Weight Training + Illeostomy

[TigerFu]

I had a total colectomy surgery at the begining of July. Before all this Crohns business I was in outstanding shape now i struggle to do a pushup. Now i look like i lived in a cave for a year only eating grass and grubs. I want to know how fast i can start lifting and getting into shape. They cut through my lower abs and i cant really use them yet. Also my reversal surgery is in September should i wait till my reversal surgery and lift after that? Is lifting safe? When should i be safe to lift again?

 

[DJW]

Hi. I used to lift heavy weights with my ileostomy. Wouldn't recommend it. Its a major hernia waiting to happen. Lifting belts will wreck the stoma.

You can get ostomy support belts (which I use) but I need to be careful not to lift too much weight.

Talk to the surgeon after surgery for lifting advice. Pre-surgery, exercise for sure. Be as healthy as possibly. Lift, not sure I'd do it. Maybe keep it light.

 

[nogutsnoglory]

I would wait till after your reversal and 2 months after with gradual weight progression. You don't want to jeopardize the reversal with a prolapse or hernia.

 

[bloke]

Hi,
Know how you feel. Have been lifting weights nearly all my adult life and was shocked to go from 17 stone down to a gollum like 12 stone.
Am back to lifting now but abs are shot due to a fistula tract running through them. I have had to stop all compound moves like squats, deadlifts and such and even struggle with a standing dumbbell curl as it puts pressure on abs as do almost all triceps moves (bench dips and kickbacks ok though).
Best suggestion I could give is to drop down the weights you are lifting and go super slow and strict on the reps to increase muscle tension. Negative reps work great as does not locking out at top of rep to keep tension on muscle throughout set.
Using above techniques has let me put 2 stone back on even though I sometimes have to miss weeks at a time from training due to feeling too exhausted.