♥ Two questions for the "professional" RNYers ♥ - ThinnerTimes - Gastric Bypass Forum, Lap Band Forum, and Vertical Sleeve Gastrectomy Forum

BabyNicole · 07-18-2008, 01:37 AM

1. How long should I wait to go swimming? I'm 3 1/2 weeks post op, and my incisions are still healing.

2. I'm a volunteer EMT, and I have to lift patients. I'm on a 6 week leave so far from the squad. Do you think that's enough? I'm so paranoid that I'll get a hernia. I'm going to talk with my doc on July 30th to see what he says. I just want all your opinions b/c I spoke with someone here on TT who is also an EMT and he waited 3-4 months.

FYI: By "professional" I meant anyone out of surgery longer than me and/or has dealt with this. LOL

Crie · 07-18-2008, 08:09 AM

i waited about 5 weeks before swimming to make sure my incisions were completely closed

Thankful Butterfly · 07-18-2008, 08:57 AM

I would give it another week and then you should be fine. I see you're off to Vegas! Enjoy yourself and have fun trying to eat.. those buffets might be tempting lol

BabyNicole · 07-18-2008, 03:18 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Crie

i waited about 5 weeks before swimming to make sure my incisions were completely closed

Thanks. They are closed, but two are still red. They didn't heal as fast as the others b/c they were in a fat crack. LOL

armywife456 · 07-18-2008, 03:43 PM

I went swimming as soon as I was closed up tight, even went down some water slides! Just stay out of lakes, I went in the lake also and it irratated it alot! Clorine pools are the best way while finishing up healing. Just take a dip in and see how you're feeling.

MiladyB · 07-18-2008, 07:48 PM

I wasn't aloud to swim until I was 4 weeks postop. I certainly wouldn't swim as long as you have open incisions. In regards to lifting? I'm an RN who lifts a lot of patients and was on lifting restrictions until 4 weeks postop.

That is really something though that I would leave up to your doctor to decide.

GrandmaRose · 07-18-2008, 08:03 PM

My doc told me after 6 weeks I could swim. After 3 months I could lift over 10 pounds. Ask your doctor. He probably has a standard answer.

I think it's pretty hard to get a hernia when your "wounds" are only an inch wide.

GrandmaRose

Lap RNY 05/08/08
232/220/184/125

Sue0609 · 07-18-2008, 08:59 PM

No one told me not to swim, so I just used my own judgement. One of my incisions took longer than the others to heal because I got an infection. I swam when it was still a little open, but I used one of those totally waterproof bandages over it. The other incisions were healed at that point (almost 4 weeks post-op). But I swam in the ocean. No way I would swim in a lake or pool. I'm now 5 weeks post-op and they are all healed. The salt water actually helps heal the really (really) bad tape rash I got.

LisaBoston · 07-18-2008, 09:26 PM

We have alot in common! I am a lifeguard and was a paramedic for 8 years. Swimming, I went at 4 weeks and I had open procedure. The lifting is another story, but take it easy, with you having lap, should be much better.