Swimming after lap

[KodyJ]

Hey everyone

I’ve laparoscopy bookend in a month to verifying if I’ve endo and I’m not sure I’m up for it. I’m super douper concerned on the pain after the surgery and the idea of having to not being able to exercise frustrates me. I cannot stay still I go totally insane. I’m reasonably fit, excercise 2 hrs daily (swimming and gym), walk my dog at lest 1 hrs a day and work as a waitress so I’m not sitting at all. I love excericising as it’s my way to let the steam out. Has anyone been in my smart boat and knows how long till I’m Back at least in the pool? X

[Aphra]

The leaflet I was given at the hospital said to wait at least two weeks before swimming after laparoscopy - even if you’re physically up for swimming sooner than that I think the risk of your incisions getting infected is probably too great to risk it really.

[KodyJ in reply to Aphra]

Thanks lovely. Any idea of which activity I could do to get some steam off ? Yoga doesn’t cut it for me and I’m really worried to become a psycho if I cannot exercise

[Aphra in reply to KodyJ]

I only had my laparoscopy on Thursday so I don’t have much experience of recovery yet but walking would probably be good. I’m recovering well and not really in much pain but anything more than a bit of walking would be really difficult I think.

[KodyJ in reply to Aphra]

I hope you have a speedy recovery

[Still_hopeful_88]

You’ll want to wait until your scars from keyhole are healed. Ideally keep all wounds dry for the first week- 2weeks after surgery to avoid infection.

[KodyJ in reply to Still_hopeful_88]

Thanks dear. Any idea of which activity I could do to get some steam off ? Yoga doesn’t cut it for me and I’m really worried to become a psycho if I cannot exercise

[Clairey007]

When I had my lap couple of years ago, I was advised by my consultant to wait for 3wks before going back to anything (I wasn't as fit then as I am now). I started going for short walks after about a week, then went back to swimming and spin after 3wks. It was another 3wks or so before I went back to anything with weights or excessive twisting of the abdo region, and I didn't start running again for a good few weeks after that.

You'll probably not want to do much for the first week anyway, you'll be sore and the anaesthetic can take at least a few days to leave your system.

The fact you're fairly fit will help your recovery. But, you absolutely have to listen to your body, if it's telling you it can't/doesn't want to do anything, listen to it, the energy you use to exercise is what your body needs to use to recover, it will protest if you try doing too much too soon. I know it's frustrating when you're an active person, but you have to give yourself time to recover properly, it won't help in the long run if you go back to doing things too soon. Remember you're having abdominal surgery, yes it's keyhole so limited scarring but they're still poking around, moving muscle, excising tissue etc, and the abdominal muscles are key to any form of exercise so you have to be careful what you do for the first few weeks. I'd suggest walks after a week or so, then back to swimming first. It'll take a good few weeks after that before you can go back to gym workouts and lifting weights.

Always here to talk, totally get your frustration thinking about not being able to exercise, I'm already dreading it and I don't have a date for my second lap yet, though I do know it'll be May/June time!

Hope the lap goes well, I'm sure you'll be fine.

Xxxxxx

[wanwood]

Is it just a diagnostic lap or are they doing excision if they find anything?

How important is it to you to get a diagnosis at this time? Genuine question. If not being able to exercise is possibly going to be hard for your mental health and well-being it’s good that you are thinking about this now.

I needed a good 6 weeks of rest after each lap before I could exercise and I also wanted to make sure my incisions were healed to be on the safe side. I had quite a lot inside though, not just diagnostic. For me, I would have struggled to get back to waitressing work before 4 weeks but everyone is different. If physical fitness and activity is core part of your identity you do need to prepare yourself for having to take a break and things then taking a while to get back to where they were. I’m sure you’ll bounce back faster than I did though! xx

[KodyJ]

You read my mind ! It’s a diagnostic lap but they will remove any tissue if found and they wanted to insert a mirena, on which I’m not convinced at all so cause hubby and I haven’t discussed the children topic yet!

Thanks ladies for the support I feel less alone now !

[Nicola234512]

Hey, it's your decision and you should weigh out the pros and cons, how many times has the pain caused you to stop doing what you want to do?

People are usually fit and well after a couple of weeks, especially as you're in good shape you should recover well and the benefit of the surgery being able to help you if you do really struggle.

Whatever you decide I'm sure it will be the best decision for you. Xx