Post-lap...yoga?

[Sfarre]

Hi all, I might be getting the cart in front of the horse and all that, but I'm one week post-lap and am desperate to feel any sense of 'back to normal'. I'm still feeling sore, drained, unable to focus on much. Can't even focus on TV right now, it's all rather depressing me out quite frankly.

Pre-op, yoga was a real life-line for me, a daily way to relax and ease the endo symptoms I was experiencing. So I was wondering if there are any other endo yogis on here, that might be able to offer any guidance on the route back in to yoga practice? Any suggested poses that might be nice in the recovery process, and expected time frames to return to normal?

Given how intense things currently feel, I'm not under any illusions that it will be instantaneous by any means, but I'd like something to hope and aim for as I lie here.

[Tillyfloss]

hi, hope you are starting to feel an improvement from your op. I started doing yoga 6 weeks after my second lap , I snuck in a bit here and there before just to stretch out but I had extensive surgery and the surgeon said I was to wait till he'd seen me before I started properly. You will have a good idea of how you are feeling and some slow careful stretches and yoga positions might help any niggles just don't overdo it. Hope you recover well 😊. Xx

[Sfarre in reply to Tillyfloss]

Thanks for your response, it's good to hear that you were back at it by week six. I also had extensive surgery and whilst I'd love to start things up again, I realise it is going to take time. I'm on day 12 now and I've tried a few very straight forward poses, like mountain and seated hero pose. Bending over and /or attempting to get on and off the floor are still no - gos here! More than anything I really feel the need to do twists.... But, I'm also not an idiot and don't wish to aggravate my abdomen during healing!

My plan is to go to yoga nidra class next week, which is just seated meditation. I'd like to see my yoga friends and yoga teacher, and also ask for next step ideas for how to ease back in to some sort of practice!

[luthien]

Aww, I know how you feel, it's so frustrating to be recovering - I'm not a patient person.

I'm not a yogi! But we do some as part of our warm ups and cool downs with my self defense and pole fitness classes - I found it amazing to help me after lap, started with the simple positions, and listened to my body with what hurt. I'm not good at names; I just looked up beginners yoga and then found a few that focussed on breathing and stretches, we do so many different things in classes!

I did some of the yoga / stretches from about 7 days after lap. It took two further weeks to be able to go back to my classes. I made sure people there knew what had happened; everyone was supportive. I think it took 3 months after lap to completely trust my body and know what I would do if something did hurt.

Just take your time, doing stuff you can do, everyone's different, but most of all learn to listen to your body and what it doesn't like and what it's happy with xx

[Sfarre in reply to luthien]

Thanks for your insights. Your fitness regime sounds really fun! This has definitely been a test for me in patience and positive thinking. I'm glad to hear you were able to start going to class again in week three, I'm going to go myself next week and very, very slowly ease my way back in.

Interesting to hear that it took you three months to feel fully confident again - this is not something the health professionals tell you beforehand! (to be fair, I doubt whether they even realise themselves what all this feels like). I'll take it one day at a time, but thanks for your support.

[luthien in reply to Sfarre]

no problem yeah pole fitness is awesome, it's like using a chin up bar but vertically lol!

Just remember to talk to the instructors / friends etc when you go to classes or fitness; someone needs to know what you've been through. And from a class point of view sometimes their insurance means they need to know if you have any disabilities / operations. You can just briefly tell them, and privately

wishing you a speedy recovery xx