Question:
So tired from typing this I may need a nap
I'm almost a month out from a lap RNY. This has pretty much been textbook up till this past week. I'm just so dizzy and tired all of a sudden. I expected this the forst couple weeks out, but seriously, I was up and at 'em by the second week. Blow-drying my hair, doing my makeup, dropped from a size 24 to a 20 like that (finger snap)...I was sure this was the greatest thing ever. But now...I don't have problems eating with the exception I get a lot of air in my tummy...and I don't eat fast, either. It takes me 30 minutes to eat 3 ounces of yogurt. Which brings me to my next point. I have no desire for food, drink, anything. I get so few calories in-maybe 200 or so a day? I generally eat half a scrambled egg at some point and half a container of yogurt toward the end of the day. Plus I drink some light cranberry juice (pretty much the only drink I like the taste of this week.) And that's it. I sleep all the time, when I get up I get dizzy and have no desire to do anything. I haven't been outside in over a week. I don't get dressed, NOTHING. Now, I know that lack of calories (ie: body fuel) probably has a big part to do with this. I just don't know what to do in the meantime. Like I said, I don't want to eat but look forward to a day when I do. I used to drink tons of coffee and would somehow scrape through my days that way. Now I don't bother. I can't seem to snap out of it! I don't feel sad, just really exhausted. Help me figure out how to eat more so I can get some energy back. Sorry for rambling! BTW, not that y'all wanna hear this BUT my lap incisions are disappearing. As in, almost faded away. No keloiding. Yea! — jenn_jenn (posted on October 19, 2003)
October 18, 2003
CALL YOUR SURGEON ASAP RIGHT NOW! Not wanting to alarm you but that severe
a fatigue can be a sign of low potassium and other life threatening
problems. better safe than sorry get checked today or just report to the
ER. They can do bloodwork to see whats up. Are you taking your vitamins?
The lack of protein can effect all your muscles including your
heart.<P> Now once you get this checked by pros you will have to
force yourself to eat or drink protein drinks faithfully. After awhile your
appetire WILL return but right now please get to the ER. Once your back
home let us know how you are doing.
— bob-haller
October 18, 2003
Please call your surgeon asap! Low energy levels could be many, many
things and you need help to identify that now. You need to have your labs
done to determine if your potassium is low. Low energy and dizziness can
also be a sign of dehydration. Your blood pressure could be low too.
None of us here on this board can do anything but urge you to go get help.
You've got to get on a routine to get adequate nutrition in. 200 calories
a day isn't going to cut it. You have to have adequate water, protein and
vitamins, whether you feel like it or not. Please take care and get to
your doctor.
— Cathy S.
October 18, 2003
A few things helped me during the first couple of months when, like you, I
had little (if any) appetite and I found that my taste buds were constantly
changing (due, in part, to the ketones from ketosis being resident in your
saliva). First, every morning, I forced myself to have at least 4 oz of
orange juice (I drank the fortified version with calcium and Vitamins A
& D) and later I would force myself to have a packet of no-sugar
Carnation Instant Breakfast with skim milk (usually about 6 oz of milk as I
knew I could not drink a full 8 o.z.). The other thing I tried was Boost
in the tropical juice flavor. Now, certainly, these are not beverages that
you can continue to consume much beyond the first couple of months (as they
are just too high in carbs)-- but, early on, when you need to get a level
of caloric intake sufficient to sustain your body, these should help.
Also, I found that the Isopure Zero Carb drinks helped, particularly given
their high protein content. Good luck.
— SteveColarossi
October 19, 2003
Jennifer,
YOu need to call your doctor to ask for advice. You have got to start
getting some calories and you definitely need more fluids. You are
probably dehydrated - it's very easy for us to get dehydrated and you
aren't drinking nearly enough. If you don't start getting fluids in you
can get into serious trouble with your kidneys. Everyone thinks that we
are supposed to get all the fluids to promote weight loss, but my surgeon
told me that it is vital for good kidney health.
— Patty_Butler
October 19, 2003
I am still pre-op but my friend went through the same thing about a month
out also. She went to see her dr and found out she was anemic. He put her
on some meds and she's great now. So I would check with you dr. Hope you
feel better soon.
— Mischief1212 A.
October 19, 2003
Sounds like you need to be getting more protein. Are you drinking protein
drinks? I'm only a week out but I didnt' see anything about drinking some
protein. I'm asked to get 75 grams a day. Hope this helps.
