Abdominal Crunches After Surgery

srowland2008 · May 26, 2008

Hi all-

My husband and I both have a lap band. (I am a MUCH more recent bandit than he is). Anyway, I went with him to a fill to see what it was like and the doctor who did it said that I should not do any abdominal crunches, etc. for six months after surgery.

I was really surprised- I haven't read that anywhere or heard that before.

Anyone else been told that? Any thoughts?

luluc · May 26, 2008

My Dr told me & hubby (also banded:tongue:) to hold off weight training till 10-12 wks & abdomen crunches around the same time. I was a slow healer & had bad port pain, so I believe I started abdomen training around the later part of month 3.

Good luck!!

alice150 · May 26, 2008

I am almost 7 weeks post op. I had my first fill last Tuesday and my doctor also said 6 months before any abdominal exercises. Legs and arms are ok, but most important during the first 6 months is cardio, cardio, cardio, as he put it.

Alice

Ailie · May 26, 2008

I was wondering that as well. I take Tae Kwon Do. I knew that there were a lot of things I wouldn't be able to do for a while like sweeping someone to the ground (or being swept), but I was wondering about how long before I could do things like crunches and stuff. I haven't been banded yet, but that was going to be one of my questions.

LeslieR041906 · May 26, 2008

I had my pre op appt. This past Thursday, and that was one of the questions I asked my surgeon because, I have a ab lounge, and I dont want too much sagging skin once I reach my goal. He said it would be fine to do the ab lounge 2 weeks after, and crunches a month after. Six month? No I dont think thats accurate. What I have learned, on here, is that every surgeon is different. Especially some give the liquid diet prior to surgery, and some don''t mine did, because of the issue with shrinking the liver. Anyway, from what my surgeon said, I would think it would be alright. But, also get others advice, to come to your final conclusion. Good luck!!

mstrina27 · May 26, 2008

6mth is a long azz time to start doing ab crunches.. i was told 6-weeks, but some may be able to start sooner and some later it depends on your body.. I actually plan on starting back on the elliptical trainer today and my arms, and legs.. and i am going to start on my abs in about 3-more weeks... but 6-mths hell my friend had a Tummy Tuck and is able to do stomach crunches and she had her procedure done on valentines day... so that is kind of far out there...

hope2bhealthy · May 26, 2008

the main thing is that you don't want to over-do it or push yourself too early. i started back to yoga about 3 weeks post op. i was able to do most things, but a couple of exercises were too much. some hurt a little, like they were pulling. some just were too much for ab muscles that hadn't been used in 3 weeks. for the first couple of weeks, you won't use your stomach muscles. you'll have to roll yourself into a sitting position and you bend down at the knees, not the waist.

i think 6 weeks is about right for when you can start doing ab exercises again, or at least it was about right for me. i tried crunches earlier, and couldn't do them. but i think i did 30 or so at about 6 weeks. no more pain, just weakness.

skierhj · May 26, 2008

6 months! I think that is a good example of the differences in surgeons. Different pre-op diets and post op care. My surgeon told me to really try to do very little stressful work for a few weeks but after 3 weeks have at it as I feel I can.

AppleBlossom · May 28, 2008

I don't do them. I have tried and it just makes my port feel stingy and like it's going to pop up and out. I've had a Tummy Tuck (prior to lap band surgery....before my last yo-yo) I was able to do them 3 months after the tuck, but it just doesn't work for me now. My stomach is flat from the tuck- even though I had relapsed and other exercises work the area. I don't focus on it because it hurts.

mstrina27 · May 28, 2008

I don't do them. I have tried and it just makes my port feel stingy and like it's going to pop up and out. I've had a Tummy Tuck (prior to lap band surgery....before my last yo-yo) I was able to do them 3 months after the tuck, but it just doesn't work for me now. My stomach is flat from the tuck- even though I had relapsed and other exercises work the area. I don't focus on it because it hurts.

Judy say it aint sooooo... I hope and pray that it will be ok.. i could not imagine not being able to do crunches ok i am going to pray and keep my fingers crossed....:sad:

TulipStar · May 28, 2008

I was told to wait 6 weeks. Then my port flipped (came unstitched from the muscle). The first thing the tech asked me was if I did any crunches because that sometimes make it comes unstitched (even after 6 weeks).

So, after I had my revision surgery to restitch my port, I stayed away from all abdomnals for 6 MONTHs! I just started doing abs again.

mstrina27 · May 28, 2008

I was told to wait 6 weeks. Then my port flipped (came unstitched from the muscle). The first thing the tech asked me was if I did any crunches because that sometimes make it comes unstitched (even after 6 weeks).
So, after I had my revision surgery to restitch my port, I stayed away from all abdomnals for 6 MONTHs! I just started doing abs again.

Ok a hard head makes a soft azz...lol.. i'm going to wait hell u have been thru it before and i don't want to have to go back in out patient or not... i will wait... thanks... u have opened my eyes...:sad:.. lol

illion · May 28, 2008

Glad you decided to wait! I also wasn't told to avoid exercise like that, and started using my ab-roller 6 weeks after surgery. Within a day or two, my port site was swollen and everytime I moved, like turning over in bed or getting up from a chair, it caused a "stinging" feeling, which was VERY uncomfortable. When I went for my first fill, I asked about it and was told to wait a few more weeks. ( I couldn't sit up on the table without help getting up!) My port had shifted slightly. Not enough to cause any real problems, but enough to become uncomfortable. Well, it's been 4 months now and I tried using the ab-roller again about a week ago, with almost the same results- no stinging, but a slight swelling around the port site. So.......WAIT. Give your body time to heal. I'm going to wait another month or two before trying it again. It's important to me to strengthen those mid-section muscles, becaused I had gall-bladder surgery years ago, the HARD way, not laproscopically- and those muscles tend to be very weak from the long incision.

Good luck!