when can I swim?

My surgery is July 10 and I was wondering if anybody can tell me how soon I can get back into the pool? I don't mean for exercising, just relaxing and floating in the pool. I plan on asking my doctor at my pre-op app, but that isnt until June 24 and I want to know now!

This is such a great site! Its so great knowing I am not alone!

Great question! It is summer, after all!! Water aerobics is my exercise of choice (I've also got RA - it's easy on the joints) and I know I'll have to wait 6 weeks to start that back up, but I don't know about the other. I would assume that you could swim as soon as you could take a bath, but I don't know about the pool chemicals and stuff. I would also think it would depend on the type of surgery. I'll be curious about what the answer is! My pre-op is also on the 24th, so I'll ask as well. That's one of the many great things about this site - I've got an ongoing list of extra questions to ask now!

I was cleared for the pool and bath at my 3 week post op appointment! I had a TAH and it was healed but still tender at the appt. He did say to avoid the spa because of the jets..didn't think to ask him what that had to do with anything. Take care

I had my post op 4 weeks after surgery but my doctor had told me that I could go back into the pool at 2 weeks. From everything else I read I thought that was actually too soon, so I waited until my discharge finished (about week 5).

I'm having either a TVH or daVinci surgery and I ask my dr because we just our pool up and he said about 3 weeks at the least. He said the main reason to wait (even though it isn't a public pool) is that the vaginal cuff takes the longest to heal because it tends to stay moist in there and you wouldn't want to add to that. I'm sure he didn't mean for me to swim every day but occasionally. Also he said no actually swimming but more like wading to cool off.

I asked my gyn when I saw him at 5 weeks and he said I could bath and swim at that stage. I wasn't having any bleeding at that point. I think it does depend on what type of surgery you are having and how your recovery is progressing though so please check with your doctor first.

Enjoy when you do get to do it - I managed to get into our's yesterday and it felt lovely! My chiro was pleased that I would be able to as well as he said it was a good form of weightless exercise.

Hugs to you,

I'm so glad you asked this question! It has been miserably hot here and I was wondering when I could just soak/float in the pool. I'll be asking my doctor, but the suggestion to wait until the discharge stops is a good one.

I had the same question as my vacation is coming up. He told me that as soon as my cuff healed, I could swim. Actually soak, as no HARD exercising until 6 weeks. I guess it depends on the type of surgery and if you are leaving your cervix. I had the daVinci and if it wasn't for the fact that I have a cuff and it takes longer to heal, then I would have been allowed to as soon as my incisions scabed over. So, for me, the answer is 4 weeks.
Good luck and try to stay cool. That's hard to do because it's already in the 90's here.

Hi fellow swimmers!

I had my LAVH on May 27th and on Friday I called my Dr because we are in the middle of a heat wave here.

At one week and four days he cleared me to have at it in the cool blue heavenly body of water! But my recovery has been swift...so it may depend on your Dr.

...just call him and tell him your melting! See what he thinks!

Yeah, I hope at 1 week and 4 days I will also get cleared since my surgery is in July and it will be hot outside! I know that my surgery is going to be done laparoscopically so hopefully my recovery will be as swift as yours Chris!
Thank you for all the responses to my question, again, this is a great site!