3 Week post op appt today--Dr said no to treadmill or any exercising

I went for my three week post op appt this morning. Doc said I am healing well. My outside incisions have been well since the first of last week. He said the internal incisions on my vagina are healing well but we still have alot of healing to do inside. He said because the inside stays wet it takes much longer to heal.

I ask if I could get back on my treadmill and he said NO ABSOLUTLY NOT!!

He said no exercising until 8 weeks post op. He told me the more I do now the longer it will take for my insides to completly heal.

He said I need to be lazy for three more weeks. No straining, He said light house work only, still no lifting, and he said I still need to rest often.

When I voiced my concerns about my weight gain of 10lbs in the last few weeks he said "you wear it well so keep it for a few more weeks".

I explained how tired I still am and he stressed its "only" been three weeks since I had major surgery. He said the fatigue will get better sooner the more I rest. He said if I do too much now it will only take longer for my body to heal and that the fatigue will last longer.

He did say I could go back to work 1/2 days on January 3rd and them back to see him on the 10th.

He used the silver nitrate on my internal incision this morning that has caused some discomfort. Not really sure why but its kinda stinging and now I am having some discomfort there. Anyone else have this problem?

Hope everyone has a Merry Christmas. We are waiting on the snow here in NE Arkansas!! They are calling for 6 inches today. We rarly get snow here, Thank goodness........ I hate it but the kids are excited about having a white Christmas!!

Shelley

As hard as it is, if that's what your doctor recommends I think you should do it.
I had my surgery last Wednesday. My doctor told me that walking is okay, although I didn't ask him if I could walk on the treadmill. He forbid me from swimming, my favorite exercise, for 8 weeks.
We are all different, and the most important thing is good healing. I understand your panic about weight gain, but maybe its just fluid from the swelly belly thing! I am worried about weight gain too and I am trying to be very careful about what I eat.
Good luck!
Kathy

I have been walking SLOWLY on my treadmill for about 2 weeks. I will be 5 weeks tomorrow. I got a little tired of walking around in circles in the house (too cold to walk outside). I am only walking at about a 1.6 pace and for about a half mile at a time (20 minutes or so). I do this 2 or 3 times a day...most days. I really do feel better when I walk. If he won't let you walk on the treadmill, I would at least suggest walking around the house. I called my DR last week and he actually encouraged me to walk more because I was complaining of swelly belly and a pulling feeling. It seems to have helped. Good luck to you.

We are waiting for ice and snow here in KY. So far only rain..we'll see about that white Christmas. Major ice storm 2 years ago...NO THANK YOU! I'd rather just have snow.

It baffles me how different doctors are. Mine cleared me for light walking on the treadmill at 1 week! I've only been about to do about 12 minutes at 2.5. Pre-surgery I was doing 30 minutes at 3.2... so it will take me awhile.

It is really odd how doctors are so different. I didnt even ask about the ab lounge since I got such a strong NO on the treadmill question!

You can tell from looking at me that I have never overdone it in the exercise dept but I guess he is still concerned that I might mess up a good thing since I have had such an uneventful recovery up to this point.

I dont ever want to have surgery again so I will listen to him because he has me scared that if I over do it I will end up with the adhesions again and need surgery again.

When he did my lap my left overy was adhesed to my bowel wall and causing alot of pain.

Shelley

I would agree that following our doctors orders... whatever they may be... is the best way to heal. I'm glad you are recovering well and wish you a speedy recovery.

hi we had surgery the same day. my md also said no exercise except walking til she sees me 1/17/05.

I , too, with my doctor's blessing have been walking on the treadmill since the day I got home (surgery 12/6/04 for TAH) and have increased the pace and distance every day....I really think it has been the reason I have had such a quick recovery with minimal problems....Prior to the surgery I did not exercise much but feel now is the time to get in shape since I am overweight and have alot of time on my hands.....Due to the weather I anticipated being unable to walk outside which this morning would have been disastrous due to 9 inches of snow on the ground....Everyone is different and you should follow your doctor's advice but the walking and light exercise has been crucial to my recovery....