Thank exercise for a quick recovery

E

elsie3

Cathlete
I'm one week post hysterectomy surgery (vaginal) and doing great. I feel absolutely fine and have to keep remembering that I can't do heavy lifting for another 2 weeks. Otherwise, I'm back to doing all my regular activities: which, unfortunately, includes laundry and cleaning the bathroom. I thank exercise for this great recovery.

I would like suggestions on how to start back up again after my 3-week stitch-healing deadline. I was encouraged by the posts about a rest period, since I guess that is what I'm having now. Does anyone have suggestions for how I should start back into exercising. I'm okay with walking now, but my doctor said not to do anything else until the 3-week deadline. I was planning on starting with my Firms--the easy ones like Fat Blaster--and seeing where I'm at. That's what I did after having kids, but I was disheartened at how much capacity I had lost and how long it took to work back up. This time, however, I haven't been pregnant and I'm not in a sleep-deprived half-dead state. I hope it won't take me too long to build back up to Cathe again.

Any Suggestions?

Thanks,

Carol F
 
It sounds like you have a really good plan. Just remember the doc prescribes rest after a major operation like this for a reason. Your active date will be here before you know it. I predict it won't take you too long to get back up to speed, especially since your attitude is so upbeat and positive. Speedy recovery to you!!
 
I had a hysterctomy as well. It has been a quite a few years. Fat blaster was always my start coming back tape. I think you will do fine there. If you feel like anything is pulling or discomfort then I would scale it back for a little while.
Diane SUe
 
Hi Carol: You sound like one strong, determined Lady!!:) You are soooo right about exercise helping tremendously with recovery. I had a soft tissue trauma (torn latissimus dorsi and external obliques) about 2 months ago and have wondered countless times how different things might be if I didn't exercise.
It sounds like you have a prudent plan for building back up to where you were pre-surgery, my gauge for working within my current ability while recovering is to back off of ANY exercise that causes me scrunch up my face or to hold my breath. Like Cathe says 'just a suggestion, take it or leave it':)
Continued success with your recovery!!

Take Care
Laurie
 
Hi Carol
I am 10 weeks post surgery. A complete hysterectomy (ovaries too). I know exactly how you feel. After the first few days I had to constantly remind myself, "no, don't do that, don't do this,"

After my week-2 check up my doctor said that I could start exercising like someone who had never exercised before. I was totally insulted. She had no idea how fit I was. Why the day before my surgery I did Boot Camp. So I proceeded to exercise the way I thought I should based on how I felt. I walked on the treadmill (8% grade, 3.5 mph), did Mega Step and Power Step Reebok (no impact) and I did Pyramid upper body (1/2 the poundage I was using before) and Pyramid lower body with light hand weights. Well let's say that for week 3 and 4 I felt amazing. Week 5 and 6 oh my gosh. I ran headlong into some sort of concrete wall!! I mean it. I was exhausted. I could barely make it to 3 in the afternoon without collapsing on the sofa.

I am a very advanced exerciser, and I am embarassed to say, a Personal Trainer. I would never have suggested that a client do what I did, but hey I'm superwoman right. Oh so wrong.

My point is that our bodies are so fit that we don't realize what a trauma we went through. Particularly with vaginal hysterectomies. There is no big ugly scar, just a funky bellybutton and a couple of small nicks.

Everyone says "listen to your body," but I am telling you please don't! Your body will say, You feel great, you can do this, you just did it two weeks ago. Give yourself time. Just getting back to normal as far as daily life is concerned is challenge enough. Wait at least 3-4 weeks before you start doing anything else. Then start slow. It will come back. Really.

I spent week 5 resting. I did nothing as far as exercise was concerned. Week 6 I walked on the treadmill and did step on a 4" bench (I normally use 8"). I lifted at 25% of my normal capacity.

Week 7 I increased my workload and again for week 8.

My rotation for week 9 and 10 has been:
Mon- Boot Camp (very little modification)
Tues - Treadmill intervals (45 mins)
Wed - Rythmic Step
Thur - Pyramid upper (at about 80%)
Fri - 30 mins KPC and then SH legs (at about 80%)

I figure about another two weeks of this rotation and I will be back to 100%. That will make me 12 weeks post surgery. I experienced very minimal loss of aerobic capacity and not too much loss of upper body strength. Most noticable was the loss of strenght in my legs and of course abs.

I turned 46 the week after my surgery and I think that had alot to do with my hurry up and get better mentality. I am now on the shady side of 50! But thanks to Cathe I feel half my age.

Sorry to be so long winded, (I think its the crazy hormone therapy) but I hope that I have been of some help.

You are most welcome to e-mail me if you feel like you need an exercise-intervention.

Take Care of yourself
Debbie Russo
 
Thanks for all the great advice! No one I know exercises much, and it's terrific to be able to get opinions from other exercisers. I appreciate the helpful comments, and I'll try and be a good girl.

Carol F
 
Thanks for the warning, Debbie. I'm just past 2 weeks and have been doing some light workouts without incident, but your post has been a word of caution. I appreciate your advice!

Thanks for the Concern,

Carol
 
You must log in or register to reply here.

Our Newsletter

Get awesome content delivered straight to your inbox.

Top