After your weight loss surgery, you must take care of your body in order for it to heal. This means that there are many activities you should avoid, all for varying periods of time. Following is a guide to activity for the first few months after surgery.
General Activity after Bariatric Surgery
The first week after surgery is the most physically exhausting, so don’t feel bad if you find that you tire easily. Listen to your body and be very conservative in your activities during this time. You should not do more than light housework duties for the first three to six weeks.
Bathing and Swimming
After weight loss surgery, you may take showers. Tub baths are not advisable for the first two weeks after laparoscopic surgery and for the first four weeks after an open procedure. Swimming can be enjoyed four weeks after your weight loss surgery, providing your incision has healed.
When showering, you’ll probably want to change your gauze dressing. You can begin doing this about 24 to 48 hours after you’ve had surgery. When you remove the gauze, you might notice some adhesive stuck to your skin. Remove it gently and do not use any harsh or abrasive soaps that could irritate your skin. Goo-Gone (available at stores like Walmart) is a safe way to remove the remaining adhesive. If you have Steri strips, you do not need to remove them before showering.
Driving after Bariatric Surgery
Because you may encounter overwhelming fatigue and because the movement of the steering wheel may irritate your incision, driving should be avoided for the first two weeks after weight loss surgery. If you are on a narcotic pain medication, then you should avoid driving until you no longer take that medication.
Sitting, Standing, and Climbing
Because you’ll tire easily during your weight loss surgery recovery, you should not sit or stand for long periods of time. Instead, you should be resting comfortably in a reclined position. You may climb stairs when necessary, but be sure to hold the railing to avoid any loss of balance and subsequent falls.
Lifting Restriction
When you have a laparoscopic procedure, you can begin lifting, pushing, moving, or pulling weights that exceed 15 pounds about four weeks after surgery. If you’ve had an open procedure, you should wait about eight weeks after your weight loss surgery.