CruisinLaura

Hi everyone! I need some ideas on cardio that can be done while sitting down. I had ankle surgery last week to repair 2 torn ligaments and a dislocated tendon and will have to be non-weight bearing on my foot for at least 6 more weeks. Because of this, I am really freaking out! Before the surgery, I was able to at least walk and swim, but now I am out of ideas. Due to other issues, I haven't had a proper fill in my band since December, so exercise was the main thing keeping me from gaining, even though I wasn't loosing. I do go for a fill this week, so hopefully this will help, but all I'm allowed to do right now is sit on the couch with my foot elevated. As the weeks go on, I will have a little more freedom, but still no using the foot at all. Any suggestions?

Good idea! I'll look for it, thanks!

Thanks for the ideas everyone. Unfortunately my rec. center doesn't have one of the arm bikes. It's pretty limited in what is there, and I use it for the pool access only. We have a treadmill, elliptical and total gym at home, so that's what I've been using mostly before surgery. I am still doing all of the upper body muscle workouts with the total gym, but other than a rowing machine type of exercise, cardio isn't possible. And since I have to keep my foot from dragging on the floor and can't place it on the footplate, that isn't working right now. (I did try it though!) I guess I'm just frustrated because I don't know if just doing upper body workouts are enough right now. I may just have to suck it up and wait and hope that I don't loose too much of the progress that I've made so far!

I'm feeling great! Thanks! My post op appointment went really well and there have been no problems so far. I know I am at the very beginning of the whole process, but am feeling really hopeful. Lost another 1.5 lbs this week, so as long as I keep playing by the rules, I think I'll do great!

Hello Everyone! I just wanted to introduce myself here as I start my journey. I was just banded last tuesday and except for the first 36 hours after my surgery, things have been going pretty well. I have to admit though, I was really second-guessing this whole thing at first. I was convinced that I had made a horrible mistake and just was devastated! However, my surgeon was awesome, assured me that everything was normal, and that I just had to be strong for a little while longer before I would feel better. He was right, and I've been doing very well since. I've lost 15 pounds so far, and while I figure that it is mostly Water weight and not anything to expect to be normal, I'm still ecstatic! It took me 3 months of cardboard food on NutriSystem to do that before! Still working hard at getting my water and Protein in, but I know that I can do it. Looking forward to learning as much as I can from all of you!

Thanks for the replies and welcome! Things are definitely looking up and continue to improve. As far as the time after surgery in the hospital, I guess it is just my surgeon's way of doing things since he told me to expect to be there 5-6 hours after getting out of surgery even if everything went great and I woke up with no problems. He has a certain protocol of how things go after surgery, and it just takes a while I guess. I go back for my 1 week check tomorrow and a follow-up class as well, and may get to progress to pureed foods. Thanks again to you all and this site for all of the support and info!

As soon as I woke up, I was extremely nauseated. They kept giving me anti-nausea meds, but nothing seemed to work. I never actually threw up, but felt miserable for several hours. It only got worse once I started sipping my liquids. The did a swallow test to make sure everything was in the right place, not leaking, etc, and all was fine, so they allowed me to go home. For the next 24 hours, every time I swallowed anything, I would start dry-heaving. Nothing every came up, but it was almost constant. My surgeon had me come back in the next day after the surgery and did an unfill of what little liquid was in there, and had me drink several times while he sat with me and talked me through everything. I felt better in his office, but started feeling awful again after getting back home. I did the worse thing, and just gave up trying to drink anything for the rest of the day/night. I also took off the anti-nausea patch that they had put on me in the hospital since I had heard from someone that that sometimes causes nausea instead of preventing it. Not sure what it was that helped (or even if it all was just anxiety-induced) but by the next morning, I was a new person! Able to drink liquids, and was finally able to start my Protein shakes as well. Ever since, I've had no dry heaves or even much pain, so I'm hopeful things will just continue to improve!