Running After Gallbladder Surgery
pbl1966
Posts: 207 Member
I had my gallbladder removed laporscopically last Monday and was wondering how quickly I can expect to get back my running fitness. I was training for my first 1/2 and had gotten up to 10 miles at a time at the end of August. Started having major stomach problems and have not run over 8 since mid September and only ran maybe 4 or 5 times in October and November. I am back walking now and hope to maybe try running late next week. I am thinking of re-trying a 1/2 in February but don't want to be over optimistic about my recovery. Any experiences or suggestions anyone could share would be great!
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Replies
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I had my gall bladder out last March. I believe my doc told me I could exercise in 2 weeks, just take it slow.0
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The average rest time to recover from gallbladder surgery is 6 weeks.... I had mine taken out back in 2007, i was good to go in about 4 weeks...... just be carefull. You know your body better than anyone else, take it slow and feel it out.1
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I'd ask your doc and make sure - even knowing it's laparoscopic, folks have different healing/pain/recovery times. Better to follow recommendations and go a little slower than to overdo it and have recovery take 3 times longer.... Good luck getting back up to speed again!!
:flowerforyou: 0 -
I think your question is more about attaining your previous fitness level than "when is it safe to run?"
Your doctor should be the only one to answer the latter question. As for the former, of course it depends upon how long you go without running. Let's assume the doctor says 6 weeks. I'd say that it would be safe to take 6 to 8 weeks to get back to your previous, pre-surgery mileage and then another 3 to 4 weeks at that level before you feel like you are back to where you were before. This is all just guesstimation, so take it for what it's worth.0 -
Thanks for the responses, I was wondering more about anyones experience getting back to thier fitness level after surgery. Going back to the doctor next week and not planning on starting running without her OK.0
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Thanks for the responses, I was wondering more about anyones experience getting back to thier fitness level after surgery. Going back to the doctor next week and not planning on starting running without her OK.
Yes, check with your doctor next week and don't do it before then. As far as my gallbladder removal, I was running 2 weeks after surgery, lifting 4 weeks after, approved by my Dr. of course. :flowerforyou:0 -
If you have a solid running background you should be able to do a 1/2 in February. Just build it back up slowly, and maybe use the race as your peak?0
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My doc said 6 weeks0
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I had my GB lap surgery March 11. I don't have pain in area of incisions anymore, but I do have severe belching/gas when running and afterwards. The next day I do have diarrhea sometimes and pain in liver and lower right abdomen. It's been 8 weeks. My doc says to take it easy! I am very frustrated and now wish I hadn't had my gallbladder removed. I think I will have problems forever now.0
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Probably several weeks. It’s not just about how you “feel” but your internals need time to fully heal so you don’t rupture anything. That’s generally 4-6 weeks. Running places a lot of stressors on the body, right?0
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Everybody is different. I stood on inlineskates 2 days after being released from hospital (I stayed the night). Not because I thought it was cool but because my bike has a very sporty sitting position, and that didn't quite work yet. Walking was also a bit too bumpy the first day on skates. Basically, I had to go to a supermarket. Next day I did a 10km round on skates. Considering all the tram rails to cross and occasional areas with sand it wasn't a good idea in hindsight.
After 12 days I spent a night in a tent and walked some distances in hilly, partly steep terrain on a geocaching trip in the Belgian Ardennes. Also climbed into an old fortress ruin. Both were also not the best idea in hindsight
There's a definite pattern there I think
It did take quite a while before I could run again because the bumpy movement was too much for two of my four little wounds.0 -
Thanks for the responses, I was wondering more about anyones experience getting back to thier fitness level after surgery. Going back to the doctor next week and not planning on starting running without her OK.
I had mine out laparoscopically in mid-summer of 2015, and was pretty active beforehand. (Rowing (intensely) on water 4 days a week, spin class 2 days a week, plus a little lifting and such, at that point.) I was also age 59 then, so inactivity leads to faster de-training than it did when I was younger. I will say that I'd been very active like that for a dozen years by then, so I was reasonably fit, not new to working out.
A few days after surgery, my doctor said I could walk, but that was all. I did that twice a day for several weeks, I think 3 or 4 weeks, at which point she said I could lift 5 pounds. I asked her if I could do it repeatedly (heh); she said to give that another week. At that point, I did my life's first experience with "lifting to boredom" rather than "lifting almost to form compromise" or something more reasonable in fitness terms: Teesy weight, manyMany reps .