— cherylh
October 19, 2003
Are you getting a B12 shot or taking the B12 supplements? I always know
when its time for my next shot cause I get very tired.
— Beverly S.
October 19, 2003
Jennifer: You had so many good things happen so far. But you also have a
major problem developing. Do something about it now, and get back on the
right track, so you can continue to have success. I think even more
important than eating is making sure you get your water in. I understand
not liking anything but canberry juice because I hated water early post op.
But find something that will work so you can get your liquids in. I had
to leave the bottled water out of the refrigerator because it was easier to
drink at room temp. than cold. Also I added crystal light and that made it
easier. Warm decaf tea went down a lot better than water too. You didn't
say if you had any help, but right now when you have no energy see if
someone else can bring you things so you don't have to stand in the kitchen
and see what might help go down better. Also how are you doing on
vitamins? Those are also very important. I did the same thing as you in
terms of lots of energy and no real problems the first month but boy was
the second and into the third month tough. I was lucky I work at the
schools because I went back to work after my RNY lap the next week, but
that was in May and I was out of work for the summer in June when I started
having trouble. Good timing for once. LOL Anyway, get your blood work
done to find out what you're low on so you can add whatever you need. If
you can stomach the protein drinks they might be easier to help you get
concentrated protein in for now. I personally couldn't take the drinks I
tried. They all seemed to make me sick. But if you want some energy you
will need to try and get some protein in soon. I'm not a doctor, but I
think the water is even more important. Second is vitamins and then the
protein. Don't do anything before those though. I promise you'll feel
better soon. I know from personal experience it doesn't seem that way when
you're in the middle of your problem, but honestly a month of not doing
well will be worth it in the end. Best of luck and email directly if you'd
like me to answer any other questions. S
— sherry hedgecock
October 19, 2003
Dear Jennifer,
You sound just like I did at one month out. I didn't start really
feeling well until about 6-8 weeks out. I think it is a combonation of
extreme weight loss, not fueling your body with enough calories to sustain
and burn the fat, hence the exhaustion and dizziness. It's kind of like
burning the candle at both ends. I still have periods of four or five days
when i can't even look at food or I get nauseas. This is all totally
normal...we just aren't used to not needing the food. People who are just
"normally skinny" sometimes don't eat also. My only
recomendation is if you find yourself getting sick go to the previous
restrictions for a few days until you can handle the next step. I lived on
French Onion soup (without the bread and cheese) for I don't know how long.
This is a slow process....take your time....you didn't get to this weight
overnight....remmeber that. You can always e-mail me if you need anything
else!!!!Good Luck, and by the way I think I need a nap also:)
— Dana G.
October 19, 2003
Hi sweetie,
along with everyone elses advice, i would like to add you may have fallen
into depression. it is a chemical and easily happens after surgery. That
can amke u not want to do anything...many people who may not have had
depression in past find it hard to recognise...its not a weakness but
something that can happen to anyone just like any sickness, when discussing
with your doctor please bring this up...
Hugs Dawn
— sweetdarling_ab
October 19, 2003
If I could poke my finger at you I would. . . .someone needs to shake you
up girlfriend. . . .You are not getting 64 oz of fluids a day. . . .You are
not getting 60-80g of protein a day (or whatever amt. your Dr. says you
should have. . . .And you didn't say a thing about your
vitamins................................... I'm a pre-pre-op and I know you
are on the road to some serious problems..................... What's it
gonna take to wake you up?. . . .A ride in an ambulance to the ER at 3 in
the morning???????????????????????????????????
— Marrilee M.
October 19, 2003
Jen,
You've been given the best advice...see your surgeon NOW. I had the same
issues you have. I doctored it myself and things worked out fine except it
drastically slowed my weightloss. If I had gone to the doctor first I would
have recovered from it that much sooner and been on my merry way! Don't
wait! What you're feeling is very common but not always because of the same
reasons. I am an avid bingo player and it got to the point it took all of
my strength to just put my set-up together. The next morning, I'd feel
wonderful but by the end of the day I was so weak it was unbearable. Mine
was an issue with vitamins & not getting enough water but your's could
be a number of other things...none of which are anything to mess around
with. Please at least call your surgeon for guidance.
Best wishes!!
— Diane S.
Click Here to Return