HealingWell
Search Close Search
☰

Back to the gym??

Support Forums
>
Ostomies
✚ New Topic ✚ Reply
❬ ❬ Previous Thread |Next Thread ❭ ❭
Posted 10/3/2011 4:31 PM (GMT 0)
I'm almost 6 weeks post op from laprascopic colectomy and I was wondering if it's ok to go back to the gym yet? Not for massive cardio sessions or olympic weight lifting, just some light exercise.

I don't have any pain currently (and haven't for a few weeks) so I'm thinking it might be ok?  What do you guys reckon??  smilewinkgrin

and....is there anything I should avoid for a little while?

Posted 10/3/2011 6:21 PM (GMT 0)
Hey,im no specialist on this matter but i see no reason why not,i dont go to the gym but i do run alot and i never had any probs but i did start back up very slowly,just take it very easy for a while as we are prone to get hernias.
Im sure 'ironmum' will drop by and give some advice as she knows her stuff!
ROF
Posted 10/3/2011 7:19 PM (GMT 0)
hi richochet96! I think if you're signed off from your consultant then give it a go. You're only 6 weeks post surgery, so some gentle cycling and walking/jogging on the treadmill and ask a PT for some core stability work which is essential when you've had abdominal surgery. Avoid sit ups and 'ab' machines, but aim for some very gentle plank exercises and stuff for the glutes etc. A lot depends on how fit you were before your surgery really and your age and how sick you were before, so just use common sense and listen to your body. Defo no lifting heavy weights yet but you can ease into things slowly. I was running 4 miles 6 weeks post (partial colectomy) surgery and I had a stoma too. I ran a 10km when I was 8 weeks post surgery. Taking a little while longer to recover this time though :-/

If you have any discomfort then just ease back and rest a little while longer. Don't push things and just listen to your body - it will tell you if you're doing too much. Have fun!

Trigirl might be along too with her words of advice.. ;-)
Posted 10/3/2011 11:31 PM (GMT 0)
Thanks guys. That's really helpful advice. I was fairly fit up until two months before my op (my colitis at the time got very bad) and then I was on quite a high dose of steroids for a while. I've recovered quite well so far though and I'd like to get fitter in time for my next op so I can help the recovery process.

Both of you sound like you do a lot of running (Ironmum - I read your blog by the way - awesome, very inspiring!) do you wear any kind of ostomy belt or anything? I just wonder whether my bag will stay on or drag while I'm running?

Richard
Posted 10/4/2011 3:17 PM (GMT 0)
You're welcome Richard :-) happy to help. Thanks for your comment on my blog too... :-)

No I don't wear a belt.. just do lots of core work! Some people do like to wear one for added security but my lycra kit is pretty tight and holds things in place. Your bag should stay in place.. just empty beforehand then fold it up. I tend to find output slows to nothing during a run anyway.. which is nice!

Have fun and just take things slowly.. sounds like you'll be fine. enjoy Sx
Posted 10/4/2011 4:07 PM (GMT 0)
I ditto the prior posts. I had laparotomy and then it opened. When I came home after being hospitalized almost 2 months, numerous complications, 40lbs underweight and open incision....gosh how I just wanted to exercise and get strength in me. Having an open incision, all I could do is walk. Dropped my kids off @ school in the morning and their school is couple blocks from the lake. Every day I pushed further, I was defenitly sore. I listened to my body, but also built endurance. After 1 month I was walking 5 miles and feeling great. Then I started using ankle weights. Was nice to see muscle tone again. The following month, I returned to the gym, walking, slowly using the elliptical, stretching. I didn't start using weights or ab core for a couple of more months. I've been recently doing marathons, cycling tours, etc. Never felt better!!! I'm not ironmum....but she's just an absolute inspiration! Best of luck in your recovery-Christine
Posted 10/5/2011 8:46 PM (GMT 0)
Thanks Sarah and Christine. I'm going to the gym tomorrow to do some light exercise. I'm also gonna see about getting a PT for a few sessions, I'm sure they can help show some things to help/avoid; I used to do free weights (in between flares) but I'm going to lay off the heavy ones, until my ops are over at least.