Even with that little going on, even at my "advanced" age at the time, the true loss of fitness was pretty negligible, and I was back to normal performance within quite a short time - less than a month after being cleared to return to rowing and spinning.
Listen to your doctor, eat at maintenance calories or close (if you're otherwise trying to lose weight now) to prioritize healing, get good nutrition, and do what you're medically allowed to do when you're allowed to do it. You'll be fine . . . long before February, I'd predict.
Best wishes!0 -
Thanks for the responses, I was wondering more about anyones experience getting back to thier fitness level after surgery. Going back to the doctor next week and not planning on starting running without her OK.
I had mine out laparoscopically in mid-summer of 2015, and was pretty active beforehand. (Rowing (intensely) on water 4 days a week, spin class 2 days a week, plus a little lifting and such, at that point.) I was also age 59 then, so inactivity leads to faster de-training than it did when I was younger. I will say that I'd been very active like that for a dozen years by then, so I was reasonably fit, not new to working out.
A few days after surgery, my doctor said I could walk, but that was all. I did that twice a day for several weeks, I think 3 or 4 weeks, at which point she said I could lift 5 pounds. I asked her if I could do it repeatedly (heh); she said to give that another week. At that point, I did my life's first experience with "lifting to boredom" rather than "lifting almost to form compromise" or something more reasonable in fitness terms: Teesy weight, manyMany reps .
Even with that little going on, even at my "advanced" age at the time, the true loss of fitness was pretty negligible, and I was back to normal performance within quite a short time - less than a month after being cleared to return to rowing and spinning.
Listen to your doctor, eat at maintenance calories or close (if you're otherwise trying to lose weight now) to prioritize healing, get good nutrition, and do what you're medically allowed to do when you're allowed to do it. You'll be fine . . . long before February, I'd predict.
Best wishes!
@AnnPT77 you missed the bit where this post is almost 8 years old!!
Great advice as always though 😉
Where are all the zombie threads coming from all of a sudden eh!0 -
Thanks for the responses, I was wondering more about anyones experience getting back to thier fitness level after surgery. Going back to the doctor next week and not planning on starting running without her OK.
I had mine out laparoscopically in mid-summer of 2015, and was pretty active beforehand. (Rowing (intensely) on water 4 days a week, spin class 2 days a week, plus a little lifting and such, at that point.) I was also age 59 then, so inactivity leads to faster de-training than it did when I was younger. I will say that I'd been very active like that for a dozen years by then, so I was reasonably fit, not new to working out.
A few days after surgery, my doctor said I could walk, but that was all. I did that twice a day for several weeks, I think 3 or 4 weeks, at which point she said I could lift 5 pounds. I asked her if I could do it repeatedly (heh); she said to give that another week. At that point, I did my life's first experience with "lifting to boredom" rather than "lifting almost to form compromise" or something more reasonable in fitness terms: Teesy weight, manyMany reps .
Even with that little going on, even at my "advanced" age at the time, the true loss of fitness was pretty negligible, and I was back to normal performance within quite a short time - less than a month after being cleared to return to rowing and spinning.
Listen to your doctor, eat at maintenance calories or close (if you're otherwise trying to lose weight now) to prioritize healing, get good nutrition, and do what you're medically allowed to do when you're allowed to do it. You'll be fine . . . long before February, I'd predict.
Best wishes!
@AnnPT77 you missed the bit where this post is almost 8 years old!!
Great advice as always though 😉
Where are all the zombie threads coming from all of a sudden eh!
Ooops! That happens, so I get a little more vigilant, then slip again. Apologies, and thanks!1 -
arieschild60 wrote: »I had my GB lap surgery March 11. I don't have pain in area of incisions anymore, but I do have severe belching/gas when running and afterwards. The next day I do have diarrhea sometimes and pain in liver and lower right abdomen. It's been 8 weeks. My doc says to take it easy! I am very frustrated and now wish I hadn't had my gallbladder removed. I think I will have problems forever now.
