Restarting after plastic surgery - afraid it will hurt!

I am 8 weeks out from my LBL and breast lift with augmentation. I did not have any complications.  Yet, after the pain of the LBL, I seem to be very anxious about starting back at the gym.  I work out with my husband, and he is always patient and never pushes, yet I'm not sure he will understand my irrational fear.  The doctor has given me permission to exercise at my own pace, but to expect considerable swelling.  Just returning to work has given me considerable swelling with discomfort.  It is almost as if I am anticipating the after surgery pain from exercising.  Has anyone else gone through this? How have others restarted after the LBL and kept the discomfort and swelling to a minimum.  I was really looking forward to getting back to working out until I got approval. I love going to the gym with my husband, it is quality time that we get to spend together.  I thought I might start out with water aerobics, just to ease back in, but I stil have a small area healing in the incision line so I cannot swim yet. Before surgery, I alternated daily between 15-20 minutes on the elliptical, rower, or recumbent bike and then had three routines with weights working dfferent muscle groups that I rotated as well. We did abdominal exercises daily.  I would appreciate any advice on starting back after plastic surgery, my abdominal muscles are extremely weak and sensitive.  Has anyone else gone through this crazy pre-exercise jitters?   Thanks, Sharon rny 1/16/06 253/151/135 lbl/bl, ba 12/22/06 size 22/size6/size4

Hi Sharon, I've had several rounds of PS and understand your fear of pain and swelling.  I had these fears but I was also eager to get back to exercising.  (That in itself was amazing, the former couch potato missed exercising---an awesome thing!) Start slowly and monitor your swelling.  Wear your compression garment.   If you're worried about pain take an over-the-counter pain reliever such as Tylenol.  Let your body gradually readjust to exercise.  Please don't keep putting it off, the longer you wait, the harder it will be to get back into the habit. Your body needs to move and you are far enough out that it won't hurt you.  Don't let your fears paralyze you.  To quote a phrase---just do it. Hugs, Connie