Ok, so I know that everybody's recovery time is different. That's apparent from all of the back to work threads. I'm still waiting (not so patiently) for my date but I'm getting antsier as vacation time gets closer. I had expected to have surgery this week or next (which is obviously not an option at this point) and am planning a beach trip for July 18th and a whitewater rafting trip the first weekend in August. Apparently I won't be able to do the banana boat in July now (Insert EXTREMELY sad face here! ) but now I'm beginning to wonder about swimming at all. My insurance girl had told me I could swim as soon as the drain was out. I know it's not a great plan to be out in harsh surf and get knocked over, but I'm thinking floating in the waves sounds like a great plan. However, I'm starting to get the feeling that I'm being overly optimistic. How long did everybody else wait to swim and be active again? I thought we were (supposedly) able to be back to normal (and even working out) in 4 weeks but I read something today where someone felt bad after overdoing it this weekend and I think she was at about a month. I had to cancel one family vacation this summer already due to work issues - I can't devastate my family by doing it again! Does anybody have any insight?

I was walking at 3 weeks and then had a set back with low bp and feeling very tired. I didn't have a drain. I'm also 60, and now I feel like a million dollars, but it took about 6 weeks for me to really feel like myself. I would not push it at all. I have one friend who did and she wound up with a leak and hospitalized for a week. Not good! Your body will let you know, but I think I would probably not do whitewater for at least a month. Ask your doctor!

Ok, so I know that everybody's recovery time is different. That's apparent from all of the back to work threads. I'm still waiting (not so patiently) for my date but I'm getting antsier as vacation time gets closer. I had expected to have surgery this week or next (which is obviously not an option at this point) and am planning a beach trip for July 18th and a whitewater rafting trip the first weekend in August. Apparently I won't be able to do the banana boat in July now (Insert EXTREMELY sad face here! ) but now I'm beginning to wonder about swimming at all. My insurance girl had told me I could swim as soon as the drain was out. I know it's not a great plan to be out in harsh surf and get knocked over, but I'm thinking floating in the waves sounds like a great plan. However, I'm starting to get the feeling that I'm being overly optimistic. How long did everybody else wait to swim and be active again? I thought we were (supposedly) able to be back to normal (and even working out) in 4 weeks but I read something today where someone felt bad after overdoing it this weekend and I think she was at about a month. I had to cancel one family vacation this summer already due to work issues - I can't devastate my family by doing it again! Does anybody have any insight?

It all depends on the individual. I never had a drain. I had my surgery Wenesday, was walking about 2.5 miles by Sunday was back to work the Friday 2 weeks after. I wouldn't have had a problem with the beach but the whitewater rafting might be an issue. I had a really bad rafting experience, thought I was going to drown and don't know if I could have fought that kind of struggle 10 weeks out. On the other hand, I did ride my Harley to Sturgis 9 weeks post op and did over 900 miles the first day of the trip. I was told full activity 8 weeks post op, I felt better before but I think they want to be cautious.

Im having surgery July 6 and leaving for vacation 2 wks later! They said i would be a little tried but over all ok!

My doc said swimming after one month. I would hold off on the rafting.