Hi. I am 5 days post-op and wondered if I could resume my aquatic classes. Its basically water walking but I had heard different things about prolonged exposure to water for the first few weeks. Any insights??

I myself would not due to so many germs are in public pools ,youll just be exposing yourself and the end result would be INFECTION!!!!!

You should check with your doctor. I was told to wait one month before swimming.

You should check with your doctor. I was told to wait one month before swimming.

My surgeon said that he usually clears patients to be in the pool 2 weeks post-op.

My surgeon said that he usually clears patients to be in the pool 2 weeks post-op.

I was also told 4 weeks so that I would not get an infection!

OF course I can only speak for myself, but my doctor said absolutely no swimming or submerging myself in water (including baths) for at least 4 weeks. I am DYING to go i the pool! I'm in NY and it was just 100 degrees lol. I did cave and put waterproof bandages on my incisions (they had already scabbed and fell off) and went in the pool for a little while, but I only went in up to my bellybutton, so the water didn't hit my incisions. I don't think I'll go in again because I am nervous about infection too. My aunt had laproscopic surgery (not the band, something else) and she had an infection in her incision. She said the only thing more painful than that was childbirth... so consider me NOT swimming until next week lol hope it helps!

I started going to water aerobics about two weeks after surgery, but alot of it depends on how YOU heal.

Thanks for all the advice. I am healing pretty well. My steristrip actually already fell off the belly button. But I opted not to go to class today. I will just wait it out until I can talk to the Dr, I was just looking for a cooler way to get my walking in. We have had some pretty hot weather lately. So I guess I will just hit the mall! LOL Thanks!

Hmm, I was told 4 weeks also. But I had an ileostomy reversal a little over a week ago and today i took the steristrips off the incision. It is completely, and I mean completely healed shut. I cant see how I could be possibly risking an infection to go to water aerobics tomorrow night. A cold or gastro yes, lol, I always seem to get colds when i go in public pools, but I think an infection in the scar is highly unlikely at this point in time. If you've got any open areas on your scars though, err on the side of caution.

I think my Dr said to wait 2 weeks, but I agree with Jacqui: if your incisions are healed, you're probably fine. Public pools generally skeeve me out, so I would probably put some of those waterproof bandaids over the incisions just to be on the safe side!

I was also told not to do any gym/aerobic activity for 2 weeks after surgery. Make sure you take it easy! Five days after surgery I wasn't in the mood for doing anything other than sleeping, drinking and peeing!

J

I had to wait 2-weeks before swimming, once the incisions have healed. The doctor removed my butterfly tape on my 2-week post-op visit and said I could resume swimming. Good luck!