Hi Gang!

I am four weeks post op and have been cleared to get back to the gym.  For the past four weeks I have been walking for exercise but not doing anything super aerobically intense.

One thing that I KNEW that would happen, that I didn't fully appreciate was decreased strength and endurance.  I am 4 weeks post op, have had 3 cycles in 4 weeks, and have lost 20 lbs. Did I really expect to run marathons?  Of course not?

However, I have notice that I am having a tough time with stamina and endurance. Stairs in particular... I can do no more than 3 flights in a row..or 5 broken up (with a loaded backsack to and from work). I am winded and feel faint after doing those.

Is this something that will pass?  If so, when?  I am taking my vitamins, drinking water, trying to protein load as much as possible on 1/4-1/3 cup of food per meal and supplementing with 130 mg elemental iron.

I also am taking b-50 complex.

Is there anything else that needs to be done?

I am mildly upset because I loved step class!  I could do an hour on the medium step and feel happily "wiped out/satisfied"  Now, I dont think I could do an hour on the low step.

Anyway, wish me luck on my first "real date" with the elliptical in a month.

Thanks so much for your input!  I want to be thin, STRONG, and healthy. Yes!  All three! 

If you're getting real short of breath, you might want to see your doc.  It's probably just from not getting much exercise for a month, but... about three weeks post op I was diagnosed with pneumonia.  The only symptom I'd noticed was that I got short of breath walking even a short distance.  I assumed I was just out of shape and needed exercise.  I went to the ER because I thought I was dehydrated and needed IV fluids, because I'd had a lot of nausea and vomiting.  And I was dehydrated and I got IV fluids.  But the next thing I knew, they were admitting me for a really bad case of pneumonia and talking about chest tubes and respirators and scary stuff like that.  You probably don't have pneumonia and even if you did, it probably wouldn't be as bad as mine.  Several ICU nurses remarked that they'd never seen a case as bad as mine.  But still, if there's a lot of shortness of breath, think about seeing your doc.

Otherwise, well, not only have you not exercised in a month but you are still recovering from major surgery and you're operating on pretty few calories.  I would push yourself just a little bit but listen to your body and stop when you need to stop.  You should be able to increase the amount of time and the intensity of your exercise gradually.  Get as much protein as you can and make sure you're drinking a lot.

Ditto what Poet Kelly said.  Pre Op I was doing huge things, 10 hour hikes and endurance swimming.  What a bummer it was to find myself only able to walk a mile or two immediately post op.  But this is major surgery.  It can take some time.  And just wait until you are recovered and get some strength back.  It is AMAZING to me what my body can do now that it is so much lighter.  Be gentle with yourself on that elliptical, you had major surgery! 

Repeat after me:  I just had major surgery four weeks ago, I just had major surgery four weeks ago, I just had major surgery four weeks ago.

Okay now breathe!  You will get your endurance back, you will be able to climb stairs with speed and with verve, you will be able to do your step class again and get winded again and feel wiped out and feel satisified again, but (repeat after me) you/I just had major surgery four weeks ago!

Listen to what your body is saying; give it the love and time it needs to recover (and recover healthfully).  I'm almost positive that your surgeon, in giving you clearance to go to the gym, didn't think you'd be back to fighting form!  Be patient grasshopper.  Take a big calming breath. 

Keep moving, keep healing, keep a stiff upper lip, keep at it!  You have the potential to achieve all your goals:  thin!  strong!  healthy! (and I'd even add one) fit! 

Okay, do I need to say it again?  Repeat after me (nah, I don't think it's necessary)...you got it, right?

And strap yourself in, it's going to be an AWESOME journey!

Thanks!  I did ellipitical for 30 minutes and treadmill for 35.

Went slow, no inclines and little resistance.

I didnt even get sweaty!!!.

I felt fine. But none of the satisfactory/wiped out/need a nap feeling that I used to get (because I didnt go hard).

Today my legs are a bit tight. That is it!

I hope to do 30 mintues today..or give myself the day off and dye my hair.

Take it easy... don't rush and don't overdo it .... your body is still healing and you WILL build/re-build stamina and endurance over time ... the first time I got on the treadmill at the lowest speed I could not even manage a full minute I was so exhausted I felt like I had walked around the world and back.. ... just take it day by day ... a bit at a time ... on step further each day and before you know it you'll be right where you want to be... 

I went for 1 hour 5 minutes yesterday. Slow and easy. didnt even sweat!  :)

Today, I think I will have a rest day and dye my hair!

Tee hee!  :)

I remember when my surgeon said to me at my three month out appt that I was just past post op stage. I didn't really get it because I felt so good much earlier then that. He explained about all the healing that my body has been working on for the past 12 weeks. So maybe that might help you think about continuing the hearing process. Take care. 

3 months!?!?!?  Wow.  I felt normal 3 or 4 days after the surgery.  Though, I did sleep more.

Seriously, i feel totally fine except for the lack of endurance.

I did 1 hour 5 minutes yesterday. Slow and low on everything and my muscles are tight this morning, so clearly, I am atrophying away!

But it WAS fun to be back to the gym, especially since they reorganized, painted and recarpeted it.

You just had major surgery!  It will come back - fast - because you were doing it before surgery.  I noticed a huge difference when I first went back to the gym after surgery but it was amazing how quickly I was back to my old self (I'm about 12 weeks out now)  Be patient with yourself!