It's only been a little over a month. Give your body some time to find a new normal. Some people find they have to keep their fat intake low, and other find that over time they can slowly increase the amount of fat in their diet.0 -
Oh dear g0d where do these things come from?!🤯Thanks for the responses, I was wondering more about anyones experience getting back to thier fitness level after surgery. Going back to the doctor next week and not planning on starting running without her OK.
I had mine out laparoscopically in mid-summer of 2015, and was pretty active beforehand. (Rowing (intensely) on water 4 days a week, spin class 2 days a week, plus a little lifting and such, at that point.) I was also age 59 then, so inactivity leads to faster de-training than it did when I was younger. I will say that I'd been very active like that for a dozen years by then, so I was reasonably fit, not new to working out.
A few days after surgery, my doctor said I could walk, but that was all. I did that twice a day for several weeks, I think 3 or 4 weeks, at which point she said I could lift 5 pounds. I asked her if I could do it repeatedly (heh); she said to give that another week. At that point, I did my life's first experience with "lifting to boredom" rather than "lifting almost to form compromise" or something more reasonable in fitness terms: Teesy weight, manyMany reps .
Even with that little going on, even at my "advanced" age at the time, the true loss of fitness was pretty negligible, and I was back to normal performance within quite a short time - less than a month after being cleared to return to rowing and spinning.
Listen to your doctor, eat at maintenance calories or close (if you're otherwise trying to lose weight now) to prioritize healing, get good nutrition, and do what you're medically allowed to do when you're allowed to do it. You'll be fine . . . long before February, I'd predict.
Best wishes!
@AnnPT77 you missed the bit where this post is almost 8 years old!!
Great advice as always though 😉
Where are all the zombie threads coming from all of a sudden eh!
0 -
Oh dear g0d where do these things come from?!🤯Thanks for the responses, I was wondering more about anyones experience getting back to thier fitness level after surgery. Going back to the doctor next week and not planning on starting running without her OK.
I had mine out laparoscopically in mid-summer of 2015, and was pretty active beforehand. (Rowing (intensely) on water 4 days a week, spin class 2 days a week, plus a little lifting and such, at that point.) I was also age 59 then, so inactivity leads to faster de-training than it did when I was younger. I will say that I'd been very active like that for a dozen years by then, so I was reasonably fit, not new to working out.
A few days after surgery, my doctor said I could walk, but that was all. I did that twice a day for several weeks, I think 3 or 4 weeks, at which point she said I could lift 5 pounds. I asked her if I could do it repeatedly (heh); she said to give that another week. At that point, I did my life's first experience with "lifting to boredom" rather than "lifting almost to form compromise" or something more reasonable in fitness terms: Teesy weight, manyMany reps .
Even with that little going on, even at my "advanced" age at the time, the true loss of fitness was pretty negligible, and I was back to normal performance within quite a short time - less than a month after being cleared to return to rowing and spinning.
Listen to your doctor, eat at maintenance calories or close (if you're otherwise trying to lose weight now) to prioritize healing, get good nutrition, and do what you're medically allowed to do when you're allowed to do it. You'll be fine . . . long before February, I'd predict.
Best wishes!
@AnnPT77 you missed the bit where this post is almost 8 years old!!
Great advice as always though 😉
Where are all the zombie threads coming from all of a sudden eh!
Someone bumped the post yesterday.0 -
D'oh0
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Oh dear g0d where do these things come from?!🤯Thanks for the responses, I was wondering more about anyones experience getting back to thier fitness level after surgery. Going back to the doctor next week and not planning on starting running without her OK.
I had mine out laparoscopically in mid-summer of 2015, and was pretty active beforehand. (Rowing (intensely) on water 4 days a week, spin class 2 days a week, plus a little lifting and such, at that point.) I was also age 59 then, so inactivity leads to faster de-training than it did when I was younger. I will say that I'd been very active like that for a dozen years by then, so I was reasonably fit, not new to working out.
A few days after surgery, my doctor said I could walk, but that was all. I did that twice a day for several weeks, I think 3 or 4 weeks, at which point she said I could lift 5 pounds. I asked her if I could do it repeatedly (heh); she said to give that another week. At that point, I did my life's first experience with "lifting to boredom" rather than "lifting almost to form compromise" or something more reasonable in fitness terms: Teesy weight, manyMany reps .
Even with that little going on, even at my "advanced" age at the time, the true loss of fitness was pretty negligible, and I was back to normal performance within quite a short time - less than a month after being cleared to return to rowing and spinning.
