How long does it take for exercise to work (estimate)?

Just curious about how long it takes for exercise to kick in to loose the excess skin under the arms and in the stomach.  Since I have surgery next week (July 17) and it is at the VA Hospital - I know they will not help with tightening the skin down the line.   Also, I am having the open surgery, just curious if anyone knows about how long after surgery before you can start exercising.  Also, anyone with open surgery how long does the pain last.  I know I'll get pain meds but I am a big baby when it comes to pain... Mike

1. No amount of exercise has taken care of all of my loose skin. I look a bit like a deflated balloon. I understand that it will continue to draw up some, but I feel PS is in my future for belly, arms, legs, chest. Your mileage may vary.

2. My Doc told me to start walking immediately. Asked me to wait 6 weeks before I hit the weights. I complied.

3. Pain wasn't too bad for me with open. Had to get used to standing straight again. Lots of strain on the ol' abdomen. Had my surgery on Tuesday and was off my pain meds by Friday. Really messed up my dreams. Didn't want that to continue.

Godspeed on your surgery next Tuesday Mike. It's been all worth it for me. Only regret is I didn't get the surgery 10 years ago.

-Dan

Thanks Dan    i appreciate your comments.   I didn't think about standing straight...  Oh well, maybe I won't cry too much ...  I hate pain.  I have my surgery on Tuesday and will be discharge (without complications) on Friday.  Hope I follow in your foot steps and get off meds by Friday... Mike

Mike, Non-problems unless your doctor ignores you totally. Loose Skin - It probably took 4-6 weeks for mre to admit to myself I was getting smaller.  I had to see the pictures beside each other  and stare a bit to concvinve myself I was smaller.  The waistline of the pants did more for me than the numbers on the scales the first 4 months.  It seems one happens and then the other.  They alternate as the body shifts gears and adjusts o the new plumbing, diet, and activity. Open RNY Pain Management - They had me hooked up to an epidural immediately after surgery.  I came too in Recovery in pain.  Stated such and in 10 minutes was very comfortable.  Life was sweet until my Blood pressure took a drop the 2nd day and they took me off the epidural and put me on the morphine self-regulated plunger.  The morphine made me drowsy but I still hurt.  And the Percocet they sent me home with was like eating M&Ms; useless.  I got more relief from acetominaphen.  After 5 days home I had a kidney stop and went back to the ER.  They surgeon saw me and I spent 5 more days on heavy antiobiotics which fixed the problem, but the surgeon also went out of his way to ake sure my pain was dealt with.  He had me on dimiriol most of the time and as I requested it.  I didn't abuse it but it was much better than the morphine.  After the first 4 weeks, I didin't need anything for pain.  The pain is mostly in the area of the incision but I also had foot and leg troubles that could be attributed to the kidney malfunction and circulation, so it wasn't a normal or usual recovery. TIme to Start Exercise - I was required to walk within 12 hours after surgery.  It helps pain as it moves the gas that otherwise builds up in the instestine and can cause abdominal and stomach pain.  The walking also helps the muscles heal (cheap and low-tech physical therapy) and builds stamina and endurance.  Walking is the first phase execise.  I started walikng about 10 mins at a time and it grew to 2 hours.  Then I wanted to jog.  The road work has kept me toned and helped to minimized the loose skin.  I got it but not as bad as I feared.  At 176 down, 142 since surgery, I am just getting to wear I have enough to think PS may be a future consideration (and would probably rid me of another 20-30 pounds).  Underarms, droopy butt, inner thighs, and lower stomach just above groin are the major areas, but I am down from a size 60 pants to a loose 42.  So I'm not really bothered or treal concerned at this point.  And at 50, married and 3 kids ages 21 to 13, I won't be cruzin for chicks anytime soon.  I have re-acquired a weight bench and weights and have been fiddling with getting back into an upper body and ab workout but the walking and joggin are working for me right now as I continue to try and lose the last 52 to goal of 180.  232 from 408 is still quite rewarding and I couldn't and wouldn't complain if it stopped but I figure I still have the 12-18 month rapid weight-loss period/window (2-6 months left) to keep working my magic tool.   Good questions though Mike.  You are going to do great and I know without a doubt, you are going to be pleased with your choice to do this and the results.  The first 4 weeks after are the toughtest because of the change but the hunger is gone, that won't be an issue.  Sleeping 8 hrs at a time has to be redeveloped, coping with a liquid diet is a pysch thing, and walking even when you have no endurance requires some pushing of one's self.  It goes by really really fast and the rewards of loss are a real motivator.  You are only going to wish you had done it sooner. You keep looking at those before and after photos on the website and know that is going to be you in a few months.  Hang in there guy. Joe

Thanks Joe.  I appreciated your details.   Your comments have really helped.   You guys have really been a great help.  I don't know what I would have done without you.  It's nice to be able to ask a question and get answers... by people who have been through it.. Mike

Hi Mike, Hope all goes well with you!  Listen, as a nurse, I have to say this.  With the open, one of your biggest enemies is going to be pneumonia setting up in your lungs.  It is imperative that you make sure that you hold a pillow to your belly and cough frequently.  Holding the pillow tight helps with the pain.  It is going to hurt, but you will be in worse shape if you develop pneumonia.  Our lungs are lazy and will rest all they can.  Make them move.  Fight through the pain and cough.  Again, I wish you the best!

Hey Mike.....the pain ain;t as much as you would think,,,,,exercise is realative.....walking around the floor is exercise....hitting the track is different....hitting the weights is still different.... but walking to the bath room and around the floor is almost immediate...within several hours.... this walking will reduce blood clots and the pneumonia...so don;t fight with the nurses....get you AZZ out of bed!!!! the extra skin....it wil shrink a little...but we ain;t never gonna be on a nekkid magazine... and to JOHN>>>>>congrats on your surgery....good to have another nurse on board...Hope you holding up???? Russ

Thanks for the suggestion.  Hold pillow, cough and scream.... Mike

King Hopper is correct about the pnuemonia concern but they had me use a spirometer.  You blow into it like 20 times and push the little needle up as high as you can to the normal range you could before surgery.  Then they also have this other thing you inhale.  It is a smokey pipe thing, I forget teh medicaine thats in it ut you have to keep inhaling until it stops smoking.  They had me doing these things like every hour.  It was annoying but it doesn't hurt like coughing or sneezing.  That will happen enough anyays without having to do it on purpose. My surgeon also did open RNY because he performs three different tests to ensure there were no leaks in the incisions, the number one cause of complications, he also took my gall bladder and a liver biopsy.  Its all good.

Hey Mike.....the pain ain;t as much as you would think,,,,,exercise is realative.....walking around the floor is exercise....hitting the track is different....hitting the weights is still different.... but walking to the bath room and around the floor is almost immediate...within several hours.... this walking will reduce blood clots and the pneumonia...so don;t fight with the nurses....get you AZZ out of bed!!!! the extra skin....it wil shrink a little...but we ain;t never gonna be on a nekkid magazine... and to JOHN>>>>>congrats on your surgery....good to have another nurse on board...Hope you holding up???? Russ