2 Weeks Post-Op - Can I Excercise Yet?

[gwins 0]

I am two weeks post-op and feeling pretty good, although still really lacking energy. I would like to begin working out but not sure if/when I can start and forgot to ask my doctor at my post-op visit. I know he said I should walk but I live in the Northeast where it is quite cold so I can't get outside. I don't have a treadmill, but I have an eliptical machine so I did that for 15 minutes today and then did 30 minutes of Wii Fit. (Then had to take a nap! :confused:) Do you think this exercise level is ok at 2 weeks post-op? What did your doctors tell you about exercise after surgery? How long did you have to wait before doing real aerobic exercise? And what about lifting weights?

I lost 6 pounds pre-op and then 13 pounds post-op but have not lost any more weight in the last few days so think I need to kick up my metabolism with exercise.

[adagray 1]

I was told the only exercise I should do the first month is walking on a flat surface or using a stationary exercise bike. I know it is so boring. I usually do Jazzercise, but they said even though I do it low impact, it engages the core too much for the first month. They did say that doing walking videos like Leslie Sansone's (Walk Away the Pounds) are OK. I also bought a Wii game called 'Walk it Out' which is just walking in place, but you get points for walking in time to the music and unlocking things along the way so it is a little more interesting than just walking in place. It is only $28 from Amazon.< /p>

[corinne211 0]

If you have to ask that question it means you have not had your 1st post op appt yet. You need doc clearence to be ok for exercise. I am 3 weeks post op. Had my appt a week ago. I am healing nicely and fast. My doc put me on 4 week post op foods, but said he doesnt want me excersing until after my 1st fill since i am still healing. I tried a little wii fit and have been regretting it for over a week now. I have a sharp pain in my lower left ab now, where I have NO incisions. My doc said it is the path the port took and it takes the longest to heal. =(

I would just walk. I live in NYC and I feel you pain about the NE cold.

Edited January 27, 2010 by corinne211

[georgie1259 0]

To Corinne211....I was reading these posts about exercising. I just had my lap band surgery 1/6/10 and wondered about it too. My doc says during my appt with him that I can do "light" exercising and that was just a week after surgery. But then I kept reading your post and you mentioned sharp pain on left side. I am just experiencing that for a few days now. I kept thinking omigod my band broke or slipped....its like a side ache. I called my doc today and they were going to have a nurse call me back, but they never did. Is it something i should be concerned? I read what your doc said it was. sometimes it really hurts and other it doesnt hurt that much....its right on the side of stomach...dont know if its my abs or not becuz i never had abs!! haha....:thumbup:

[corinne211 0]

To Corinne211....I was reading these posts about exercising. I just had my LAP-BAND® surgery 1/6/10 and wondered about it too. My doc says during my appt with him that I can do "light" exercising and that was just a week after surgery. But then I kept reading your post and you mentioned sharp pain on left side. I am just experiencing that for a few days now. I kept thinking omigod my band broke or slipped....its like a side ache. I called my doc today and they were going to have a nurse call me back, but they never did. Is it something i should be concerned? I read what your doc said it was. sometimes it really hurts and other it doesnt hurt that much....its right on the side of stomach...dont know if its my abs or not becuz i never had abs!! haha....:thumbup:

My doc said it is the left side where the surgeon draggs the port upwards from the belly button to the stomach. They have to cut, cauterize, move muscles, ect so there is a longer period of healing. Adding more protien helps heal faster. I also went to the drugstore and got a abdominal binder and OMG it helps so much. I find when i walk around I engage my abs and suck my gut in. Its habit from trying to look skinnier I guess. I am having to FORCE myself to relax my gut when i walk to make the pain go away. I was told to where my binder until my fill to aid in the tissue repair on my left side. I was allowed to take liquid chidrens motrin 2x a day for a week when on my period and the pain was gone. Now I stopped the motrin and pain is BACK. Grrrr.

[georgie1259 0]

Thanks a bunch for the info!!

[gwins 0]

Thanks so much everyone for your responses! Guess I need to chill a little! I was looking at used treadmills on Craigs List tonight so maybe I will get one of those so I can still walk inside. Think I will go crazy if I don't do something to feel like I am moving and exercising. Of course, that may all change once I go back to work (go back this Friday) and will probably be too exhausted after a full workday to exercise anyway. Sigh!

[Wondercup71 0]

Great info. I am 3 weeks post op and would like to start jogging but I get really tired quickly just by walking or even lifting very light items for short periods of time. I will wait until my body tells me its ok.