Question:
how long after surgery is it until you feel like walking/talking
— terry P. (posted on October 14, 2004)
October 14, 2004
Well, I felt like talking right away. You probably won't feel like
walking, but you should definitely walk within a 2-4 hours after surgery to
prevent blood clots and pulmonary embolisms. (clots in the lungs)
good luck
— gerardlovesjoy
October 14, 2004
Hi Terry,
From the time that I was wheeled into surgery and I was up and very slowly
walking the hospital halls, was a little less than 3 hours. I was blown
away by how mobile I was.
I went into surgery knowing that I probably would have to have an open
gastic bypass because of many previous abdominal surgeries, and the scar
tissue would prevert a lap gastric bypass. I was expecting to wake up in
ICU. When I woke up in a regular room, and my husband told be that I only
had 5 tiny incisions..........I was dancing..in my mind.
My doctor told me, if you expect it to be difficult...then it will be. Your
frame of mind truly makes the difference.
Have a blessed journey,
Loriann
— Loriann J.
October 14, 2004
I was raring to go as soon as I woke up. I wanted to be able to get well
asap and knew that sooner I got the soreness walked out, the sooner the dr.
would let me begin water aerobics, which was 5 wks. I was able to lift
wgts. at 6 wks. as long as it didn't hurt me.
— juju524
October 14, 2004
I had my surgery at 11:15am on Monday, 10/4 and was up walking (all be it
not too far) that evening. Distances kept getting longer and at one point
the nurses told me not to go so far. The quicker you're up and moving, the
better you'll feel and sooner you recover. OH, you also greatly lessen
your chances of complications - blood clots, pneumonia, etc...
— jaaxo
October 14, 2004
I had my surgery 10/5 at 2:45 at arround 6 I was ready to walk but they
wanted me to wait till 10 so I walked eversince then the pain meds are
great. I didn't feel bad till I got home I started gettin sleepy and then
the second day home I slept pretty much all day and stopped the pain meds.
Now I feel pretty much 100% again. Best Wishes in Your journey.
— Shell G
October 14, 2004
It varies from person to person and what type of surgery you have (open vs.
lap, RNY vs. VGB). But generally if you have lap RNY in the a.m., by the
p.m. you should be walking.
— Marrilee M.
October 14, 2004
I came out of surgery at about 4pm.
I was talking immediately on waking, in the recovery room. No problem
there! :)
Admittedly, I probably didn't make a heck of a lot of sense for at least a
week. But I sure thought I knew what I was talking about!
I walked for the first time sometime that evening.
Actually, I tried to jump out of bed just as I was being wheeled into my
room. My back hurt from lying there!
— christied
October 14, 2004
I was up walking about 4 hours after my LAP RNY and talking. The gas I had
was so bad it was the only way I could stand it. After the gas they pumped
into me during the surgery got out, I was good to go.
— Cathy S.
October 15, 2004
My DH and I both had lap RNY. I didn't get to my room until really late in
the evening. I got up the next morning and stayed up until midnight. My DH
got from the stretcher to the bed, then he wanted to get up and walk, so he
did! Sat up in the chair for a couple hours (he was in his room late, too)
and stayed there until midnight. He was up moving and went home the next
day. Trust me, the sooner you get moving the better! The nurses will not
let you stay in bed. It can't be emphasized enough to get moving to keep
from getting blood clots and/or pneumonia!
— koogy
October 15, 2004
You need to start walking on the second day. I started walking and set up
most of the day. Nothing on the first day. I started walking on the
second day and haven't stopped. I'm 18 months post-op and have lost 193
lbs. Walking is SSSSSSSSSSSSSSOOOOOOOOOOOOOO important. You should be
talking 3 to 4 walks a day during your recovery.
— Linda R.
October 15, 2004
I think your doctor will probably tell you when he/she expects you to be up
and walking. Mine said as quickly as possible. I had surgery at 7:00 a.m.
and got up to go the bathroom at 7:00 p.m. (LAP RNY). Even though I didn't
feel great, I got up anyway because I was absolutely determined to do all I
could to avoid blood clots.
— scbabe
October 15, 2004
I was up walking and talking the same evening as my OPEN RNY. No, I'm not
kidding. I wasn't thrilled about it, but I did it and I was all that much
better at recovering because of it.
— LMCLILLY
October 15, 2004
I walked the night of surgery. If you are wondering about when you get
home, it took me about a week to build up distance and I didn't feel much
like being on the phone for about a week too!!
— colleen17
November 1, 2004
Walking the night of your surgery is the best pain treatment you can get!
The more you walk the less pain you have. Lie in bed and hug the pillow and
you'll hurt! I walked twice the day of, got up walking the next day, and
people actually asked me when I was going to have the surgery. I felt like
talking as soon as the anaesthesia wore off enough that I felt alert. I had
some pain the first day, mostly from the gas they use to give themselves
room to work inside you, and walking helped move that gas out of my system
and do away with that gas. Everyone's pain experience is very different,
but if you go into it ready to walk and expecting that to help, you'll
certainly do better than if you're afraid. Best of luck!
— Chyrl W.
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