Question:
How long after surgery can you do strenuous exercise

I'm talking sittups, touch your toes very fast. I'm trying to figure out if I will beable to go back to work early (about 2 weeks early) I feel fine, but my job is a factory job and though most of it is sedintary assembly line - there are some jobs that are strenuous. I know I won't beable to lift over 10-15 pounds and I have that covered. I'm worried about all the pushing and pulling and doing touch your toes type movements. Anyone got any ideas?    — K T. (posted on September 26, 2001)

September 26, 2001
Hi: My doctor said six weeks before I could do anything strenuous. I went with that, because at about 3 weeks, I tried to pick up my year old grandson and it hurt! So I waited the full six weeks before I tried anything besides walking. (((HUGS))) Pat
   — nealp

September 26, 2001
Don't lift over 10 pounds for 6 to 8 weeks, don't vacuum or move furniture or pick up children. After that, SLOWLY increase it. Do walking daily though.
   — Cindy H.

September 26, 2001
I had Lap RNY on 8/15/01 and started working out last Monday.. I'm talking treadmill, weight machines - everything. So far so good - but please check with your doctor - he/she knows best. Some think I have started early but I got the OK from my doc. Good luck! =)
   — Jen S.

September 26, 2001
At my surgeons orders no heavy lifting for 30 days after surgery. Right at that date I moved 20 pound boxes for a total of 10,000 pounds in a 2 week period. I had surgery LAP and had no problems.
   — bob-haller

September 27, 2001
My doctor has a different take on all of this. He said it was OK for me to lift my 27 lb daughter the FIRST day I was home from the hospital IF I did it right, which he proceeded to demonstrate and then test me on. Basically, no abdominal involvement in the lift, all legs, backs, and arms. Awkward at first if you are used to using your gut as we all are, but it can be learned.<br><br>I did find that lifting Joanne right away was hard but only because I did not feel over-all strong enough. Here at 10 days post-op from Open RNY, I am down 22 lbs and I have been lifting her for about three or four days without problems, and each day it gets easier. I have also been doing laundry (lots of bending and reaching for 5'3" me!) and tons of other physical things like cleaning house. I am thinking about going back to work as soon as Monday, which would be 1 week in the hospital and 1 very boring week at home. YMMV, and check with your doctor, but I doubt it's impossible. My flexibility was higher the day I came home from the hospital than the day I went in, even with staples. I've almost forgotten what it's like to not be able to wipe my butt well. WOW!! :-)
   — Julia M.

September 27, 2001
My doctor told me to lift nothing over 15 pounds for 6 weeks. At my 6-week checkup he told me it was ok to do whatever exercises I was comfortable with, even crunches. I still start slow with anything new and if I feel uncomfortable I stop and readjust the load or try an alternative way to accomplish the same thing. I would say follow your dr's orders and beyond that make sure you are not doing anything that causes (major) discomfort. Just take it slow and you'll KNOW if you're about to rip somethin'!
   — ctyst