Question:
Any post op having trouble with bruising and tiredness?
I have had a lot of blood work done and no abnormalities other than a one time only elevation of my liver enzymes. I am sooooo tired I feel like I am going to drop. I have been exercising 3 times a week at Curves and getting my protein in. I still don't feel like I think I should feel at almost 6 months post op and 87 pounds down. I'm tired of being tired! Anyone else had this problem and got it resolved? — PVail (posted on May 12, 2004)
May 12, 2004
When you say no abnormalities, is that what you doctor said, or have you
seen your own bloodwork? What are your iron numbers, ferritin? I'll bet
they're bottoming out, but if it hasn't hit that "below normal"
range yet, doctors just see it as just "fine." Well, it's not.
Do you get copies of your labs yourself, so you can check for trends? Check
your iron & ferritin levels, they're often the first thing to go.
— Leslie F.
May 12, 2004
I too am exhausted most of the time. My labs consistently come back smack
dab in the middle of the normal range. None of them has dropped
perceptibly. I get a B-12 injection once a month, take my vitamins,
supplement protein, etc. I do notice that if I drink more water I feel
better, but am still tired. Yesterday I got home from work at 5:30 PM and
laid across the bed "just for a few minutes". I woke up at 1:30
AM this morning, just in time to get under the covers and go back to sleep.
Still woke feeling done in. I was tired before surgery, but from carrying
all the weight around. I just drink more water, go to bed earlier, and
hope for the best. I would still shove somebody else off the table if it
had to be me or them getting surgery. LOL
— Chris S.
May 12, 2004
are you getting b-12 injections? that helped my energy for sure. I also
found that taking extra vitamin C helped with my bruising. Hope that
helps.
— Morna B.
May 12, 2004
I would echo Leslie's suggestion, and get copies of your labs. Search for
trends. Doctors too often just look at the lastest test, see that you're
in the "normal" range (which can be huge, by the way -- and some
of us feel better in some parts of that normal range than in others), and
just tell you you're fine. They often don't compare your lab results to
the last tests, thereby missing the fact that you are, as Leslie says,
"bottoming out."<P>In my case, it was a B-12 problem that
explained fatigue at about your stage. I didn't have a prior B-12 lab test
(! they forgot to test for it pre-op) but my most recent test put me in the
low-normal range. I increased my B-12 supps., and now after playing within
the range of normal for B-12, I now know what number I feel best at, and
it's not the "low-normal" number at all -- it's way in the middle
of what's concerned normal. Anything below that is too low for *me*,
normal or not.
— Suzy C.
May 12, 2004
no answer for you, just a comment. I'm almost 6 months out, very active,
all labs have been EXCELLENT, but I am DOG TIRED come my weekend days,
also. I'll get a nap in on BOTH days. (I work out @ curves not less than
3 days /week)
— [Deactivated Member]
May 12, 2004
I have looked at my labs. My PCP said that my B-12 was within normal but
low normal. He said I could take my B-12 injections once a week for a
month. Nothing has really touched it yet. I am just sick and tired of
being tired. Thank you all for your responses.
— PVail
May 12, 2004
I have been dog tired to and am 6 months post-op. My labs were excellant
per my surgeon, but he questioned me as to how much I was drinking. He told
me that dehydration will make you feel very tired, which I have been not
drinking as much as I did prior to surgery because it causes me to have to
much reflux and nausea. When I added up how much I drank in 1 day it was
only 700 cc's or about 23 ounces in 24 hours. My surgeon said to try to
increase my fluids to 1000cc's or 30 ozs. and see if that makes a
difference in my energy level. I am eating more SF jello and popsicles
just to avoid the reflux and nausea I get from water or thin liquids.
— CATHY B.
May 12, 2004
I'm 2 1/2 years post-op and I'm always tired. I also bruise easily, but
then again, I've bruised easily since I was a baby. Blood tests always
come back fine, but I need at LEAST 8 hours of sleep a night otherwise I
feel sluggish all day.
— Patty H.
May 13, 2004
I agree with the person who suggested you find out what your numbers where
on your blood work results. I started having anemic symptoms while my iron
level was on the low end of normal. Some doctors could have just said, it's
in the range, so it's normal, but with my symptons (tired/no energy) and
that is was on the low side of normal my surgeon had me start taking over
the counter iron supplements 2 times a day and within a week or 2 I felt
dramatically better. <br><br>Also, if you get no help from one
doctor and you really feel like something is not getting resolved, go to
another doctor, it never hurts to get a second opinion.
— Patricia T.
May 13, 2004
Just a suggestion or question? I tried 3 different brands of sublinguals
on the B-12, and could not tell one bit of difference. I haven't had the
surgery yet, but am trying different things to have it all ready to go when
I do. I bought some liquid B-12 from GNC, and I could tell the difference
in the 1st day! Wish I would have been taking B-12 years ago. And keep in
mind that everybody's body is different. What may work for someone may not
work for another one. I just am glad I found this, and that it works. I
hate shots! :) Hope this helps.......
— Candy M.
May 14, 2004
OK I have an answer that may help all of you who are having trouble with
bruising and tiredness.Number One,CHEWABLE CHILDRENS VITAMINS.BUYING LIGUID
B12 AT GNC IS OK IF YOU WANT TO GO THAT ROUTE,BUT WHY???IF YOU TAKE 2
CHEWABLE CHILDRENS VITAMINS TWICE A DAY YOU MAY SEE A BIG DIFFERENCE.
THIS COMES FROM A VERY GOOD SOURCE.MY BARIACTRIC SURGEON AT UNIVERSITY
HOSPITOL AT U.S.C. IN LOS ANGELES,CA.HE IS NOT ONLY MY SURGEON BUT IS ALSO
CHIEF OF BARIACTRIC SURGERY.CHILDRENS VITAMINS CONTAIN MORE THAN ADULT
VITAMINS.SO GO TO WALMART GET THE CHEWABLE KIND AND ENJOY.
Number 2*** Try Vitamin E for Bruising.Just snip of the end of capsule and
take in the liquid.Or just chew it until it breaks down.
Hope this helps,like someone said,not everyone is the same,but we all need
nourishment.
Be Good To Yourselves
God Bless
— KatinPBCA
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