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Turning post abdominal surgery

Lou Jacobs

Lou Jacobs

Joined
Jul 18, 2018
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Location
Baltimore, MD
I had emergency laparoscopic surgery to remove my gallbladder on Thursday night. Came home right away and am now (while currently feeling like hell) wondering how long before I get back in the shop. Post-op discharge notes notes are pretty conservative: 6 weeks before lifting over 15 lbs, etc. I do have a two week follow-up appointment scheduled with the surgeon, so I suppose the shop will wait at least til then. I wonder if folks here can share similar experience with getting back on the lathe? Thanks loads!
 
Have a speedy recovery.
I’m sure you realize that your situation is your situation.
Your surgeon may give you specific guidance.

My wife had a similar planned surgery when we were living in Annapolis. 3 little incisions.
She painted a small wall on our house the next day.
3 days later we flew from BWI to Brazil to visit the pantanal. Pre-surgery the surgeon had assured her she could travel.
Of course we were 21 years younger then.
 
Wow, Lou, that sounds serious. Once again, I am SO thankful we have access to good medical care.

I had a issue following shoulder surgical repair after a fall (related to seizures). I had similar, but more specific restrictions on use of my left arm, estimated recovery time included four-six months of PT. However, after a few months the Dr gave me permission to get back to things that required motion but no lifting or potential for stress (e.g. don't walk a horse using that arm on the lead rope!). It did stop me from carrying log sections to the bandsaw for processing.

Since I primarily turn small things, I didn't need to lift large wood blanks. The Dr agreed that I could get back to woodturning (and playing the piano, working the hydraulic hand controls in the dirt-moving equipment - stretching the left arm for guitar was out, as was climbing ladders, chainsawing!). Since it was my left arm recovering, my right could do all the work and the left just guide. Another more recent surgery stopped me again, but only until I was off the pain medication.

However, your surgery current instruction sound more generally restrictive, much different than mine. Forces from things like hollow forms might be a problem if turned with hand tools.

You might explain to the doctor at your visit what's involved with your wood turning. Might even use a stick and show the tool motions and effort involved. If you usually turn big stuff, maybe this would be a good time to work on spindles and smaller things! (Hey, if you're not a hard-core spindle turner should I drive up and bring my unpatented but always successful skew lesson? :) If timed right I have a turning friend near Hollywood I might stop and visit on the way or way back.)

JKJ
 
Al and John, thanks so much for your responses. I do understand that every situation is unique and will wait to see how I’m feeling in a few days before moving too fast. As it is right now I’m really not feeling like doing anything besides sitting in the couch, until I can’t sit any more.
John, your suggestions about showing and explaining the motions on the lathe to the surgeon are a good idea. I’ll plan on doing that when I see her. No need to plan a skew lesson, though I very much appreciate the generous offer.
 
GIve yourself plenty of time to recover. I had emergency laproscopic gall bladder surgery several years ago and my surgeon was hesitant to even let me go back to work (office job) after 2+ weeks. Full disclosure, I was in the hospital for several days following surgery on high levels of exotic antibiotics, so my situation was particularly difficult. Even installing a couple of switch wall plates during the interim after hospital release was exhausting. Walking across the office parking lot the first few mornings was very difficult and exhausting. Listen to your doctor and your body. The lathe will still be there next month.
 
Dwayne Watt said:
I had emergency laproscopic gall bladder surgery several years ago and my surgeon was hesitant to even let me go back to work (office job) after 2+ weeks.
Click to expand...
Dwayne, thanks for sharing your experience. It actually is helping me to think about and the near future more realistically. we are signed up for a class at JC Campbell in two weeks. My wife is encouraging me to cancel, which the more I think about it, I think makes sense, As hard as that will be to do. In addition to how active I would have to be there, I’m also a little worried about adjusting my diet to my new gallbladderless existence. I don’t think the time to do that is away at a place with all kinds of interesting and unusual (to me) menus. Fortunately, the class is not a Woodturning class this time so I’ll feel less bad about missing it than if it were turning.
 
I had hernia surgery a few years ago.

The day before the surgery I found out a used machine I wanted finally became available for sale. No way could I participate in the moving of it. I called for an appointment to pay hoping the seller would hold it until i could get it after the surgery. Turned out the seller was having a get together with friends. They gladly loaded it into my pickup.

Had the surgery the next day. It went well. Leaving the hospital they wheeled me out to the car where my wife was waiting. I got the nurse's advice not to lift more than a few pounds for the next month or so. Okay. Two days later with the follow up with the surgeon I mentioned the lifting restriction. He was somewhat irritated by the advice and said it was nonsense, a hold over from years ago. Let pain be your guide he said, do whatever you feel like doing. I unloaded the 300 hundred pound machine by myself 3 days after the surgery.
 
So the plot continues to thicken! Thanks Alan and Doug for your responses. I’ll wait a few days to avoid making any premature decisions.
 
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