Job & Exercise

I am currently on the road to WLS. I plan on having the duodenal switch laparoscopic as soon as I get through with all the pre-op stuff. I think of a new question about every two minutes or so, but by the time I get online (poof) it's gone. I guess that comes with age. Here is what I am currently wondering.  Weightlifting. I hear about possibilities of getting hernias after WLS. Will I be able to lift weights again, or will I constantly be having blow outs? My job also concerns me. I do not have an office job. Some days I sit around all day with my feet propped up. Other days I might be climbing an 85ft silo (yes I do this at 350 lbs & 49 BMI), or twisting wrenches with all I've got. Or whooping the hell outta something with a 20 pound sledge hammer. How long do you think I'll be out of work?  I will be needing to get back ASAP ($$$). My doc (whom I have not met) claims on his website that you'll be back doing any exercise within two weeks. I ain't too sure about that. Just let me in on your experiences.

I am wondering the same thing. My job is not as physical as yours, but I spend at least part of my time walking power lines as a utility arborist. Sometimes on even ground, sometimes not so level.  It may sound easy, but I'm an old guy and kind of concerned. 

I've almost completed my pre-op requirements, so I'm probably looking at a month or 2 before the lap band is put in. Any response would be appreciated.

Thanks

I can't offer any insight to the DS, but when I had my lap band, I was jogging on a treadmill 10 days after surgery.  I have no restrictions on physical activity at all.  I am cleared to exercise (mostly running, my choice) however I see fit.  I also hunt and crawl around under houses, do some construction work, and do whatever else I need to with no difficulty whatsoever.  My only mistake was not checking into WLS sooner.  Good luck!

I believe that I was given 4 weeks before I was allowed to lift any heavy weights.  I was back to work two weeks after surgery, but wasn't 100 percent.  I have an office job though that doesn't require much physical strength.

I had open RNY and was told not to lift anything heavier than 10 pounds for 12 weeks.
Keep some paper and a pen with you and when you think of a question, write it down and then post it here when you get online. Don't be afraid to ask ANYTHING here, no matter how trivial you think it is. We are ALL here to help. Best of luck to you on the journey to the new you.

--==Rich==--

Most guys will tell you that it is a bout 6 weeks minimum before you an start back lifting any thing heavy.  The first two weeks they want you lifting nothing and then the next four weeks it should be very minimal, like say less than 20 pounds.  You being in a physically demanding job, which is what it sounds like, my guess with all the lifting and straining you are talking about on your body, I would be willing to bet at a minimum you are talking about at least 8 weeks.  I am an RN and let me tell you, the last thing you want to happen is for you to go through with this surgery and do everything you are supposed to do and then have a blow out of your suture lines or staple line (both internally at the incision sites or externally at the incision sites).  New tissue takes a while to granulate = in easy to understand terms that means tissue that heals over and seals up to prevent infection or blood loss.  Any kind of set back in the healing phase can cause you to have further surgery = more money spent and much longer time to heal all over again.  It just ain't worth pushing your body back into action too soon.  Trust me on this, I have power lifted all my life and weightlifting was a big concern of mine in having this surgery - you are no more prone to getting hernias than anyone else who might normally get one from lifting heavy items.  It is all about good te*****ue and caring for your body.  For me personally, at 8 weeks post-op, I was kicking ass in the gym lifting weights again.  Mentally, it killed me having to wait all that time, but I did do other things in the interim = walked my ARSE off everyday until I could lift weights again.

By all means, I am no doctor and I just shared my personal experiences.  Listen to your doctor, but whatever you do, error on the side of caution and you will be happier for it in the long run.

Hope this helps, Taz

If your job is as physical as you suggest, then there is probably a body that is basically in pretty decent physical condition that is living underneath all of that fat. That being the case, I would guess that you're at a much lower risk of hernias or other coming apart at the seams type of injuries post-op than if you were already a serious couch potato.  Post-op that fairly decent physical specimen that you've been hiding will slowly re-appear. All of those tasks that you describe will become much easier and, dare I say, even enjoyable with less chance of injury than you currently have. As to returning to that type of work in two weeks or under, I'd say that's impractical and improbable. I had a lapRNY done  on 11/26/07 and I went back to work 7 days later but I didn't even feel like walking up a flight of stairs until afer Christmas. I damned sure wouldn't have been swinging a sledge until at least that amount of time had passed and probably more. You can tear **** loose in a hurry and there's no sense in it.

Good luck with  your DS and your journey, and keep coming back here when you need info. There's lots of guys who've been where you're going and are willilng and able to be of assistance, even if it's only informational in nature. JF

Thanks for all your help guys. I am never unamazed at how helpful and friendly people are here at OH. I cannot wait until I'm on the other side, and can help someone just starting out like I am now.

I had my DS in two phases because I was a revision and the removal of the lap-band was very complicated.   That being said, I have been through 3 of these surgeries all lap.    I know financial considerations can be significant when you are out of work, but if you ru****  you will lose even more in the long term due to the extraordinarily long time it takes to recover from something like a leak.  (Not to mention, the potential of losing your life.)   

One of the things after major surgery is the level of exhaustion you will experience the first few weeks out.   You still have anesthesia in your system, you have been on pain meds a while and your body is trying very hard to heal itself from the trauma.    You will be fine one minute and need to lie down and sleep the next.    Even folks who go back to office jobs too soon get this. 

Lifting, climbing and wielding a sledge are major activities.   They require strength, flexibility and repetitive actions.   Any 1 of these can present a problem.    Walking is not so bad, but what you are doing sounds more like hiking.    You will need to walk at least a half hour a day around the house to avoid blood clots initially.   Doing so outside, in difficult terrain is another matter and the potential for a slip or fall adds to the potential for an adverse event.   Your stomach muscles will still be healing and your natural reflex to catch yourself combined with the incisions can create a problem.

I don't know what your relationship is with your employer, or if you are self-employed, how you stand with your customers, but the sooner they see you back, the sooner they will just assume you are 100%.   I would avoid being in that position, unless someone can guarantee you a desk job for a few weeks or month plus.

Talk this all over with the DS surgeon.   Make sure he realizes what you do.  I don't know what your boss is like, but if it is anything like where I have worked in the past, you can't return unless you get a medical clearance.   The website is a fantasy for the "Optimal patient"  Someone who sits all day and types on a PC or shuffles paper.   You work hard.   You will need to heal well before you go back.   Wish I had better news.    The good news is that your overall health will improve so much, and down the road, when you are fully healed and thin,  you work day will be so much easier.   Good Luck.

Peace,

William

Thank you guys again. I already planned on a month out. Maybe I should shoot for two. With this economy though, I just feel if I stay gone too long my job might be gone before I get back. I know that is paranoia, and I can't stop the job from dissappearing if I'm there or not. Just rambling now though......