swimming after tummy tuck ?

I was told i can get back in water 6 weeks post tummy tuck baring no complication with the incision has anyone gone swimming  that early after surgery ?
I am a advid gym rat and working sometimes up to 3 hours a day and would like to get back to training for my aquathon asap I was told 2 weeks  i can do light workout and 4 weeks resume cardio and should be fine to do anything 6 weeks post op but man after reading everyone I am wondering if my doc is being unrealistic.
when does everyone feel ok to do a good work out? I am not talking when your doc says it is ok when do u feel ok ?
Thanks
Lisa

My doc won't let me anywhere near a gym for at least 6-8 weeks.  He said the only thing I can do is walk.  Also have not been cleared for swimming yet either.  I am currently 4 weeks out.  I tire easily and will return to work in 2 more weeks.  My job is very physical, hense the reason for 6 weeks off.  I haven't even walked unless you count grocery shopping as walking.  I'm sure the younger gals recouped a lot faster than me though.  I'm not in any pain, just tired.

So I'm probably not the best person to answer this question because I had a pretty major complication that took more than a month to correctly diagnose and I was in severe pain that whole time and restricted from any working out for an additional two weeks after I would have been cleared to do everything (8 weeks out).

I am now almost three months out and still am not even CLOSE to working out like I was.  My body just won't let me yet.  If I pu**** I end up with really bad back issues which I haven't ever really had before but apparently is pretty common.  Your posture/body alignment really changes between being hunched over for awhile after surgery and just the sudden removal of a significant amount of skin/weight.  Your body has to adjust and it can take awhile.  I've actually resorted to doing some very slow easy yoga workouts and light body work, squats, lunges, push ups, pull ups all with body weight resistance only.  All that said, everyone is VERY different.  My particualar complication wreaked havoc with my posture for much longer than normal and it also drained my endurance levels significantly.  I know some folks got back to the gym and just had to take it slow for a short time and then were right back at it. 

How's that for a complete non-answer? :-)

Corinna Q

I was a serious lap swimmer (ruptured rotator cuff now), and was back in the pool at 8 weeks postop, even with an open wound (it was pretty much healed by then and I wore a silicone sticky bandage that kept the area dry).  The doctor said as long as the water was clorinated, it was OK.  CAUTION:  I found out that I didn't float very well (no more belly fat) and that those tummy muscles are really important for kicking.  I really thought I was gonna end up with the teenage lifeguard at the YMCA saving my butt my first time in the pool.  I just could not float, and couldn't kick my feet hard enough to keep my head above water.  It was a SHOCK since I swim like a fish.  Start in the shallow end, and go very slowly.  I got some swim fins and that helped with the bouyancy issues.  It took me 8 additional weeks to get back to swimming hard again.  I was sore as can be those first 4 weeks, and was swimming like the little old ladies in the Rusty Hinges club, but everything held together perfectly.  Just take it slow and easy.  If you are anything like I was, you are NOT gonna just jump in there at 6 weeks postop and glide through the water like before.  I really thought this would be the case, since I was in great shape and had been swimming laps for 20 years (a fit fat girl).  Hope this helps!   I envy you . . . I want to get back in the pool desperately, but was told to find a new form of exercise.  I LOVE to swim, and was swimming at the master's level.  Unfortunately, I ruptured my cuff butterflying this past January.   

I had LBL, BL, brachio. and a modified neck lift in September.  I was so worried about returning to the gym!  I was able to start back with the treadmill at 2 weeks out.  I added the elliptical without doing the arms at almost 4 weeks out.  I returned to Zumba and jazzercise dancing classes at 6 weeks out.  I was told not to go back to water aerobics until ALL scabs were healed. Since I had issues with open wounds under my armpits it slowed down my ability to get back in the pool.  I'm now healed and cleared for the pool.  I found that I could live waiting to go back to my favorite classes as long as I could do SOMETHING for exercise.

Good luck,

Lynda

I am truely a fish when it comes to swimming and ty so much for your reply as I had alot questionsto was I gonna be able to swim with losing my fat around my mid section etc how will my body respond. to less fat.Thanks for the hints
I had rotar cuff surgery and that was such a st back as i was swimming over 100 laps tell I tore the heck out of my cuff, I had to have two screws installed and bone spur removed and sewn up a tendon that was being cut by the bone spur 505 thickness so my recovery time was extremly slow I am at gym 3 hours a day and working out so I can afford to take the time off from the gym  I am a avid butterfly swimmer hence my nick name butterfly (didn't think I was a insect did ya? lol) I am currently using weights on my ankles and wrists to get back strength in my arms and legs as the rotar cuff surgery took me out for 6 mos. I am hoping to do a open water aquathon in 09 when I turned 50. IT SUCKS HAVING THE SHOULDER GO!!
But I am happy to report I am back in water tell surgery I just love the water
Lisa