Question:
How much can you exercise after the operation?

Are you stuck in bed for a year recovering from the surgery? How quickly can you start an active life?    — Sandy W. (posted on October 15, 1998)

October 15, 1998
Well, the evening of the surgery they were walking me in the hospital. You'll continue to walk several times a day for your stay. Then, when you go home, you should try to take at least two walks outside a day, gradually building up your endurance. You shouldn't have someone getting all of your meals, water, etc. - get up and do it yourself. The more you move around, the faster you're going to heal. I felt pretty darn normal at 3 weeks. In terms of serious exercise, by the end of 6 weeks, I was walking about 1-1/2 miles a day. At 7 weeks, I joined a gym and began a treadmill and weight lifting routine. Now at 10 months, I walk about 4 miles per day, with lots of hills, and weight lift regularly.
   — Christine B.