I am scheduled to have Gastric Bypass surgery July 9th. My doctors have said it will be several weeks before I am able to resume normal activities but in some of the classes I've taken they have said I could resume normal activity as early as a week. I am curious about other peoples recovery time.....how long before you were up and around? How long until you could start exercising?

I was back at work 2 weeks later. Everyone is different. I was still sore. However, my sister was feeling great less than a week after. It all depends

I took a month off..week 3 I was fine to move about with minimal pain. The first two weeks I was just weak with no energy. ..couldn't stay awake for a full work day. I had no complications and have a desk job.

As for exercising. ..my dr still has me just walking..currently 20 days post op.

Edited June 22, 201511 yr by caligul

In my opinion it is less about pain and way more about getting used to your new way of life. Sounds easy right? Not!

The first week you are mostly on Clear liquids sipping almost every moment you are awake to keep from getting dehydrated. The second week it is usually full liquids along with 64 oz. of clear liquids. Again, sipping constantly. It is almost impossible to drink/eat everything they want you too which can leave you feeling weak and dehydrated. You start to feel better in week 2 but you still get very tired easily.

Week 3 you start to feel much better depending on your ability to stay hydrated and by week 4 most folks are starting soft foods which makes you feel better yet.

It all depends on your ability to tolerate the new diet and stay as close to on track as possible. If you try to jump into things too soon it can actually set you back.

I started feeling really good by week 4. Prior to that I had to nap during the day and literally hold a glass of some type of liquid in my hand sipping constantly.

I went back to work today - 18 days post op. I am exhausted! It didn't help that I couldn't fall asleep last night until after 2 a.m. so I am operating on only 4 1/2 hours sleep but mostly it is about the new lifestyle. I had the drinking thing downpat by yesterday and today I have hardly drank 1/2 what I should. Could you survive going back earlier, probably, but it will certainly slow you down and you need as much time as you can to dedicate to learning your new eating/drinking lifestyle. As far as being up and about, I was able to move pretty well by Day 6 BUT I took my pain meds pretty regularly.