Had my appendix Taken out

other than the obvious answer of listen to what my doctor has told me, for those who have had the appendix removed how long did you wait until you started climbing again? My doctor has told me 3-4 weeks but that just seems like forever!!

Depends on the surgery you needed to remove it but for a week I could hardly pick up a book over 5 lbs. I was back snowboarding in a month (I would think climbing would be similar). You really want it to be healed though. no reason to push it.

i had a laparoscopic appendectomy

Same here. mine was a month before I felt right getting back at things.

Be careful or you risk a hernia. Those holes must heal completely. Easy footwork climbs are no biggie, but a fall and a big push in the gut will cause problems if not healed.

Mine was not laproscopic, just traditional slice with resultant 2.5" scar, toward the end of December of that year. Took me till the 4th weekend to get back on skis.

You'll probably feel strong enough earlier, but you absolutely do not want to risk separating the parts that are trying to glue themselves back together.

thanks for the responses, i figured the darn doctor was correct, just wanted to fish to see if i could get back sooner.

Mine wasn't laparoscopic. I spent a week in the hospital and had two drains left in place for 3 weeks at home. This is what happens when you try to tough out a ruptured appy for almost two days. Anyways, I didn't climb for six months to prevent a hernia. This is when I was exclusively bouldering on a very steep home wall.

3 to 4 weeks bare minimum seems reasonable for laparoscopic appendectomy.

Doug Lintz wrote:Mine wasn't laparoscopic. I spent a week in the hospital and had two drains left in place for 3 weeks at home. This is what happens when you try to tough out a ruptured appy for almost two days.

That's not toughing it out; that's flirting with death!
A ruptured appendix is pretty damned serious.

yeah no kidding that is crazy!

So does anyone have any recommendations as to some exercises i can be doing to not totally loose my strength?

Marc801 wrote: That's not toughing it out; that's flirting with death! A ruptured appendix is pretty damned serious.

So true. In retrospect, I really don't know what I was thinking, especially since I'm a CT Technologist and scan people for appendicitis all the time! The idea that I personally had appendicitis never really occurred to me.

Chasing Choss,
Four weeks will probably have less of an impact on your strength than you think. I would avoid anything that engages your core/abdominal muscles. You do not want a hernia.

If you need to ask on the internets, then you should see a qualified physical therapist to rebuild your core and heal properly before you even think about engaging in such a core intensive activity as climbing. A hernia will require more surgery and an even longer rest.

Just be glad you had laporoscopic surgery. My abs went completely slack and lost all strength and definition after recently receiving a crotch-to-sternum incision. I'll be out on my ass for a long time - I'd kill to be in your position.

Chasing Choss wrote:yeah no kidding that is crazy! So does anyone have any recommendations as to some exercises i can be doing to not totally loose my strength?

You'll lose a little anaerobic endurance, but I doubt you will notice any reductions in strength.

plus your strength to weight ratio just got a little better without the weight of that appendix dragging you down :)

3-4 weeks.