Question:
Does anyone else have problems with extreme fatigue?
I had an open rny 8-3-04 I started out weighing 312 and now weigh 149 (give or take). I am having such extrmeme fatigue that a lot of the time I feel more tired when I get up that I did when I went to bed. My dr says my labs are great so I can't figure out what is going on. I take 3 Centrum chewables, 1 calcium chew a day & a 1000 mg vit E each day. — 1sthutch (posted on September 6, 2006)
September 6, 2006
My doc said the fatigue would last about 3 months and start to improve- it
has- although there are days when I am just exhausted. How is your B12
level? B12 helps with not only nerve health, healing but also energy
production- I take 1000mcg sublingual daily- it is water soluable so even
if you end up with a elevated level your kidneys will simply take the
excess out with the urine so you body doesn't hold it like fat soluable
vitamens. I also have increased my protein with Solgar Whey to go tabs
-each tab is 11 gms protein and I take 3-4 each dayin addition to what I
eat. Ask your doc about your B12 level and iron levels.
— dabby
September 6, 2006
I can relate to how you feel...
I will tell you that through my research, I have found that about approx
70% of doctors visits today are caused by fatique and the # 1 compaint is
caused by lack of vital nutrients.... Nutrition and our so called
"diets"!
I was on medication for a year after surgery and thin became to like Ambion
a little too much, I had a human alarm clock at 2 AM every morning waking
up to food thoughts, could not find why I was so out of wack... I met with
a Nutrition Advisor, she shared how my body fuctions, she had a gastric by
pass as well...
Now I am off all meds, and giving my body in balance what is requires for
FOOD and FUEL all day long... I now eat from different ways 5 times a day
and I am very lean... I am very healthy and my nutrition is my goal and
knowing what my body can absorb per hour...
I just wake up everyday and say I will be the best I can be for today... I
have had to learn to change my OBESE thinking!!!
Hope this helps!!! I have been taught so much about my body through lots of
reserch on what foods create which look and how nutrition helps the flow of
energy!!! Personal development of the new me is very important...
Did I cover everything>>> Go check out my profile... Yes it is
really me... I speak from the heart what it is like to feel amazing...
Celeste from 327 to 125 , a figure competitor,and luving life to its
fullest!!!
— shakeyourweight
September 6, 2006
I had ru-n-y a week after you have. I found that when I increase my protien
intake( Meat sticks, Protien drinks) in the afternoon, it goes is kind of
an energy boost
— Andrew A.
September 6, 2006
Hi Jennie,I had my Lap RNY on 08-11-03, started at 270 and am now at 135.I
am struggling with the fatigue problem too.I have had labs done and they
say that everything is fine.My PCP has put me on Provigil to help with the
fatigue.I am not an avid vitamin taker now.My stomach has a hard time
tolerating them.I do try to take them with food, but nothing really helps
now.I know that this is really no help for you, but just wanted to let you
know, that you are not alone.Thanks, and Good Luck, Crystal
— lippyblonde2000
September 6, 2006
You should be taking vitamin B-12 shots. You body will no longer absorb
B-12, so , it is vital you take these. It gives you energy. Your Dr
should be giving you a prescription.It is very inexpensive. It's like 6
dollars or so for a 6 month supply.
— Elisha
September 7, 2006
You might want to start getting B-12 shots, they really helped me!
— Zimpo
September 7, 2006
Hi - My situation is similar to yours. I had my open rny in March, 2004
and dropped from 326 to 149 (give or take). Around my 2 year anniversary,
I was suffering from great fatigue with great labs. My surgeon told me
that he often hears this complaint but doesn't really have an explanation.
We increased my iron intake and it has seemed to help. I also take a
chewable vitamin daily, and 1000 mg. Calcium a day. I occassionally
supplement with B12 when I am really dragging. I would encourage you to
talk with your doctor about trying out different supplements or increased
protein per day until you find a combination to alleviate your fatigue.
