Question:
How soon is it safe to return to hard exercising?

My 19 year old daughter had open bypass surgery on 8/3/01. She is now 5 weeks post-op. She did weigh 304 lbs before surgery, but she was very active in all sports in high school and she did play softball in college. Thankfully, shhe seems to have no pain or other problems other than getting tired and sleeping a lot. However being a teenager, I can't say that this is from the surgery. My question is that she wants to play softball NOW. For the past 1- 2 weeks she has been roller blading and jogging. She swears that she feels good enough to pitch and throw a softball, but I am worried if this could tear her staple line. How long does it take to heal? Wouldn't she know if her body was not up to this exercise. She says that there is no weight lifting involved. I am not kidding about this. I am worried that she may be doing too much too soon. So far she has had no problems with either pain or eating and otherwise seems healthy. Does anyone have any advice for me to tell her? Thankyou so much for your help.    — shannon H. (posted on September 7, 2001)

September 7, 2001
PLEASE ask your surgeon. He/She knows what's best for their patients.
   — Jonathan M.

September 10, 2001
I agree with Jonathan. She should follow her surgeon's directions. My personal experience was that the doctor told me not to lift anything heavier than 15 pounds until 8 weeks out. I took that to mean no strenuous exercise until that time. I did start back using weights at 6 weeks, but spent those two weeks working my arms with 5 pound weights and doing calf raises with my body weight. I felt better for doing SOMETHING, but wasn't putting myself at risk for injury. At 19 we are invincible. Try to remind your daughter that even though things look healed on the OUTSIDE, her INSIDES are still healing. If she injures herself she will be set back a whole lot longer than if she just takes it easy for a couple more weeks. In fact, if she gets a hernia it could mean another operation!
   — ctyst