ne/exercise after myo etc.

May 20, 2004

Hi ne, congratulations on your successful surgery with Dr.

West. I think someone else posted here once that Dr. West doesn't put

any post-surgery restrictions on his patients at all -- but here is

what my doc and nurses said: walk as much as you like, it helps the

recovery (don't be a couch potato); don't lift over 15 lbs, don't

vacuum, avoid stairs (though I had conflicting advice on this and did

not avoid stairs and did not have any pain with stairs).

At my 2-week post-op checkup my doctor lifted all my restrictions and

said I could do whatever I wanted as long as it didn't hurt or make

me tired. I specifically asked about running, exercising in general

and sex. He said he suspected I might still be too tired to run but I

should listen to my body.

By that two-week point I was walking around the neighborhood as much

as I wanted (up to an hour at a time, once a day, but at a moderate

pace). I still got tired and sometimes achy by the evening though (I

was very frustrated at 2-3 weeks that I was still somewhat fatigued

and uncomfortable -- looking back I was way impatient with myself). I

did my first short, slow run at 5 weeks; sex at 5-6 weeks I believe;

started gentle yoga at home at 6 weeks; my first yoga class (more

vigorous) at 7 weeks (tell your teacher -- mine restricted me from

certain poses). I think I started easing into ab exercise (crunches)

about 8 weeks. I didn't have pain when I started crunches but it did

feel like my abs were tired and somewhat sensitive, maybe still

recovering from being manipulated during the surgery (not cut) or

else just atrophying!!

With all of these things I felt that I could have moved the schedule

up a week -- I was being very cautious. But everyone is different.

It took about 3-4 months to get my pre-op level of energy and stamina

back (gauging by how I felt when I really exerted myself -- all

normal activities felt fine), but since then I've felt that I have

MORE energy than before surgery. Good to get that monster fibroid out

of there.

Sunny

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