7 replies to this topic

[LINAR]

Hi all

I am about to have surgery that will take about six weeks to recover from.  By this I mean that six weeks post surgery I will be able to resume my normal lifestyle.

I have only been running for a year but am comfortably doing half marathons and now working on increasing my speed. The wheels have fallen off a bit the last couple of months and I am only running about twice per week, varying between 5 - 15km.

My question is, after a six week break, how long should I expect to take to get back to the same level of fitness as before the surgery?

[Bellthorpe]

It depends. On the person, the motivation and of course on what the surgery is.

Therefore the answer might be a month or two, a year or two, or never.

I had cardiac bypass surgery two years ago. I walked each day thereafter, and my first run was after six weeks after that. Daily running from that point on. First race was two months after that (Glass House).

I'd say it took about six months before I was in the same form as before.

[richardegg]

Depends what the surgery is. I had an abdominoplasty on 10 november 2010, and I was permitted to run again after a 6 week spell. My new body took some getting used to but i soon got back in the swing of things and by mid february I was at my re-op times, and subsequently improved. However I was not eating properly and recommenced smoking, so that may have delayed it.

[LINAR]

c2105026, on 17 June 2011 - 03:39 PM, said:

Depends what the surgery is. I had an abdominoplasty on 10 november 2010, and I was permitted to run again after a 6 week spell. My new body took some getting used to but i soon got back in the swing of things and by mid february I was at my re-op times, and subsequently improved. However I was not eating properly and recommenced smoking, so that may have delayed it.

Snap!  I'm having exactly the same thing.  My eating is pretty good and I don't smoke so hopefully I'll be up and fighting relatively soon.

Are you happy with the results?

[richardegg]

I can still see the scars on my arms (brachioplasty) but they are healing well, makes for a good coversation starter when I meet people at parties lol. Scar on abdomen has all but gone. My gaining 14kg post op probably didn't help but after already losing 4.8kg it all seems to be holding. I used dr mark kohut; he did Adro off the biggest loser. When I get back to my pre-op weight of 78kg I am sure it will look great. Best asthetic thing i ever did for my body. For my brachio plasty and abdominoplasty the timeline of recovery was as follows (if not having brachioplasty some may not apply to you)

Day 3 - able to have shower and walk around.
Day 5 - went home, able to wash and dress myself.
2 weeks - able to go for 40 minute walks, able to drive automatic car again. (if i was working, light duties began here)
4 weeks - girdle is reduced in size, can drive manual car.
6 weeks - girdle off, slow jogging
8 weeks - weight training can recommence
12 weeks - can straighten arms again fully.

[LINAR]

Thanks C

That's a far more precise answer than I expected when I posted the topic!

I'm just fixing up all the damage that gaining 50% of my body weight (yup, you read right, 50%) did when I was pregnant with each of my three children.  I'm only tiny and my weight is stable so it sounds like it won't take too long until I am back to pre-op fitness.

[Ayla2010]

Was good to see this thread as I'll be having this surgery probably next year when I finish losing weight

Edited by Ayla2010, 17 June 2011 - 05:33 PM.

[LINAR]

Well, the magical six week mark has passed and I started running again this week.  I have done a couple of 5km runs with a short 250m walking break in between.  Today I got to the 4km mark before I had a break.  On my first run on Monday I got all excited that the running wasn't hurting too much.  Then I woke up on Tuesday and remembered that while my heart was willing, my muscles were not.  I could barely walk!

So, given that I have had pretty much 8 weeks off I'm really pleased with how it is all going.  I don't think it will be very long at all before I am back to pre-op fitness.

And for those reading this who are thinking about an abdominoplasty, I'll just say that it is not for the fainthearted!  I'm VERY happy with the results, but for a few weeks I was a complete mess.  It took me 2 weeks before I could move unassisted.