FINALLY I'm a LOSER! Question on Feeling NORMAL?

Hi everyone, Well...surgery done! I'm in a fog of sorts...can't believe it. It seems a bit surreal until I try to stand up and my bellys aches!!!! I'm staying with my Mom until at least next Thursday when I have my follow-up with Dr. Garber. (and as many of you know I am LAME unless I'm using a Mac and this is NOT one!). QUESTION: How many days post-op were you when you started to feel "normal" ? I am in lots of pain still (when moving at all...but not when still) and I feel sort of overwhelmed with the meds/food schedule/drain/bandages OH MY! I'll keep you posted and cannot WAIT to be in my own home but right now I feel like it's not possible and that scares me. Thanks for all your support. I feel like this is my 2nd family! And thanks to my sister Lisa for updating everyone in addition to Britt. hugssss, Karen

You will feel 100% better once that drain and those staples are out and moving around will be a breeze. It's alittle pain to put up with in the beginning but well worth it believe me. Welcome to the losing side. Kel

Hey Karen, Glad to hear you came though the surgery with flying colors. As for feeling "normal" it depends on how you mean it. If you mean when does the pain end, and you can move around pretty easily, I'd say a week or two. If you mean normal as in "i felt like i didn't even have surgery", i'd say i didn't feel like that until month 3. Some people feel better much sooner, I've heard people that are 2 weeks out doing "crazy" things like walking 5 miles. The good news is that the hardest part is over, and that everyday you will feel better and better. Scott

Hey Scott...YEAH! I made it through! I feel like my middle had been run over by a truck with snowchains on them but other than that I am feeling good. Thanks for your reply; I like how you always give so mu*****ite and views to cover all bases; it helped alot. Thanks again Scott

Hi Karen, It gets easier. Feel better soon! Wishing you nothing but the best.

Karen: Well one thing I can say with confidence from personal experience w/ WLS and hanging around online groups/in person groups for 4 Years is there is no 'normal' or 'one-size-fits-all' answer to how an individual journey will unfold. *that is frustrating but* The good news with that is not to worry usually your body is reacting 'normal' for itself. You will probably hear a large spectrum of answers if polling people, pain is one thing that is VERY individual. Some people feel their WLS was not painful at all, *Jamie raising her hand* others state it was the WORST pain of their lives/imaginable. One thing is for sure looking back many say it is like childbirth pain (awful at the time but the joy of the outcome usually far outweighs the pain and long-term is forgotten/overshadowed by the positives). Now I have never had children but seems like a good analogy! One common theme is the importance of movement (To promote healing, avoidance of deadly blood clots, and waking up the GI system as well etc.), also the importance of staying well hydrated. It is quite challenging for many to get in the 64 oz fluids early on, dilligence w/ keeping track and small sips through the day, avoidance of long naps which interfere w/ fluid intake as there is no making up for lost time earlyon! (no guzzling!). It does decrease in effort as the healing begins and you set up a more structured routine, like anything new your in the learning curve! This can be an exciting time, use it to relearn a healthy lifestyle! The honeymoon can be glorioous but short so look to the next 6 months to change as much as possible all the things you will need to be successful longterm! *like we talked about preop!* I have a different view on surgery than some, I feel it is the EASIEST part by far of this journey, quite frankly it is the piece we most stress about usually (living/dying) but LIVING with WLS for life is a challenge and for me personally it is great BUT it is by no means easy, lying on the OR table asleep while the surgeon operated was a cinch. Being 4 yrs out of WLS and challenged by old demons (aka emotional eating) is no picnic! The daily effort required to maintain the lifestyle is something I have never had experience with and although doable is challenging! Longing for the old honeymoon days when the tool worked 90% and I only needed to 10%, now that seems reversed. But acceptance of reality helps and one moment at a time. So there are challenges every step of the way, for you now it is learning to adapt to your new anatomy! Hibernation mode Summarized from: Weight Loss surgery: Finding the thin person hiding inside of you second edition by Barbra Thompson P. 198 "Hibernation syndrome can be experienced within 2-4 weeks after surgery, when the body realizes that it will not be getting the nourishment that it is used to receiving and reacts to that. Your body just wants to stay immobile until the old food supply returns, you will feel extremely tired, lethargic and often depressed. This comes at a time when you are beginning to recover from the traumatic effects of the surgery. The pain is usually gone and the energy was just starting to return....The best way to deal with this if it affects you (not everyone gets it) is to recognize the symptoms and know it is normal. Then start exercise so that the body "figures out" it has ample energy/fuel stored and does not have to be fed constantly. This will pass within a few weeks." ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ I never experienced this quite the opposite, I have/had more energy than I knew what to do with! So again a variety of possibilities! Now as for the drain I didn't have one, I did w/ my Plastics (oh what a nuisance! I had 4 w/ the LBL) but they lasted 2 wk or so then out (yippeee!), so it will probably be short lived....As for food, my program did clear liquids 2 wk postop then soft mushies (yogurt, cottage cheese, cream soups strained etc) for a few weeks (1-2 TABLESPOONS as a meal), then progressed to blenderized foods (tuna fish, salad, egg salad etc) The goal was to learn to not eat/drink together, get in all fluids, chew slow, eat over 15 min, find any intolerances then rechallenge them in a few weeks and get my exercise in. I kept a hourly log of fluid/movement in the beginning to check off that I moved each hr and had some fluid. Might help u visualize progress/ also check off vits (Multi, calcium citrate, B12 and any others u need) so you have a visual when u achieve your goals! IT will get a rythym soon enough! Glad you have support w/ this that is imperative as well! Feel free to write/call if I can help! Welcome to the other side, enjoy the journey and make it an adventure! HUGS Take Care, Jamie Lap RNY 10/9/02 Dr. Singh 320/163 5'9'' (lost 45# before surgery) Plastics 6/9/04 & 11/11/2005 Dr. King http://www.obesityhelp.com/morbidobesity/members/profile.php?N=c1132518510 "Being happy doesn't mean everything's perfect, it just means you've decided to see beyond the imperfections!"

Hi Karen, COngrats on your surgery. As far as feeling normal....well we all recover at different rates. Your body needs time to heal from this major surgery. Your head is also going to have to catch up with your weight loss as that happens. Just take it day by day. It gets better and better and before you know it , you know it one day you look in the mirror and are shocked by what you see and amazed by how you feel. Just follow your surgeons orders, sip sip sip and chew chew chew and remember your vitamins and you will be out and about before you know it. We are here for ya! Congrats again. LisaMarie