Thankful, but frustrated...

I was the complication nightmare who had gastric bypass, then an incisional infection, then my stomach ulcerated and was perforated during a dialation, one of 12 total, (resulting in emergency 'rebuild' of my stomach), I lived on 6 prilosec and 2-3 doses of carafate a day for a year and a half before having a final revisional surgery to the equivalent of a vertical sleeve (although it is about half the size of a normal sleeve).  Thankfully, I am within my weight range, very healthy for the most part, and I truly am happier.  My frustration is with my weight loss being very fast (most occurred within 6 months of my emergency surgery) I lost the majority of my muscle mass. 

When I tried to start with the surgeon's exercise physiologist, she saw that I was thin and tried to put me at high level stuff.... it was pretty funny that I couldn't do squat/jump/kicks without tipping over, lol! Once she realized I had no core strength (maybe from the 15+ holes that have been put in my abdomen, or from muscle wasting???), she took me back down to the floor and gave me core exercises to do.  That was fine and dandy, but between a fall and trying to exercise, I tore the scar tissue behind my largest incisions and where the incisional infection had occurred (thankfully, all surgeries were done laproscopically, but the 'largest' incision for each surgery was moved up and to the left each time).

So I still have no real strength and I'm not sure how to start.  They say 2-6 months for the torn muscle/scar tissue/whatever tissue to heal! I want to work on my yard, hike, and ride a motorcycle...and do all the things I set out to do when I committed to all of this. I'm tired of complications and I'm just looking for some guidance on something I can start out with for exercise... What would you recommend trying?...  yoga or ????? DVDs or classes, I don't care... just someplace to start.

(((Hugs))) To you for still hanging on.... You can try Yoga, also very low pilates.  They both build core muscles very slowly. 

Linda

Good practice- looks for "restorative yoga" or "gentle yoga"... A good teacher can advise you what poses would be good - how to modify the poses and what to do in a meantime. General walking, even with weights at your arms (rebuilds the upper body). 

Then you can try some isometric exercise for abdominal muscles: suck the gut for a few sec, let go. Repeat as often as you want during the day...start with 1-3 sets for each trail and then increase to 15 -20 per set. Hold for short time or longer (depends how that feels - there should be no pain from holding. Learn how to breathe while you hold your gut in.

 I do them in a car - at every red light... I do them when I am in my office - while working on the computer. That works the abdominal muscle as well as the back muscles.. 

Girl it sounds like you been through it but it feel like there is going be light at the end of the tunnel. I pray that you are getting closer to that light. 

Lost lamb

Thank you all for the support and recommendations,  I hadn't even thought about isometrics.  That is a good one for me to start with and I will see what yoga instruction is available in my area.  The area of my abdomen where the scar tissue tore is doing better, thankfully! But it is still sore every day, so I think the isometrics and yoga will help.

Thanks again and much luck to everyone on your continued success!!!