Exercise after surgery....

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hermajestee
hermajestee Posts: 28 Member
in Fitness and Exercise
In late December, I had a complete reconstruction of my esophagus, which involved an incision from my belly button to my chest, broken sternum, the whole bit.
My question is - has anyone had a similar surgery & what limitations did you have when going back to the gym? I have my release to get started with the disclaimer of "if it hurts, you shouldn't do it" (very helpful), but I don't want to injure myself.
- As a part of the surgery, I've lost quite a bit of weight (can't eat much) and I'm very eager to tone up. Quick weight loss doesn't look so great! :)
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  • CipherZero
    CipherZero Posts: 1,418 Member
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    Had open heart in December 2013.

    I started on Starting Strength after getting cleared; the "you're doing the program" version has you start with a weight that finally slows you down. I modified it by starting with just the bar and adding weight each session instead.

    Add protein, lots of it. It'll help you heal.

    Avoid dips as they stress the sternum pretty hard.

    Never EVER bench press without a knowledgeable spotter. Dropping a bar on your chest will suck while you're still healing.

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