Mine did pass and is more normal now. Hang in there - I think it may just
be another factor in this crazy ride we're on! Hope it gets better for
you. Dee
— Dee G
September 7, 2006
I go with Celeste on this one. I am almost 4 years out, and had tons and
tons of energy from day one after lap RNY, which I had at age 47. I was on
a balanced diet after surgery - even though pureed - and I really think
that is why I had no problems with energy, didn't lose hair, etc. I got in
enough protein, but your body needs more than that! I really think a lot of
post ops have the "protein, protein, protein" mantra drilled into
their heads. Actual foods have trace quantities of minerals and other
things that we may only need in very, very small amounts. The vitamins you
swallow may not even have what is missing! When we were morbidly obese, it
wasn't hard to get all that in; our bodies were likely being inundated with
what they needed (and a lot more). Now, we have to be chosier about what we
eat. How many are getting in plenty of fruits, vegetables, dairy, etc.,
post op? Are you taking B12 sublingual? Are you using calcium citrate and
not carbonate? What about magnesium, potassium, iron? I don't take a whole
lot - one Centrum, magnesium 250mg, B-12 1000mcg 3 times a week SL (under
the tongue), Omega 3 fish oils, Calcium citrate with Vitamin D, VItamin C.
But I still really try to eat healthy. My feeling is that the chemicals I
swallow are going to move through my system quickly, but when I eat food,
chewing and mixing it with saliva starts the digestive process, and since
food takes longer to break down, I figure it is in the gut longer and more
likely that I will get the nutrients I need from the food. Do you know what
your thyroid numbers looked like? The top of the normal range for TSH is
generally too high for most women. Having been hypothyroid, I can relate to
the fatigue (got that fixed before WLS!)
— koogy
September 7, 2006
jenny i started at 307 and now i also weight give or take around 145/150.
MY labs are good and I experienced fatigue. It is caused by dehydrations.
I must keep drinking lots of waterand I will not be feeling dizzy and
tiered. When I was told it is dehydration I was laughing I could not
believe it but it is. Dont forget to drink all your water and this too
shall pass. Good luck
Dani
— Dani96
September 7, 2006
What about vitamin B Complex?? My Dr. told me that is what helps me with my
energy. I take it everyday.
Rita
— Incredibleshrinkinglady
September 7, 2006
I had my surgery back in Sept. 2003 and have maintained around the 200 -
205 area. My goal was to get to 180 which I've been struggling with, I got
down as low as 194 and slowly eased back up. I was anemic before the
surgery and since it's gotten worse, back in Feb. of this year I was
hospitalized because my hemoglin dropped to a 5 and I needed a blood
transfusion, iron replacement and B12 and ever since my levels have been
staggering on the low side. I just learned this past friday I have Celiac
Sprue which is a disease of the small intestine that when you eat anything
with gluten something called villi develop and causes me not to be able to
absorb nutrients. I now have to change my diet to a gluten free diet for
life and will have to get iron shots and B12 shots I guess until my levels
stabilize. It can develop or get worse after gastric bypass is what I'm
told so look it up and find out more about it or discuss it with your
physician.
— MsPage40
September 8, 2006
My RNY was 4/23/03. I am now severly anemic and have the extreme fatigue
too. However, if your labs are truely normal, I am not sure what is
causing your fatigue. I would suggest that you get a copy of your lab
results and look especially at the Ferritin levels. That is the part of
the iron that seems to be the biggest problem for RNY patients. If that is
normal, then I would definately try the B-12 shots, increased liquids, and
increased protein supplements as suggested by several others.
Best of luck,.............Your Okie friend...
— wealthgvr
September 8, 2006
Okay - the keys here are that your labs are good. So if your labs are good
on your vitamins and iron, I would ask your doctor to run some tests for
thyroid, mono, etc. It could still be wls related, but it might be outside
that realm and he should investigate it as if you haven't had the surgery.
The only other thing I will add is that for myself I have noticed that even
though in general my labs might be good (when they have been....I go back
and forth) I will sometimes experience this and then will drink a protein
drink (I like the gelatin protein from Protidiet) and almost right away I
get an energy boost. So what may be happening is like a temporary
deficiency....a slight drop that isn't really causing a long term problem.
You might try adding a few extra vitamins even if you are coming out
normal. Sometimes things won't show up on a lab report, but for you
yourself you may need a higher baseline level than other people. Oh -
and on the calcium, I don't know what your doc says but I think you are
supposed to be taking at least 1500 mg a day. I was told 1000 mg a day is
a normal RDA and that I should double it because of the surgery...so I
usually come in somewhere between that. Might double check that...although
I don't believe it would be the answer to your energy problems. One other
thing: You might just try switching to liquid vitamins as they absorb
better, and you might try pushing the b-complex. What your body doesn't
need, you'll pee out, so that may be a good way to see if you need a higher
baseline than others. And remember, it does take awhile to deplete B12. I
found that out recently. I thought my multi's were keeping up with that,
but it just took 2 years for me to become deficient. Now I have to go for
the big guns with this liquid stuff. I'm probably going to start the shots
soon though. Just easier.
— Dinka Doo
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