I am 3 weeks out and still sore at the port site but want to start exercising . I go back to my strenuous nursing job on Friday and that will be some help. How soon did you start exercising and what did you start doing?

p.s. I try to look through archives before posting but couldn't find anything relevant.

i'm 10 days out and would like to know the answer to this question, too. =)

I was walking the track at the Y at 7 days out to finish getting the gas out. After my 10 day follow-up with the doctor my husband asked him if I could get back on the elliptical (I love that thing) and he said heck yeah. I think it promoted healing though I didn't over do it. I am 11 weeks out (1/8/10) and bust a sweat regularly.

p.s. walking is going to do wonders for the port pain area. It will fade away. My scar is already fading.

I started taking short walks with my dog about 5 days out from surgery... but didn't start wearing my pedometer and going for big steps (10,000) until my 2 week post-op appointment. I was cleared to exercise, and so far have been walking, lifting weights(gradually building) and some pilates. I plan to start more strenuous aerobic exercise this week at the gym (3 1/2 weeks out).

I started walking about a week after surgery. I was able to start on the elliptical at 4 weeks. I started the C25k program (walking/jogging) at 7 weeks. (could have started at 6 weeks) I bought a compression shirt to wear when doing strenuous exercise. It keeps my port from aching.

Good luck! My advice is not to rush it. If you are walking and your port feels sore, slow down a bit. You shouldn't stop, but slow down the pace for a while. The first day I went back I set my treadmill to 3.5 and away I went... for about 5 mins before my entire stomach hurt! I walked at around 2.8-3 mph for the first couple weeks. Then worked up to the first half hour at 3.5 and the last half hour at 2.8 - 3 to let it rest.

some patients wait up to 6 weeks, i started at 4 weeks....i really wanted to start losing more weight and so i headed quickly to the gym. started with some weight lifting and some cardio - at slow pace - but little by little i've been getting better at it plus the weight loss has been wonderful.

goodluck:thumbup:

I started walking about a week after surgery. I was able to start on the elliptical at 4 weeks. I started the C25k program (walking/jogging) at 7 weeks. (could have started at 6 weeks) I bought a compression shirt to wear when doing strenuous exercise. It keeps my port from aching.

Good luck! My advice is not to rush it. If you are walking and your port feels sore, slow down a bit. You shouldn't stop, but slow down the pace for a while. The first day I went back I set my treadmill to 3.5 and away I went... for about 5 mins before my entire stomach hurt! I walked at around 2.8-3 mph for the first couple weeks. Then worked up to the first half hour at 3.5 and the last half hour at 2.8 - 3 to let it rest.

Compression shirt! I love that idea, I didn't even know they existed. I have to hold my port site when I sneeze (I sneeze a lot) to keep it from hurting.

Thanks for the input.

I had surgery on December 17, 2009 and started walking about 45 minutes straight a day about 2 weeks after surgery. However, I just started working w/ a trainer three weeks ago and started to do some ab work.

Best,

Lauren