Hello all! I'm new here but have been quietly reading the forums since surgery and you've all helped a lot!

So, to the nitty gritty: I'm 3 weeks post op and feeling very weak. Is this normal? I know I've lost a lot of weight fast and that may have something to do with it? I drink my 2 protein shakes a day and get my 60 grams in, but I'm afraid to eat too much as I've had some vomiting. I do eat, just little bitty portions, the size of an egg. As far as I can tell I'm following my Dr's orders but I get tired so easy now. even washing my hair is an event. I go for little walks every day and the stairs just kill me. I was fairly active before surgery so I'm getting kind of depressed/stircrazy. When can I get my life back?

Thanks so much in advance!

I think weakness is quite normal this early on.  I on most days felt good, but would get exhaused mid afternoon, and sleep through the night like a log.  I would get tired from walking stairs, and hills as well.

It took me about 3 mths to feel refreshed totally.  I still feel now at 10 mths I lack some endurance and physical strength even though I'm quite active.  It's a process. ..keep the water and protein high and just listen and respond to your body signals as best you can.

My clinic said 8wks to any exercise aside from walking, so do that for now....it DOES get better...and you will get stronger.....trust me 

I am also 3 weeks out.

I'm definitely not up to my old self yet, but what I've learned is the more I do, the more I'm able to do. I went back to work after 1 week. The first week I only worked 5-6 hours/day...   I am tired when I get home, and I take short naps, but if I do some light yard work (and I mean light! LOL) or something else around the house I feel better.

We will get our energy back as soon as we're able to eat more and get more protein in.

Hang in there!

You just had MAJOR surgery. What you are feeling is normal.

I have the same experience as MonaLisaSmile.  I'm 3 months out and just starting to feel back to normal.  I was also very active pre-surgery and it was mentally difficult for me these past 3 months not being able to do as much.  I just took it slow and did what I could do.  I accepted that it would take awhile to get back up to speed.  Now I'm there and it's pretty great.

Every day you will get stronger.

I'm almost 6 months out and there are still some times in the afternoon I get a little sluggi****ry to remember to eat something and my energy peps back up, along with my mood.

As previous posters mentioned, you just had major surgery.  Tired is normal.  But also I would remind you to get in your fluids and vitamins/electrolytes/iron.  Dehydration is a big problem this early out.

I couldn't stand drinking jus****er, and Crystal Light, Powerade Zero, etc made me nauseous... but I had a lot of luck diluting grape G2 in half with water. (G2 is the low-sugar version of Gatorade... but it's still a lot of sugar unless you cut it).

Audrey

I was a weak, tired mess for 6 months. Some people bounce back quickly, but for many of us, it takes longer. Get your rest and hang in there!! It will get better, I promise!!

Dehydration was my biggest enemy that early.  Once I got so sick and weak I called the surgeon and his nurse walked me through re-hydrating (2oz every five minutes timed for a solid hour).  After about an hour of really getting in good fluids I felt better.  Within a day I was much improved and as long as I kept the water flowing each day was better than the last.

~Elizabeth

Totally normal.

When I was 300 lbs I was the fat girl sweating in the back, hand slipping in her own sweat. I did tae bo, step and body pump.

Then I had the surgery.

For about 4-6 months, I couldnt even do YOGA ...YOGA...because every time i bent over or pushed while face down (or stood up) I wanted to pass out.

My hard workouts got put to the side and I walked. I walked a lot..about 2 hours a day from the day I came home till 4-6 months post op.

Then one day, while I was walking, my push off caused me to really bounce and travel far. My foot was pushing as if I were 300 lbs and had the strength to propell the 300 lb person again, but I was about 220. THAT was when I knew it was time to get back to the gym. I was STRONG again.

Then I was back to tae bo, body pump, step AND RUNNING.

You can do it. Jsut be patient and walk. You can walk in intervals. All those steps count!