How long before....

As I get closer and closer to the surgery becoming a reality, I'm starting to wonder about some non-food related questions.   For those who have been through it, can you share how long after surgery before you....

1 - drove a car
2 - went swimming
3 - slept on side or tummy
4 - mopped floors / vacuumed
5 - went back to work
6 - bought new clothes
7 - were pain free

anything else?

Thanks in advance!

Great questions, i had some of the same myself i hope someone can answer for both of us. (and i am sure many others pre surgery who would like to know)

Hi, I had a very easy recovery, I'll answer some....

1. the day after I came home from hospital (so 3 days after surgery)
2. sorry, surgery was April pool wasn't open yet....they say at least 2 weeks
3. again I think that was about 2 weeks or so
4. ?? who does this LOL
5. 6 weeks, because I could take the time.  I'm sure I could have gone back after a week, although the extra time does allow you to develop a bit of a routine
6. still haven't really bought any new clothes (5 1/2 months post op)  going through all my smaller size clothing now because of summer, will have to buy a couple new pair of dress pants for work very soon
7. maybe 2 weeks not even

As I said, I had no complications with my surgery and maybe I heal quick I don't know.  You learn how to roll out of bed so as not to strain the stomach muscles.  I had surgery on Monday and was shopping at Costco on the Saturday.  By six weeks I was going stir crazy but have a boring job so bored at home or bored at work....

Hi,

It's been a while for me, but I'll answer best I can:

1 - drove a car:  I think within a week or two, but it was only a few blocks at a time.
2 - went swimming:  This you have to wait until your incisions are dry to even get into the water, and it will depend on where you swim.  Mine seeped so I didn't swim for 6 weeks.  Light swimming would be about 4 weeks, but ask at your 4 week check up before you do more than walking
3 - slept on side or tummy:  Probably a couple weeks or my side, but you have to know how to get yourself up.
4 - mopped floors / vacuumed:  Don't remember to be honest
5 - went back to work:  I had 4 weeks off, could have gone back earlier if I had to.  But this depends on what you do for work.  If you are in an office job, you can go back earlier than if you do a heavy lifting job.  Also depends on how you are doing after surgery.
6 - bought new clothes:  Do not buy brand new clothes.  Go to Value Village or other thrift stores, don't buy too much,  buy belts & suspenders to make pants last longer as you could be buying every few weeks.
7 - were pain free: after a few days, but this is highly personal.  Depends on how well you heal and what your pain tolerance is.

anything else?  Work on protein and water, do not freak out when you don't get everything in the first while.  Just work on increasing each day.  At around 3 weeks, you will stall, don't worry, it's just your body catching up with the new lifestyle.  Walking is great, gas-x etc is your friend.  Do not let yourself go without a BM for a week.  MOM is your friend, ducolax suppositories work when really bad.  Try other laxitives to keep things moving if needed.  Watch sugar and fat.  As you try a new food, you may or may not tolerate it.  You may have the opposite reaction the next time.  Have supplies on hand when you get home, and be prepared for lots of leftovers.  You won't eat much for a while.  If you find a stage hard, go back a stage for a bit longer.  No need to rush.  When you get home, or the day you go in, weigh yourself and measure in several places.  You will find at times the scale won't move, but if you measure, you will see a difference.

Don't focus on scales, focus more on NSVs.  They are truly what matters.  Take pictures, you won't see the difference unless you can compare yourself. 

Oh, you may develop a sore back, but it's not something to worry about (still treat it though).  What's happening is as you lose weight, your spine is re-aligning itself.  It doesn't have to compensate for as much weight.  It lasts a bit, but will end.

Listen to your body, it will tell you when you've had enough, or that it doesn't like something.

You are not alone, if you need help, ask.  Keep journaling.

Enjoy your journey!

Cathy

I am 15 months post op gastric bypass, lost 158lbs total, currently 5 days post op plastics tummy tuck and arm lift :)

I had a rougher hospital stay I felt great the night of my surgery but post op day 1&2 were tough (for me) my hemoglobin dropped and I ended up having to stay an extra 3 days in hospital.  Once I got home and I could start my post op diet and get protein I started to feel better faster.  By 1 week home I was feeling good.  I still had pain and pulling in my abdomen for 4 weeks post op but nothing that was preventing everyday life.  I started sleeping on my side 2 weeks out and started driving probably about 2 weeks out.  