Wow it will feel almost normal again to go to the gym. That'll be nice after a tough few months! smilewinkgrin

Richard
Posted 10/11/2011 12:17 AM (GMT 0)
So I did my first run in about 3 months today! Managed about 20 minutes with no pain and even felt good afterwards!!

Sarah - well done for getting into the Marathon by the way! It's something I've always wanted to do, but the UC always messed up my exercise plans. Maybe 2013 will be my year. :-)
Posted 10/14/2011 7:54 PM (GMT 0)
hey well done Richard!! good job! just ease into things. I'm getting a bit of hip pain as my core isn't strong enough yet.. so just got to work SO hard on stuff and re-building the foundations.

whether or not I'll do the marathon is another matter!! it's nice to have an entry though.. so we'll just have to see how it goes. Not going to beat myself up if it doesn't happen.

hopefully now you can do one too! well done and stay strong x
Posted 10/15/2011 12:06 AM (GMT 0)
I was going to ask if the eliptical is OK for ileostomates well healed. Also the treadmill on a bit of an incline I do. The bike? Is that OK? as long as the knee does not crunch up into the stoma area?

Also is that machine where you sit and pull down that bar with weights on it for shoulder and upper back strength, is that OK or would that stress out the abs?

Thanks, Rosemary
Posted 10/15/2011 3:46 AM (GMT 0)
i started going to the gym in august, i had my surgery in april, however my reason for waiting was more not having anything to do with my son during the day and he started preschool in august. i was walking and such before that.
i did the stair thing, the bike, the treadmill on an incline, i tried running on it but my knees were so bad i couldn't i also did teh bar that rosemary is talking about,i just didnt use much weight at first. and i did all the other weight machines too. i didnt have any problems.
after that i went onto the insanity workouts which i like much better than the gym and did a lot more for me.
i think the most important thing is to listen to your body and if you get tired stop. i never wore a belt, just made sure my bag was empty. i did sometimes wear my belly band thing, because i didnt want my bag to flop around.
Posted 10/16/2011 10:52 AM (GMT 0)
rosemary.. you should be able to do anything. yes all of those things are fine and no reason why you can't do them. With the lat pull down machine that you're talking about.. pull it to your chest not behind your head (regardless off what the machine instructions say) and don't 'over stretch' up until you feel comfortable with your stoma and stomach. But it wont' stress the abs too much, just keep them strong as you're doing the exercise. The bike will be ideal.. I ride my racing bike out on the road and my stoma gets very squished up.. but it seem fine. Good luck and enjoy!
Posted 10/16/2011 10:50 PM (GMT 0)
I'm pretty sure the whole "stoma getting squished" thing is not a concern. I am a dancer and have done just about everything imaginable... think how much your intestines get "squished up" without a stoma...it's fine. Unless you're ramming your stoma with a weight, I don't see how that's a concern. When I'm working out the only thing I avoid are stright situps and leg throws and that kind of thing meant to target your stomach muscles.
Posted 10/18/2011 2:29 PM (GMT 0)
I started training again 6 weeks out following an open partial colectomy with no problems. Initially I had to run/walk, but after a week or so I was doing just fine. I had surgery in late March, started half marathon training in mid-May, and just ran my half marathon on Sunday. You can do it! Just ease in, listen to your body, expect to need more rest and sleep than before while you are still recovering, and be sure to hydrate, hydrate, hydrate! Enjoy! :-)
Posted 10/18/2011 3:56 PM (GMT 0)
I've been running and playing sports in the last week, it's been great to be active again. TakIng it easy on the weights at the moment but I'm sure I'll be ok to lift a bit more in a few weeks. Getting healthy again ready for my next op.
✚ New Topic ✚ Reply