unbelievalbe fatigue

Hi - I am almost 3 weeks post op from gastric bypass. My weight loss is 30 pounds. The major problem I am having is severe fatigue. All I want to do is go to bed. I am taking my multi vitamins with iron, calcium, B sublingual and have had a B12 shot. But I am just so tired! I'm putting protein poweder in my shakes, but am only averging about 30 - 40 grams of protein a day. I am also eating mashed potatoes and eggs. The protein poweder is kind of turning me off to eating, because of the taste and smell, so I'm not putting it in most things because if I did I would end up not eating! What should I be doing to keep my energy up? I am really worried because I'm starting back to work full time tomorrow and my stamina is far from normal. Thanks for your help!

Hi Karyn, Post-op fatigue is often made worse if you are not eating enough or if you are not eating the right foods. Maintaining good nutrition can help you feel better and have more energy. You did not mention how many calories or ounces of water you are taking in each day. You may want to track everything on http://www.fitday.com or another resource (Fitday is free). Think of WLS as a puzzle. Calories is a puzzle piece. So is water, protein, exercise vitamins, etc. If one piece of the puzzle is missing, you won't get the desired overall effect. Are your vitamins bariatric formulated? After surgery, your body has difficulty absorbing certain nutrients because most of your stomach and the first part of your small intestine are bypassed. To prevent a vitamin or mineral deficiency, take vitamin and mineral supplements regularly. Although there continues to be debate in this area, it is generally accepted that bariatric formulated vitamins are better for those with a malabsorptive component in our WLS (like gastric bypass). Vitamins from Walgreens, etc., just aren't going help you with the absorption you need. Are you trying to drink 6-8 cups of water a day? Being newly post-op as yourself, you won't be sipping 80 - 100 ounces of water a day but you should view it as a goal to work towards. Dehydration can most certainly contribute towards fatigue. From your post, you know that you aren't getting in enough protein. I didn't at first, too, until I found a palatable protein. Search the Internet for a store that sells protein powders (I like http://www.bariatriceating.com) and also samples of the powders. I love Unjury (http://www.unjury.com), especially the unflavored, well, flavor. I would take a scoop every morning and put it on my cutting board. Everytime I ate or drank something, I would sprinkle a little Unjury unflavored in or on it. I really, really love Nectar Fuzzy Navel (peach) mixed with orange Crystal Light. As far as food sources of soft and/or puree protein, ask your surgeon and/or nut about the following: bean dishes and soups; peas; peanut butter; to****oy) mixed in with soup or vegetables; baby shrimp; very soft fish such as sole; chicken or meat pate or spreads, liverwurst; skim milk; cottage cheese or other cheeses; low fat yogurt; and eggs: try two whites with one yolk. Finally, gastric bypass is a major surgery. It is normal to feel tired, and have reduced strength for the first few weeks or months after surgery. When you feel tired, rest! HTH, Kristen

Kristen, I can't thank you enough for all of your advice. I am definitely going to check into bariatric vitamins - I have been using chewables from a health food store. I'm not getting in enough calories either. I really have to make myself eat (which is just mind-blowing). I need to bone up on my water intake too. I guess I just really need to be vigilant - but it's so hard when all I want to do is sleep! I printed out your reply and am going to do my homework! Thanks again! Karyn

Hi Karyn, I am so happy to help! Two bariatric vits I know of are Building Blocks (my favorite) and Vista Vitamins. Building Blocks are available online at http://www.bbvitamins.com and Vista Vitamins are available at http://www.bariatriceating.com. I still have to make myself eat, and I am more than two years post-op. I am sick tonight with vertigo, so eating dinner just wasn't possible for me. But you can bet that I had a Profect tube for the protein. Remember, there are several pieces to the puzzle and you'll have to initially work hard at getting in all the pieces every day. But then, hopefully, it will become a healthy habit. Remember, if WLS were easy everyone woud do it. Kristen

Hey Kristen, Sorry to ask a stupid question...But what is vertigo ???

Hi Julie, It's not a bad question! The term vertigo refers to the sensation of spinning or whirling that occurs as a result of a disturbance in balance (equilibrium). It also may be used to describe feelings of dizziness, lightheadedness, faintness, and unsteadiness. The sensation of movement is called subjective vertigo and the perception of movement in surrounding objects is called objective vertigo. More than you wanted to know, right? My left ear gets messed up whenever I get an upper respiratory infection. When it gets really bad, I get debilitating vertigo. Today I made an appointment with an ear, nose and throat doc to finally sort it out. Kristen

you seem to be really well informed about everything. I had surgery on Dec 11, 2006. I am really stressing out because I have only lost 20lbs in almost 4 weeks. Specifically the scale has not moved in 2 weeks. I am sticking mostly to the puree diet. I eat lots of beans and chicken. I have chili (blended of course), cheese. Lately though my sweet tooth is back big time, I had a very small, less than 2 oz of bread pudding today as well as 2 andies candies. I drink a lot of diet Tang and freeze it and have it as crushed icee. I also have small pieces of bread at times. This week I had a bit of cheese flan. I calculated my calories and I am intaking less than 800 per day. I know I need to stop the sweet stuff, so I am going to try to stop and incorporate the protein shakes. I take liquid vitamins and b-12 sublingually. Can you give me some advice, I feel distressed. I went through this surgery because I felt I had gotten to a place where I could not do it on my own, now I wonder if it really worked or if I just paid all this money and went through all that pain to just lose 20lbs. I don't mean to sound ungratefull or like I want an overnight success. The upside is I have not had any painful reactions to food, the scary side of that is that I wonder if that will just make it so that I fail on this also! Am I condemmed to be fat all my life!

Hi Diana, May I assume that you have the Lap-Band? I don't know what your doctor and/or nuts post-op protocols are, but bread and sweets really shouldn't be on your pureed diet right now. Yes, it is the holidays, but you know (as you have written) that the sweets everyday have to stop. Right now, your diet should focus on protein and water. Your band is still healing in place. You do not want to risk vomiting and possibly prolapsing your band - it just isn't worth it. 800 calories seems like a bit low right now - what does your surgeon advise for this stage? As you are aware, the band is only a restrictive device. It will only help you to eat smaller portions. It will not reduce what is absorbed by your body. In short, you have to eat the right things in moderation. But good for you for taking your vitamins! As far as your weight loss, look at it this way: when was the last time that you lost 20 pounds in 4 weeks - and kept it off? Continue to work your new tool, and celebrate your successes! HTH, Kristen

I remember going through the extreme fatigue too. I was prepared for it because my dietitian told me about the "hibernation" effect. She said that your body is reacting to the reduced calorie intact. Back in the old days people reserved all energy during famines and that's kind of what your body is trying to do right now. Just eat right, exercise, and keep going. It will pass. Try Isopure (ready to drink beverage sold at GNC and elsewhere). They come in Kool-Aid flavors so no yucky protein powder taste. It has 40 grams of protein. Also if you like coffee latte try nectar cappiccuno--23 grams of protein (sold at bariatricadvantage.com) Just keep moving forward and your fatigue should pass soon.

Remember.....you have just been thru MAJOR surgery....I have never been one to take afternoon naps, but I found that after my WLS, an occasional afternoon nap was necessary. Hopefully, your work will provide some diversion to your routine....and spark your energy level. luvitsunnyv