Question:
Any physical activities off limits after the surgery?
My surgery is coming up Feb 19, 2003 and I was thinking about what I won't be able to eat post-op. It then occured to me... what activities will I not be able to do post-op? For instance... Boston Marathon.. extreme sports ... or Survival events (those intensely prolong physical activities e.g., climbing Mt. Everest etc). Not that I plan to do any of those things. I just want to know what limitations I will have postop. John — John T. (posted on December 17, 2002)
December 17, 2002
No Sex for three loooooong weeks! and a 5 pound Weight lifting restriction
for six weeks.
— jocelyn
December 17, 2002
Not an answer to your question, but an addition to it. What about
amusement park rides, roller coasters, etc. I'm 7 1/2 months post-op and
will be doing this over the holiday weekend. No reason not to, right?
It's not going to hurt anything inside, will it?
— KelBurt
December 17, 2002
Hi John,
My doctor didn't want me to drive for 6 weeks. However, since my husband
had the same surgery 4 weeks after me, I drove to the hospital, every day.
No problems. As for Everest, the marathon, etc... I would give myself
several months of healing time first. Don't forget to post your results
here. LOL Hope your surgery is uneventful and your weight loss very
successful. Good luck and God bless.
Martha and Dave
— Martha P.
December 17, 2002
No sex for 3 Weeks? Another good reason for Lap. You must of been a open?
Were released to all activities in a month, driving as soon as were feeling
up to it, and off ALL pain meds. I guess this is a effort to prevent hernas
which occur in 30% of opens. Lap the incisional hrrnia risk is near zero.
While I doubt many MOs are marathor runners I would check with your
surgeon but a couple months sounds right before running 25 miles.:) But
heck I walked 1.3 miles one week post op and it was July and HOT:(
— bob-haller
December 17, 2002
Hi...I had lifting/pulling/pushing restrictions for 6 weeks, to give
everything a good chance to heal, and then I was free to do whatever...as
far as roller coaster, amusement park rides, if you're almost 8 months out,
knock yourself out! I live north of Orlando,FL and went to Universal
Studios Islands of Adventure and rode every single ride..lol..it was great!
— lily1968
December 17, 2002
John, beyond those restrictions related to surgical healing, just consider
what your post-operative eating/nutritional needs might be. Depending on
your type of surgery, you may need nutritional supplements to meet the
physical demands you put on your body. Anything involving endurance
activities will not likely be restricted, but remember you will need more
food/more often to maintain your weight if you are expending more calories.
Additionally, depending on type of surgery, you may process food
differently and need more water or specific food/liquid types to maintain
electrolyte balance.
I would hesitate to put anyone with bariatric surgery with a malabsorptive
component into a setting where their access to food would be limited. But,
other than being mindful of what you need, the sky is literally the limit.
Have fun like you have never had before! Three years ago, I had to stop
and rest just taking out my garbage. This past year, on one vacation, I
climbed down to the lowest point of Mammouth Cave and to the highest peak
of the Smokey Mountains. I am going rock climbing on the coast of Maine
over this weekend and can't wait to get to Arizona in January. We got a
second chance to have fun on the monkeybars of life...
— merri B.
December 18, 2002
Thanks everyone for your replies especially to Merri. I was thinking on
life long restrictions. I served in the Army and there were times when
life became very physically demanding over a long period of time and no
time for food during those periods (guess that's why post-ops are rejected
for service in the armed services). During advance training I was dropping
5 pounds a week and eating huge meals (2 eggs, sausage, hash browns, 2
french toast w/syrup, fruit, 2 glasses of milk - that was just breakfast!
But I was younger then too). Because of the physical demands and lack of
meal breaks.. I had to pack it in when I could.
I couldn't see going back through that again being a post-op where I had to
break for meals several times a day. Sure it could be done for a couple
days at a time but not for an extended time. I guess we can do anything so
long as we could carry some food around with us. Forinstance if you are in
a situation where you are burning tremendous amounts of calories (3000+ or
so per day) you will quickly emaciate if you are only able to take in a
max of 2000 calories per day and then only being able to absorb 80% or so
of those calories.
Merri: When you go rock climbing, you don't feel like the WLS has limited
you in any way? You find that you are able to get in enough food before
hand for the needed engery until you can refuel? Also you find that you
can carry sufficient "compact" food for quick engery?
I'm sure this is all needly worry since I don't plan on doing any such
activities, however my mind may change once I lose all this excess baggage.
Take Care, Be Well, and Be Happy!
— John T.
December 18, 2002
John,
I think you are your only restriction. I have been hiking sections of the
Appalachian Trial.I look forward in one and half yrs. to hiking it thru!
When speaking with the nutritionist she said just make sure you intake lots
of water. I was concerned with the xtra fat in the dehydrated food(I don't
have a gallbladder so I absorb less fat). However, there are some really
good low fat dehydrated foods too. I was supposed to hike Philmont in New
Mexico(Boy Scouts) but I had a hernia. My surgeon wouldn't clear me as we
didn't know what carrying around a 40+ lb pack for a week would do and we
didn't want to find out in the desert. So, I just had that taken care of.
Next year=Philmont. I also do Kayaking etc...The sky's the limit. Best
wishes and continued success
— Linda M.
December 18, 2002
John, Guess you didn't believe me, huh? Huh? LOL Hope you get a
satisfying answer. ;-)
— Tabatha M.
December 18, 2002
Once again thanks everyone!
Tab: Good to see you on here. You know me and how stubborn I am!
Remember I didn't believe you about not breathing while I slept as well! :p
— John T.
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