Post op lose of fitness. Feeling very sad

[cheltsam83]

The past two years I have been on a real fitness journey from zero fitness to gym classes and running 10k weekly. I had a ERCP op just over a week ago to remove a gallstone. I struggled to run one mile and needed to stop for breath ever half a mile. I only managed 5k. I'm also struggling to lift the same weight.

I also had a very very upset tummy after the run today.

The ERCP was only a minor op. I can't believe how it's impacted my fitness and now I'm tired all afternoon.

It's only been a week. You need to be kind to yourself and let yourself heal.

Walk first. Then if you feel ok, try a gentle jog around the block, then rest. You aren't a machine.

It will come back. I had a breast op, then chemo. First time out, eight weeks afterwards, I managed about 800m. I'm two years on now, and back to running 5k twice a week.

Well done getting so far with your fitness!

Take it easy, it’s only been a week. Your body needs some time to recover - listen to what it’s telling you and you’ll be back to full fitness before you know it.

I was on the sofa with an injury for over a year and like you, really hated to lose my fitness. But now I realize that part of being active is experiencing injury and having to figure out how to come back from it!

If you can think of this process as normal and something that most people have to deal with at some point, I hope you'll feel calmer! You're normal. Look at what you're doing. You're on the road to recovery and are doing your best to get back in shape.

Your operation was only a week ago. Minor or not, it's completely normal and expected that you're still feeling the effects. I'm a bit obsessive about fitness and even I wouldn't be doing anything for a couple of weeks if I had had a gallstone removal! Even then, I'd be taking it easy.

Don't worry, you won't lose your fitness if you take it easy for a month. Even if you're feeling substandard for two months, you'll quickly regain your fitness when recovered and won't have lost much of your fitness. People who are in shape before taking a break have a much easier time getting back in shape.

If you can afford it, maybe hire a personal trainer to help you come up with a recovery programme. That might help you feel stronger faster and provide you with reassurance that you're doing things correctly!

Thanks all for the kind words. I will try and be kind to myself.

I guess it's taken more out of me than expected. Although it was just an ercp. I was still sedated and had a minor procedure etc. Just very frustrating.

I'm dreading them recommending the gallbladder out as well. As that's up in the air at the moment as I had zero symptoms and was shown up in a health check

I'm not surprised at all that you're still not feeling 100% only a week later. The thing to remember is that a week is really not long. Don't avoid the gallbladder procedure (or any other treatment) because you're concerned about missing out on some exercise. The best thing to do for your health is to take care of anything that will keep you active and pain-free in the long-term.

My 72-year-old aunt is really struggling right now because she just had her first-ever injury, a broken ankle. She is convinced that it's all over and she's too old to get back in shape if she can't run for a couple of months. I'm very glad to have had to experience recovery at a younger age and learn that we have to keep picking ourselves back up again no matter what and things will improve.

Honestly, don't worry at all. I couldn't lift weights for over nine months during the lockdowns and even though I had lost some strength by the time I could return to the gym, the situation wasn't that bad and didn't take long to rectify. Muscles have a long memory! Same with running when I was on the sofa for over a year. You'll have to be out of action for a lot longer than a couple of weeks to notice a major deterioration! Good luck and good on you for doing your best.

I hear you OP. Exercise has such a positive effect on my mental health that I really struggle with the fact I can’t do any at the moment. I had a couple of pieces of vulval skin removed under general on Monday (vulval cancer survivor) so I’ll need to take it easy for a while.

However, I had a similar op last year and was back running within 5 weeks so I’m hoping for the same this time.

l guess we just have to be patient. I know it was fine last time in the end so hang in there!

Why would you have gallbladder out if you have zero symptoms?

Hi, the weakness you’re experiencing right now isn’t a ‘true’ loss of fitness. Your muscles and cardiovascular everything haven’t lost 18 months of progress in a week. This is just what recovery is like. Your body is putting all its energy into wound healing, and is making you slow down for a while.

I had surgery earlier this year and felt the same afterwards - in my case for weeks. But my normal strength and fitness rebounded after that. It was still there, just hidden while my body was doing a massive amount of protein synthesis at the wound site.

I had an injury last year and had to stop running for a couple of months, and then very gently build back up through most of 2022... with the added pressure of a deferred marathon place to aim for. This year, I've run the furthest that I've ever done, and my fastest with a new 5k pb.

Recovery is important, both the rest, then the gentle phasing back in of activity and building back to regular levels.

Be gentle with yourself. Fitness takes time to lose. Even a mild cold can take over a week to get back to normal from, let along being prodded and probed about with on the inside.

It's completely understandable that you're feeling frustrated and surprised by the impact the ERCP operation has had on your fitness journey. Even minor procedures can take a toll on our bodies, especially when we've been consistently pushing ourselves physically.

It's important to remember that your body needs time to recover and adjust after any medical intervention, no matter how small. Be kind to yourself during this period of transition and allow yourself the rest and recovery you need.

Wishing you a speedy recovery and a swift return to feeling strong and energized!

You have so much potential to improve. That would highly motivate me. Embrace the challenge.

Aww OP be kind to yourself and take the time to rest and recover.

I started getting fit aged 50, 7 years ago - strength and cardio. Since then I have had a significant shoulder injury, pandemic, some other minor injuries, and several bouts of covid and colds. I'm stronger than I've ever been, lifting heavier and doing more. And still run (albeit more slowly but it isn't my focus). In amongst I'll that I've done Pilates, home workouts, park bootcamps, park strentgh training, boxing - all on and off to suit circumstances, injury etc.

You WILL get it back, but do build up slowly and don't worry!