Question:
I need someone to validate my feelings about being tired.
I have gone thru some very hard times these past 5 weeks - I had my surgery March 26th. Per my profile - I had 2 surgeries during my bariatric surgery and stayed for 12 days - home for 2 1/2 and back for 8 days due to Pulmonary Emboli and Heart Palpitations. I know I should be excercising more to lose the weight but sometimes I'm really tired and feel like I need to rest more. Should I give in and rest more or am I defeating myself by pampering myself too much? There is an increase of energy in the past week and I know it'll only get better - but what do you think?? - Sally, Harrison, MI — Sally P. (posted on April 30, 2003)
April 30, 2003
My feeling is that if you over-fatigue yourself, you are only opening
yourself up to illness, especially after surgery (and your complications)
when your body is already working very hard to heal itself. Try doing just
'a little' more each day, and see how your body reacts. You will come to
know the difference between the 'bad tired' and the 'good tired' :)
— [Deactivated Member]
April 30, 2003
My surgeon says no exercise for 8 weeks except for very moderate walking
and that is only if you really want to. I did no exercise until that time
and lost just fine. I am of the opinion that while you are still healing
you need to listen to your body. When it tells you to rest, rest! At 4-5
weeks out I was completely exhausted but by 8 weeks I was back to normal
for the most part. My stamina is still not at maximum yet but every day it
gets better every day! Good Luck and don't belittle the fact that you just
had MAJOR life and body altering surgery!
— Carol S.
April 30, 2003
OK, I will validate your feelings of being fatigued...you are!! And you
should expect to be. You have been through alot, more then most of us have,
and your body needs time to repair, not just from the surgeries, but from
the damage done by the emboli also. You need to continue to take care of
yourself, and not over do it, but don't "under" do it either.
Yes, you need to get off of your tush and do stuff. But start small. Start
with gettting your bath everyday and making your own breakfast. THat wears
you out at first. Then try to make sure that you are the one that goes out
and gets the mail (unless you have a 3 mile long drive way!!), keep adding
something new each day., Then in a week or two, on a nice cool evening, go
for a walk to the end of your block. Don't worry about getting your heart
rate up, just stroll down there. Then do it agian a day or two
later..before you know it, it will be part of your routine. Keep adding
distance. ANd when you start to feel like you have "extra"
energy(and you will at some point. I promise!!), pickup the pace, increase
the heart rate. You will be getting more cardiac benefits then. Getting
back into your routine will help you to feel beter then enything else will.
No one expects you to have this surgery (especially if you have
complications) and then jump right up and run marathons. But you do not do
your body or your mind any good by not pushing yourself back into some
normal routine.
— Vicki L.
April 30, 2003
My Husband has been trying to encourage me - I know out of love - so I did
take a walk- I'm tired and I'm going to rest now. Thanks so much for making
me feel like I wasn't over resting. I will try each day- Sally
— Sally P.
April 30, 2003
Wow you've been through a lot. Give yourself a break. I had surgery on
the 7th of January, relatively complication free, and had NO energy for
almost 8 weeks. Just at my 8 week mark I went back to the gym and the very
next day was in a very serious car accident and back in the hospital for 10
days. I am still recovering from this whole year and right now just
concentrating on getting WELL. You should too. When I was ready to
exercise at 8 weeks, my body told me it was time. I'm sure it will let me
know again. Yours will as well.
— susanje
April 30, 2003
With what you have been through the past 5 weeks how could you be anything
but tired! I had no complications and I was still tired at 5 weeks. I
think it will gradually get better now but do try to take a short walk
everyday it will help you regain your strenght.
— sandy L.
April 30, 2003
Sally, i just wanted to add that you should take as long as you need to
feel better. There is no rush to start exercising right away, you need time
to heal and let yourself feel complete again. Slow walks with your husband
would be good, just to get fresh air as well as a little exercise. I didn't
start exercising until I was 6 months ou- I had no energy until then. And I
still got to my goal inless than a year- so don't stress yourself over it.
Get better- wish you the best!
— Lezlie Y.
April 30, 2003
Hi Sally,
I was told by my surgeon I need to allow 1 week for every hour I was under
for my body to not feel so tired. This didn't include the anesthesia
etc....2 surgeries in a short amount of time, not being up and moving
around etc... your body will and should feel tired! Take care of you and
listen to your body. You'll know when you begin to feel better! Best wishes
and continued success
— Linda M.
April 30, 2003
Rest REST REST! You deserve a break woman! :>)
— [Deactivated Member]
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