Question:
Is it better to have strong or weak ab muscles with an open?

I'm preop, waiting for approval and I have been lifting weights and swimming to be sure I'm in the best shape possible. I am not doing any kind of ab exercise (started on just a few machines and have been building up slowly). I read somewhere that there is more pain if your ab muscles are strong than if they are loose. Is this true? I'm 46 with a BMI of 60. I want the fastest recovery possible but also the least pain. Thanks    — Sunny S. (posted on May 17, 2002)

May 17, 2002
I had pretty good abs before surgery. My surgery was on 5/7. I found it easier to get up and down with stronger abs. I am also already back to work. I also don't have much swelling and I had open RNY.
   — shannon W.

May 17, 2002
I had open RNY November 29 and I can honestly say that my abs were totally non-existant. I haven't exercised in years. I had very little pain and no trouble getting up and down. I'm not saying that the procedure was pain-free but it was easily managed. I was released to go back to work 12 days post-op and went back full time with no problems. I have heard that the stronger the abdominal muscles, the more pain there is because of having to cut through the developed muscles. Don't know if it's true though. I just know that I didn't have much pain after the second day and I got up and down just fine. Good luck with your surgery.
   — Patty_Butler

May 17, 2002
My daughter's surgeon said the reason I had no pain is because I had no muscles. She on the other hand is young and active and therefore they had to cut through muscle.
   — faybay

May 19, 2002
I am a Union Ironworker and for a big girl I am in pretty good shape. I have to climb up high and lift heavy materials all day long. I had a lot of pain. I am 3 weeks post op and am STILL in pain. It kills me to sit still and just heal, so I am trying to do little things like walking and fixing the house up. Good luck to you, just get extra pain medication for when you get home. I had to get mine refilled twice. I am currently on no meds.
   — Native G.

May 19, 2002
Fat has very few/no pain receptors. Muscle does. Therefore, (generally), people with more abdominal muscles experience more pain. Everyone experiences varying degrees of pain related to cutting through skin, and reorganizing the digestive tract. ~xoxo
   — Tracy P.

May 19, 2002
I have very strong ab muscles. After surgery they started to spasm and the surgeon made my pump continous and i could push the button. It was sooooo painful. But, in the long run i think i am better off with the stong muscles because of the few people i know who've had this surgery the ones with the least amount of muscle seem to be the one with the most hernia problems....don't know for sure but, it just seems that way to me. Hope i was of some help. good luck with surgery.
   — deborah D.