Listen to your doctor, eat at maintenance calories or close (if you're otherwise trying to lose weight now) to prioritize healing, get good nutrition, and do what you're medically allowed to do when you're allowed to do it. You'll be fine . . . long before February, I'd predict.
Best wishes!
@AnnPT77 you missed the bit where this post is almost 8 years old!!
Great advice as always though 😉
Where are all the zombie threads coming from all of a sudden eh!
Someone bumped the post yesterday.
And in this case, it was someone who needed help with the same subject, so it was on topic. We encourage people to use the search function, so this is a benign case. Not benign: My replying to the OP, instead of the new person.
1 -
Oh dear g0d where do these things come from?!🤯Thanks for the responses, I was wondering more about anyones experience getting back to thier fitness level after surgery. Going back to the doctor next week and not planning on starting running without her OK.
I had mine out laparoscopically in mid-summer of 2015, and was pretty active beforehand. (Rowing (intensely) on water 4 days a week, spin class 2 days a week, plus a little lifting and such, at that point.) I was also age 59 then, so inactivity leads to faster de-training than it did when I was younger. I will say that I'd been very active like that for a dozen years by then, so I was reasonably fit, not new to working out.
A few days after surgery, my doctor said I could walk, but that was all. I did that twice a day for several weeks, I think 3 or 4 weeks, at which point she said I could lift 5 pounds. I asked her if I could do it repeatedly (heh); she said to give that another week. At that point, I did my life's first experience with "lifting to boredom" rather than "lifting almost to form compromise" or something more reasonable in fitness terms: Teesy weight, manyMany reps .
Even with that little going on, even at my "advanced" age at the time, the true loss of fitness was pretty negligible, and I was back to normal performance within quite a short time - less than a month after being cleared to return to rowing and spinning.
Listen to your doctor, eat at maintenance calories or close (if you're otherwise trying to lose weight now) to prioritize healing, get good nutrition, and do what you're medically allowed to do when you're allowed to do it. You'll be fine . . . long before February, I'd predict.
Best wishes!
@AnnPT77 you missed the bit where this post is almost 8 years old!!
Great advice as always though 😉
Where are all the zombie threads coming from all of a sudden eh!
Someone bumped the post yesterday.
And in this case, it was someone who needed help with the same subject, so it was on topic. We encourage people to use the search function, so this is a benign case. Not benign: My replying to the OP, instead of the new person.
It was still great advice. You always give great advice. I've learned a lot from you.1 -
arieschild60 wrote: »I had my GB lap surgery March 11. I don't have pain in area of incisions anymore, but I do have severe belching/gas when running and afterwards. The next day I do have diarrhea sometimes and pain in liver and lower right abdomen. It's been 8 weeks. My doc says to take it easy! I am very frustrated and now wish I hadn't had my gallbladder removed. I think I will have problems forever now.
Did they give you special dietary guidelines to follow after surgery? If not, maybe you could ask for recommendations (or better, given your symptoms) a registered dietitian referral?
Some people do have trouble with fat intake, or occasionally other specific foods/categories, after surgery. It's possible that your running is a trigger, but it might we worth looking at whether there's some possibility of eating-related triggers, as well. Is it ever a little better, or a little worse? If so, are there any patterns? If you eat different things before running, or time that eating differently, or eat differently overall, does that make any difference?
I remember having abdominal twinge-y stuff for a pretty long time after surgery (in 2015), but was lucky not to have major digestive issues. I'd been losing weight before surgery (no, that didn't cause gallstones/sludge, because that wasn't why they took the sucker out). That meant I was already eating in the way they told me to, so I didn't have to make any major changes. Many months later, when I hit maintenance, I added back some of the things that they had said could cause issues, but was fortunate to have no problems.
Anecdotally, some people's digestive system issues seem to decline over time, so there's still hope.
Best wishes!
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I asked my surgeon on dietary advice, and his advice was: see what works. Everyone is different. Some people have problems with digesting lots of fat, some people might get problems with bloating (temporary or longer), some have no problems at all. My observation is: i had quite some bloating at first, but it sorted itself out. My long-time diarrhea vanished. I can actually eat a fatty restaurant meal without running to the loo an hour max afterwards. so i guess it was a success.1
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