, of course, but then I towel dry that area and try to keep it clean and dry the rest of the day. I do walk quite a bit, but I am personally NOT ready for aerobic sweating exercises yet. When my G-tube comes out, that will definitely be a different story, however. Oh, and at one week out, walking was definitely enough for me! This is major surgery and your stomach muscles are very sore and I just don't think you need this. However, I would ask my surgeon. Jan

Was yours open or lap?

One week out,MMMMMMM just walk, forget the heavy work out. You will have time for that as your tummy heals. Best I could do was walk around inside the house.

My surgery was lap, but my stomach muscles still hurt one week out. I agree with Marla that you will see that a heavy workout is pretty much out of the question. If you're asking because I have a G-tube, my surgeon is extremely careful and cautious and he's found that he can nip problems in the bud if his patients have a G-tube for a while post-op. He always stresses that it could save my life, so who am I to argue. Jan

I agree....walking is about all you will be able to handle. Remember, it is major surgery.

I know and it seems that people in my life (the non-important ones) think that after a week I will be down 50 pounds and running around like an idiot. They don't seem to get it! It almost seems that people view elective surgery (which although we need it, it's elective) as something that is easy to get over and because we are choosing to do this, it should be easy for us. I feel like saying "Hey, a boob job is elective and you don't see those women running around like fiends the first week!"

Marcie- Tell your friend your need emtional help not physical at this time. Does she understand that you had major surgery. Besides you have to be cleared by your dr to do heavy work outs not somebody who thinks they know it all. Just my opinion! Jenny 295/263/165

I had lap rny and I'm 4 weeks out today. After a week or so I felt fabulous and thought I'd try a walk around the block....BAD idea. I became so weak and tired! Remember that with lap surgery, you only have a few small incisions on the outside that heal somewhat quickly, but INSIDE you have major incisions that will need time to heal. Tell your 'friend' that you will have to be cleared by the surgeon before you exercise! Laura in Tallahassee

1 week out, walking only! Save the aerobics and jazzercise for after you have healed, say six weeks out. steve