Exercise - afraid to push it

Tugguy
Tugguy Member Posts: 10 Member
in Kidney Cancer #1

Looking for some advice. 8 weeks ago I had my right kidney removed. I am 65 year old male, was in pretty good shape going into surgery. Exercised pretty regularly, walked everyday, did some biking, yoga etc. Haven't experienced real pain, just some discomfort now and again. For the first month, I did nothing except walking. Now I continue to walk everyday but started incorperating light yard work, house work, etc. I have a full blown workout room in my home and am afraid to walk into it. Can I start lifting light weights yet? Can I work my core? I'm scared to rip out whatever is going on inside. What I can't see is what I am afraid of.

I am feeling good overall, my incision is healing nicely. My biggest complaint is I get physically tired much sooner than I used to. I work as an engineer on a ship, where sometimes my days are quite long and strenuous, I am presently still out of work. Anyway, sorry for the rambling, just hoping to get some on advice on overdoing things. Thanks.

Mark

Comments

  • icemantoo
    icemantoo Member Posts: 3,361 Member
    #2
    It will take a while

    My Neph was 18 years ago at a young 59,, The first year was slqw. I dud water ski 11 monthx later.

     

     

     

    icemantoo

  • donna_lee
    donna_lee Member Posts: 1,045 Member
    edited October 2020 #3
    By now...

    you should have seen the surgeon for your post surgical exam.  What did he tell you?  I started slow, the only speed my body had at that time. It took about 6 weeks to recover from the surgery I had (click on user name to see what/how much).  Once to the 6 week mark, recovery was steady.  I could drive comfortably so went to work a few hours a day, took care of the house & home, and started doing work in my yard, that had been neclected for 2-3 years.

    Begin with fewer minutes, less reps, etc.  If that works, build up. If it hurts a lot, don't do it

    If you were an athlete, remember for each day off, it takes your body 3 days to regain what was lost during that time period.  One week would take 3 weeks; six weeks would take nearly 3 months.

    I was  63, fourteen years ago and age and a couple of cancer recurrences and a couple orthopaedic episodes have slowed me some; still keep hanging in there.

    Good luck on a successful recovery.  Hugs,

    donna_lee

  • Bay Area Guy
    Bay Area Guy Member Posts: 619 Member
    edited October 2020 #4
    Was your surgery open or

    Was your surgery open or laparoscopic?  If it was open, you want to take things a little slow.  I had open abdominal surgery a couple of times and, like you, I walked a lot during my recovery.  I waited about 12 weeks to start very light strength training and only after getting clearance from the surgeon.  I had a partial neph done laparoscopically.  The surgeon cleared me to do pretty much anything after four weeks when I went in for a follow-up, but, other than walking, I waited eight weeks for weights and started slow and light.

  • Tugguy
    Tugguy Member Posts: 10 Member
    edited October 2020 #5
    donna_lee said:

    By now...

    you should have seen the surgeon for your post surgical exam.  What did he tell you?  I started slow, the only speed my body had at that time. It took about 6 weeks to recover from the surgery I had (click on user name to see what/how much).  Once to the 6 week mark, recovery was steady.  I could drive comfortably so went to work a few hours a day, took care of the house & home, and started doing work in my yard, that had been neclected for 2-3 years.

    Begin with fewer minutes, less reps, etc.  If that works, build up. If it hurts a lot, don't do it

    If you were an athlete, remember for each day off, it takes your body 3 days to regain what was lost during that time period.  One week would take 3 weeks; six weeks would take nearly 3 months.

    I was  63, fourteen years ago and age and a couple of cancer recurrences and a couple orthopaedic episodes have slowed me some; still keep hanging in there.

    Good luck on a successful recovery.  Hugs,

    donna_lee

    Thanks Donna

    Great info and reminders. Thank you for responding, much appreciated. Mark

  • Tugguy
    Tugguy Member Posts: 10 Member
    edited October 2020 #6
    Bay Area Guy said:

    Was your surgery open or

    Was your surgery open or laparoscopic?  If it was open, you want to take things a little slow.  I had open abdominal surgery a couple of times and, like you, I walked a lot during my recovery.  I waited about 12 weeks to start very light strength training and only after getting clearance from the surgeon.  I had a partial neph done laparoscopically.  The surgeon cleared me to do pretty much anything after four weeks when I went in for a follow-up, but, other than walking, I waited eight weeks for weights and started slow and light.

    Bay Area Guy

    Thanks for the input, mine was laparoscopic, but he had to open me up to remove the kidney, I guess it was quite large. Listening to you and others I guess I'm on schedule. Just getting impatient I guess. I appreciate the response, Thank you. Tugguy

  • Tugguy
    Tugguy Member Posts: 10 Member
    edited October 2020 #7
    icemantoo said:

    It will take a while

    My Neph was 18 years ago at a young 59,, The first year was slqw. I dud water ski 11 monthx later.

     

     

     

    icemantoo

    Icemantoo

    Thanks for the response. Very helpful. Tugguy

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