Question:
I feel so weak, tired, and hungry. Is this normal for 3rd week?
I want to go back to work next week but I'm not sure how that will work since I'm so weak! Does anyone have any suggestions on how much and what I can eat to get my energy back? I'm so sick of being tired. Thanks Sue — SJP (posted on September 23, 2003)
September 23, 2003
I went back to work after a week.....maybe 6 hours a day and then would
sleep for 14! I think keeping your protein up will really help. It is
normal how you are feeling. I am 4.5 months out and don't have the hunger
I used to and managed to do 3 hours of intense yard work last weekend. I
never thought I would. Used to take me two evenings to mow the grass. I
worried too as everyone talked about all this energy they got....well mine
is only slowly coming back. You had major surgery and your body is in
shock!
— Sharon B.
September 23, 2003
Yes it's normal. I went back to work bought had bouts of exhaustion for the
first 8 weeks. I was not fully back to my energetic self until the end of
12 weeks.
— M B.
September 23, 2003
Are you getting your B-12 supplement, protein and vitiams in daily? I was
very tired until I started taking my B-12 sublingual everyday at 3 weeks, I
am now 6 weeks post op. My energy increased about two days after starting
the B-12 sublingual. You also need to be taking in about 64 oz's of water
daily, it is hard, but I drink alot of diet snapple and crystal lite.
— cindy
September 23, 2003
Yes, This is the only time I said those words "WHAT HAVE I DONE TO
MYSELF" But that was out of flustration over feeling exhausted, weak,
achy, just right out awful. This went on for about 3 months for me. then I
started feeling better each day afterwards. and haven't regreted my wls
since. my wls (open) was 12/9/02- so far I've loss 140 lbs.
— Naes Wls J.
September 23, 2003
I went back to work two weeks after having my open RNY. I think that going
back to work and getting more active helped me get stronger. What kind of
after care are you on? I was on soft foods so I could eat meat or fish
with no problem.
— Patty_Butler
September 23, 2003
Original poster here... I do take all my vitimins but I KNOW that I'm not
getting all my water in. I really need to work on that. As hard as it is
I make myself get up and move around (go for walks...window shopping ect)
for a while every day. I can't say it makes me feel better but I know I
have to do it.
My pouch also hurts for a while when I drink or eat anything (I'm on soft
foods now)... Does anyone know when that goes away?
— SJP
September 23, 2003
Congratulations on being a postie! Energy return seems to vary a lot - I
was off work for 6 weeks (Open RNY) and went back part time (two 12 hour
shifts instead of three) for the next two weeks. That felt right to me -
and there were sure times when I thought I'd never feel energetic again -
but I did! I'm 55 and I'm sure that had a lot to do with it. I tried to
hit a good balance between forcing myself to be active and getting plenty
of rest - hard to do sometimes but I promise you you'll feel better! If
you have a choice about it maybe you could wait a bit longer or go back
part-time? And about your pouch question - kind of the same deal with
time. This far out a few things still bother me - meat, mostly. However I
just had some Crystal Lite and my pouch is telling me that wasn't a good
idea - Snapple is fine, not always so with CL. Seems like around 6-8 weeks
I could tolerate things much better. Remember it's a big surgery and your
whole body is still healing - be gentle with yourself!
— [Deactivated Member]
September 23, 2003
I felt exactly the same way early on. Every time I got to add more foods I
would feel a little better. I regularly thought that I had made a big
mistake having this surgery. Around week 8 or so I suddenly felt a lot
better and by week 10 or 12 I was finally convinced that I had done the
right thing. I think that anyone living on 300-600 calories a day would
feel exactly as you do and then throw a major surgery in there and take
away your favorite thing (FOOD!). It really seems perfectly proper to feel
that way when you look at it that way. Try, if you are not already doing
it, to get up past 60 grams of protein per day as soon as possible. It
really helps with healing and energy and weight loss. I still have to
supplement with my Real Meals shakes but at 8 months out I try to get a
minimum of 80 grams per day and usually over 100. I now wish I had had this
surgery 5 years ago. You will feel better soon and the weight loss helps
smooth out those early bumps too!
— Carol S.
September 23, 2003
Hi, I'm still pre-op, for a few more days. I had my last meeting with the
surgeons team Mon night, I was told that I would be very tired and weak.
Your body has just been thru hell, it is concentrating on healing the
inside out.Don't be too hard on yourself, this kinda of healing will take
some time. Congrats! and God Bless!
— pateblkbrn
September 24, 2003
The only things that will help you feel better in week 3 are more food
choices and time. I am in my 7th week now and I am still on full fluids,
first 6 weeks were clear fluids. I was a wreck in my 3rd week, could
barely make it up the stairs to the bed for my 2 naps a day. This week I'm
having protien shakes, milk, a good variety of soups, a few cracker, sf hot
chocolate for that chocolate craving :) and I feel so much better. I am
healed up and very mobile now. You need more time and the gradual increase
in your food intake.
Mary Ann T. open rny aug7/03 -43 lbs.
— mary ann T.
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