Exercise Immediately After Surgery

I have a question for the veterans out there.  I've been approved for Roux-N-Y WLS on February 4th - the open procedure.

I've been told they want the patient to get active as soon as possible.  While I assume for most that means modest activities like walking, I have severe arthritis in my knees, and back pain (mostly due to the effort required to keep my gut propped up).  So walking is a very poor option for me.

However, I have taken to swimming lately, or even just walking back and forth in the pool - it's a great option for a person like me with limited mobility.  But I was wondering if this is a practical option for post-op patients that have had "open" procedures within the first 6 weeks? Anyone out there with some experience on this?

Ideally, I'd like to be able to hit the pool after a couple of weeks post-op (at most) to get my activity in, but I can see where the wound site / incision might make that problematic.  Any suggestions?

Thanks much! 

I also preferred to swim rather than walk (less gravity). My doc said that I needed to wait until my surgery scab was gone. This is because of th danger of infection. Normally, if the water is a little bit bad it will only affect your skin. But with an unhealed incision, there is a risk of deep infection. I waited until i was scabbed over then waded in the water, then I waited until the scab was healed to go in further. Best wishes on your upcoming surgery. Joe

Hey Dogg.... this is a great question....it shows you are really thinking and wanting to be creative....think of what you can do, not what you can't do... ok you got an open wound...so any kind of pool is out....even though you are raring to go...an infection is the past thing you need.... Ok on PBS, here in Houston. there is a chick, who has a show...."Sit and Be Fit", it is calm, and done from the safty of your chair...I recommend it to some of my older patients, because they have a tendency to fall//// Now this will not necessarrly help with the cardio portion of your journey....but this old bird, wil stretch you out really good....I did her routine with some clients...and I had the ouchies the next day....it may seem like nothing...but it is better then nothing.... when you are healed....the pool gets my vote.... russ

Damn!!  Russ beat me to it. I am an avid supporter of the "Sit and Be Fit" program.  People laugh about when I first tell them, but seriously........"that bird" will stretch you out like crazy.  And of course....she has a website -  http://www.sitandbefit.org/ Always discuss things with your surgeon, but I also agree that getting in that pool as quick as you can is a great idea.  My Mom is currently confined to a wheelchair but is also considering WLS.  One of her concerns was the exercise and her potential surgeon defined exercise like this - "Any specific activity that you commit to for 20 minutes that is not a part of your daily routine."  In other words, if weight training for you is picking up a pencil off a desk, then do it.  If exercise is stretching your arms over your head or raising your feet off the floor, then do it.  What ever you can find to do that you are capable and wiling to do.......DO IT! Good luck to you and keep on thinking ahead.  Success is out there!

Thanks to everyone for the great info.  No water - yeah, kinda figured that, though I secretly wish I could find a really big (waterproof) rubber band for my mid-section.  I will definitely check into the sit and be fit program for my first month or so, as I suspect that's a bit more practical.

Cheers,

Snowdog