After speaking with my surgeon's office staff I'm somewhat confused. For example, I was told I should begin walking and exercising as soon as I'm physically capable following surgery, but was told to avoid driving a car for at least a week. Seems to me a little odd.

So I'll ask the gang here who've been banded: what post-op mobilities and/or exercises were you able to do right "out of the gate," and what things in your life did you find yourself having to ease back into?

I was told not to drive if I was taking narcotic pain meds. I drove home on the 3rd day after surg (I had been staying in a hotel for a couple days following surgery) He said there was no limit to walking, 10# weight lifting limit.

yup . . . that was my instructions too . . . no driving on pain meds . . . but walk walk walk walk walk . . . and then walk some more!

Chris

My surgeon said something about possibly getting in a situation while driving where you have to slam on the brakes too suddenly and causing damage to the still-healing incisions (both inside and out). I don't think I drove for about a week.

My surgeon said something about possibly getting in a situation while driving where you have to slam on the brakes too suddenly and causing damage to the still-healing incisions (both inside and out). I don't think I drove for about a week.

Yeah, that seems like about the only reason to avoid something like driving - I realize driving on day of the operation is a no-no, but a week seemed somewhat over-cautious. After all, I'm going to have places to go! :whoo:

I wasn't up to driving until yesterday... 10 days out.

Everyone is different. I did what I felt well enough to do, within reason. I felt lousy for the first four days and really just rested for the first week. I walked circles around the inside of my house for the first few days.

I am not employed so I didn't have to worry about work. My kids are grown, so no kids to worry about.

I still haven't gone for a real outside walk a mile kind of thing. It's been cold, raining or snowing a lot here in the NE.

I was walking 3 miles 5x a week before the surgery and hope to get back on track when the weather is better. ( i know I can find a lot of excuses not to exercise, but the weather is my favorite excuse, I hate winter!)

I don't remember instructions about driving, but definitely don't drive while taking pain meds. I only took making two doses of pain meds after coming home.

My surgeon did say to plan my life around one week of needed recuperation. So maybe you should plan ahead for that and if you're better faster, it's a bonus!

I drove around town 3 days after. ie... taking and picking kids up from school.

Would not take pain medicine until I went to sleep at night.

I walked and walked and walked and walked and walked and walked and then, I walked some more. :-)

My doctor told me not to drive the day of the surgery and to use caution if I was taking the pain medication. I took a week of vacation the week of my surgery so I think it was probably about 3 days before I drove. As far as exercise, my surgeon's office has a complete 6 week exercise program set up at the hospital for his patient's use beginning a week after surgery. You can participate longer for a monthly fee. So I've been working out in the rehab gym 3 days a week with treadmills, recumbent bikes, weights, etc. It actually helps to go work out with people who have had the same surgery and are at different stages in the process. I haven't had any problems at all--just sore for the first few days. Hope that helps!! Good luck!!

It actually helps to go work out with people who have had the same surgery and are at different stages in the process.

I've actually been considering this, and probably will organize something along those lines within the next few weeks. Have to tend to EOY stuff first!