excercise after operation.....

H

habbibti99

Member
Dear Cathe,

First of all, I want to say that your excercise routines, whether they are aerobics,toning,kickboxing are flawless and creative!! You have my admiration and I am so glad that my friend introduced me to your videos some years ago. I have one problem..... Even though I am pretty fit at 40 years of age, I am still not happy with my abs. I inherited bad skin tone, and 2 Ceserean Sections haven't helped either. I am scheduled for a Semi Abdominoplasty (Tummy Tuck) in 2 weeks time. I have been working out 4 to 5 times a week, but feel that once I have this operation, I need to continue some kind of excersise.... I don't want to jeapordize my healing, but then, don't want to jeapordize what I have accomplished, fitness wise. What excersises should I continue to do after I feel well enough??

Thanks so much for your response...

Habbibti99
 
First let me start with the obvioius. I'm not Cathe but....

Last October I had an abdominoplasty with a full rectus repair. I had similar concerns about losing my fitness accomplishments.
My doctor told me NO exercise for 4-6 weeks, and then he would clear me at that time and advise.

PLEASE LISTEN TO YOUR DOCTOR. I am very glad I did. Honestly, I couldn't have done anything anyway. Your muscles have memory and it will not take you long to get back to where you were before the surgery.

After 4 weeks my doc cleared me for some weights. NO ABS! I started back with slow & heavy and started quite light. After six weeks, Doc cleared me for any exercising with the caution to listen to my body, don't overdo and don't overstrain. It didn't take long after that to be back at it full tilt!

PLEASE PLEASE PLEASE listen to your doctor. Don't rush it.

-joy
 
Thanks ever so much for the advice Joy....

I am glad that someone out there has been there, so to speak.
I will listen to the doctor about taking it easy, and yes, he did say that I should take it easy for a few weeks time. I am working out hard and strong so that I can put those muscles back in shape, once I am well enough to go at it again... I plan on doing alot of walking and maybe will TRY to get back in the weights and cardio after 2 months time, or if I feel good enough sooner.....

I won't be having access to weights or a step until I get back home from vacation, which I will be taking after 4 weeks post surgery. Can walking be good enough?? I also wondered If I can so some "light" running?? I am going to miss using my weights!
I love the feel of the burn.......Also going to miss my step.

Best Regards *JOY*
 
Sorry Joy for ending my letter with ..... Best Regards *JOY*..
OOPS!! I wasn't paying attention....got caught with some interference and then I sent it without realizing what I had done..... Luckily it wasn't soooooo serious, but still, how embarrassing!! So I will correct that and say again........

Best Regards,

*Pam* (my real name)
 
Actually, I was going to recommend walking as a place to begin. You will be suprised how tough it is at first if you are walking at a brisk pace. My experience was that the aerobic part wasn't the big problem, it was actually the abdominal involvement in the moves. (I race-walk with my elbows bent - really uses the abs) I also did a little light running after a few days of walking. Just listen to your body.

Best of luck with your surgery. I am very pleased with my results and I'm sure you will be too. Enjoy your vacation. You really will be suprised at how quickly you will be back to your current level of endurance and strength.

-joy
 
Thanks ever so much Joy....

I wish you all the luck as well. Hope to hear from you as well as all the other pros here on this forum.... After reading all the Q&A's, I feel right at home here.... Again Thanks Joy.

Pam
 
operation woes....

I am back from the hospital after having a semi-tummytuck and some liposuction in the middle abdomin.... I am pretty sore, as Joy had mentioned in the past post. I had a hard time for the first day or two, but since have been able to walk around and sit down "somewhat" comfortably...... I guess what I want to say is that it would be worse, probably, if I hadn't been fit before I had this proceedure. I think it wasn't as bad as before when I had my ceserean sections, during recuperation. I just hope that my results are good after the bandages are taken off and I can part with this tube that is for the fluid drainage... gross I know!! Will be hopeful for a quick recovery and back to "you know who", Cathe......... Must get the green light from the doctor of course.

Thanks for listening.

Pam
 
RE: operation woes....

Remember too, the human body has amazing powers to heal and don't be afraid to work those muscles once your doctor has given you the ok. As for your vacation, will you have access to a VCR? You could get a beginner Pilates tape and strengthen your core very nicely. And don't forget that pushups, dips, squats and such can be done with only your body weight for resistance. Just be gentle and go slowly until you know what you can do!

Bobbi http://www.plaudersmilies.de/chicken.gif Chick's Rule!
 
I am scheduled for a consultation for an abdominplasty(spelling?) and probably some lipo in 2 weeks. My question is for Stargazer. How long before you could go back to your full Cathe regime? Are you back to full strength now? Also, does your stomach ever swell as you go though your menustral cycle? My stomach goes from flat to looking pregnant as I cycle through the month. I was wondering if this would still happen after surgery. Well...maybe my stomach doesn't actually look flat, but after 2 c-sections, as flat as it will get w/o help.
 
Hello Elaine123,
Let me see if I can answer your question.

I had the tummy tuck last october 5th. I was close to full strength and speed by Thanksgiving which was November 22. I was at it hard by December 1. I did not have any lipo but I did have what the doctor called a "full rectus repair" He said he stitched down the middle to pull the two sides of the abs together where they had gotten strecthed apart during pregnancy.