Swimming?  I was paranoid so I stayed out of pools and hot tubs for at least 6 weeks... But that's just me.  

House cleanning?  I was 3 weeks out when I started vaccuming (I took it easy)

back to work?  I had 6 weeks  off and I LOVED 6 weeks it gave me time to get eating and my new requirements under control

new clothes?  Buy leggings or bottoms that expand and change with you cause you do change fast :) :) 

pain free for me (everyone is different) was 4-5 weeks. 

Good luck!  It's all worth it!! 

Hello

i had RNY may 25, 2016 - down 77 pounds. 

1. I tried driving around 4 or 5 days post op. It was fine. I just tired quickly. 
2. I live by the beach and didn't swim until July. Heard stories of infection developing in the incisions from bacteria so I'd walk in only to my knees until my incisions were healed.
3. 1 week
4. 1 week but only a bit at a time
5.  6 weeks - could have went back earlier but utilized the time to rest, heal and get used to my new lifestyle. 
6. Bought a few items in the past month. I've lost weight before and kept my smaller clothes so I'm wearing them now. I was a tight 22 and 4x now wearing 14/16 bottom and 2x top. It is changing quickly so I don't want to buy new clothes. I bought a pair of 18 pants on sale clearance and a week later went to wear them and they are too big. 
7. I didn't have trouble with pain - stopped taking my pain melds as soon as I got home from the hospital 2 days post op. My problem was with nausea, no appetite and inability to tolerate plain water which last 2.5 months. Now I don't have any of those problems. 

Good or luck on your journey!

Hi. I had my surgery on June 24th this year in Ottawa.

1.  I drove for two hours four days after my surgery with no problem.  I made sure I hadn't used pain killers for at least 24 hours before I drove.  
2. I was told very clearly no swimming for four weeks.  Not just due to exert all incisions but mostly for internal ones. It was explained to me the internal ones take longer to heal. It made for a long hot July!
3. I did this pretty soon after. I'm a side sleeper. I made sure I had pillows for support around me. 
4. Probably three weeks or a little bit sooner.  Not the whole house at once and used a swiffer. I just couldn't take all the dog hair!
5. I was supposed to be off for four weeks but went back after three.  I was bored at home since I still couldn't do things that were bugging me like cut grass or weed the garden. I have a desk job so at least it gave me something to do.  Went home early if I needed. 
6. This was a tough one. I tried to make my summer clothes last the summer. In the last three weeks they were falling off.  Have been going to value village and Walmart for cheap ants to wear to work in the last couple of weeks.  Trying to hold off on bigger shopping spree until weight loss really slows down.  This part is hard. Shopping is tempting.  I have no concept of what size I need. I went to Penningtons last week since I had a coupon for 50% off one item so I was going yo teat myself.  Everything was too big.  It was very surreal.  
7. I was really lucky.  As long as I didn't overdo it I was pain free.  When I overdid li (like tried to weed or carry too much) it hurt.  Not enough for meds but my body was definitely telling me I was doing something too soon. Last week I helped closed the cottage which involves heavy lifting with no problems.  With my weight loss it was the first time in years I wasn't sore the next day. 

Good old luck with your journey!

Hi there, 

1 - drove a car - about 2 weeks
2 - went swimming - about 4 weeks
3 - slept on side or tummy - slept on side about a week after surgery ... it was hard not to do that!
4 - mopped floors / vacuumed - 2 weeks   
5 - went back to work - 2 weeks (I work in an office so no biggie although I was tired after work)
6 - bought new clothes - I had a closet full of different sizes so it was a while for me ... and then I wore them until they were falling off ... lol ... so I'd say 2 months at least (oh and did I mention I'm cheap and hate shopping lol)
7 - were pain free - 1 week

I was very lucky as well that I had a virtually pain-free and no issue surgery! All the best to you!

Thank you for all the responses.  It's very helpful.