I don't really swell too much, its more like my muscles get lax. This also happens to me if I've eaten a lot of food or more than normal fiber (or if I'm constipated.) Also, I notice that i'm more firm in the a m and as the day progresses I get more loose (as my clothes get tighter)I don't think its as bad as it used to be, but I'm not certain if that is because of the tuck or the exercizing.

Good luck with your consult.
-joy
 
RE: operation woes....

Hey Pam
Glad to hear everything is going well.
That drain is really gross. I was very happy to have it removed (which was a bit of a sting - brought tears to my eyes) I am confident that you will be happy with what you see. And remember it gets better as time goes on and the scar gets settled down. You should be up and at em in no time at all. Believe me, Cathe will be there when you are ready. (she was waiting for me! LOL!)

I didn't have a cesearian, but I had abdominal surgery to remove a (998 gram) dermoid cyst. And I agree, this isn't as bad as abdominal surgery. I figured it was because the muscles were never actually cut through to the guts!!

Please, from time to time or whenever you feel like it, let us know how you are progressing.

-joy
 
Thanks so much for the info., Joy. Would you do the surgery if you had to do it again? Was it worth the time, money, etc....?
 
Yes. I would definately do the surgery again. My extra skin was the result of having carried extra weight my entire adult life - not a lot, on average about 25 pounds. But my physique is such that almost all extra weight settled in my belly. I had lost the fat but the skin just sagged. While I was doing push-ups I could see the skin hanging from my stomach! Yuck! It wasn't tons and tons, but I could definatly grab it Also I had a pretty ugly scar that went from my belly button to my pubic bone. Just the lowest part of that scar is left. I also had some pretty ugly stretch marks from my first pregnancy that are all but gone.

Now I'm not perfect but I am MUCH improved.

The initial recovery period was the worst - the first 3 days really. The first week was no picnic. My doc had me sleep in a recliner so that I wouldn't tug on the stomach by lying flat. I also had to walk with my hands on my knees for the first week, I think. Same reason. Slowly I straightened up as my stomach would allow. I went back to work full time the 17th day after the surgery and I have a long drive to work, even though my job is sedentary. I had to wear a corset like thing for four weeks, which I guess keeps the skin stuck to the underlying tissue.

The doctor I went to had a surgery area set up in his office and he contracted with an anesthesiologist to be there to knock me out. This really kept the cost down - no hospital charges. There is a hospital nearby, in case. I knew that he had an excellent reputation as a surgeon and had NO cases of infection in the 15 years he had been doing surgery. I knew someone who had been a scrub nurse for him and commented on his being a stickler for cleanly, sterile conditions. BTW the total cost, including consult, surgery, facilities, anesthesia and -ologist, and follow-up was $5,600. Oh, I had to get blood work and an ekg which cost about an additional $100.

The one thing I would advise - make sure you are doing this for you and not to please someone else. Good luck.
-joy
 
Joy,

Thanks so much for the info! Between you and Marlene, I feel so much more informed. I go to the doctor in 2 1/2 weeks. I'm curious about what he'll say. My husband is actually against surgery. He says he likes me the way I am. It's me all the way.

Anyway, thanks again. Like I told Marlene, the people I "meet" on this website are almost like my best friends. I know I can count on you all for helping me out!

Thanks to everyone, and thanks to Cathe for maintaining this site and allowing us to be so open!

Elaine
 
>Joy,
>
>Thanks so much for the info!
>Between you and Marlene, I
>feel so much more informed.
>I go to the doctor
>in 2 1/2 weeks. I'm
>curious about what he'll say.
>My husband is actually against
>surgery. He says he likes
>me the way I am.
>It's me all the way.
>
>
>Anyway, thanks again. Like I told
>Marlene, the people I "meet"
>on this website are almost
>like my best friends. I
>know I can count on
>you all for helping me
>out!
>
>Thanks to everyone, and thanks to
>Cathe for maintaining this site
>and allowing us to be
>so open!
>
>Elaine
 
Hey All....

Sorry that I haven't had responded to anyone for almost 2 months now! I am almost 8 weeks "post-surgery" now....... staying here in Florida........and............just bought a "brand new" bikini!! It isn't one of those "micro" kind, just a cute yellow one with tropical flowers on it. I am pretty happy with my "mini tuck". The only problem I still have is, is my stomach gets swollen and I feel pressure if I don't wear my "corsett". I don't know how long I am supposed to wear this? I wish that I could have consulted my doctor but he had to travel for some seminar and I went on vacation. The most amazing thing is, I don't see the bulge that I had on my lower abs and I can wear tight clothing, not that I will be doing that, but it is nice to imagine.....

I didn't get a chance to excersise that much......GUILTY! I suppose I did do some walking here and there, and I did purchase a "pilate" tape while here. The only problem is we are all staying in a small unit and everyone wants to watch TV when home......problem for me!! I think I am taking advantage of my holiday and don't think of excersise, but the long walk on the beach is fine with me..........
I will be back at excersise soon and can't wait to sweat with Cathe.
Hope your all doing great and thanks for the kind words.

Pam
 
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