Question:
What makes me feel so sluggish in the mornings?

I am almost 2 weeks post-op and I have a hard time in the mornings. I feel extremely sluggish,faint and light headed. I especially get tired while in the shower. It wipes me out for about 30 minutes. After about an hour or so I feel fine.    — deannadyall (posted on March 24, 2007)

March 24, 2007
Hi Deanna. I felt that way, too, in the beginning. I am not sure what causes it. All I can say is make sure you are drinking enough so you are not dehydrated, make sure you are taking your vitamins, and most importantly, make sure you are getting in all of your protein. Call your surgeon's office if it gets worse. Otherside, rest assured it does gets better after a few weeks.... hang in there! Patty.
   — Patricia R.

March 24, 2007
Deanna, I'm almost 5 weeks post-op and I'm taking liquid B-12 --not B- Complex are you taking that? If not, you might want to pick up some or order some from www.tropicaloasis.com --that where I get mine. As state in the earlier post, make sure you are getting in enough water and your protein -- you don't want to get dehydrated and contact your physician should these feelings persist. Peace,
   — the7thdean

March 24, 2007
Deanna... congrats on your surgery... It sounds like you are getting dehydrated. Try boosting your liquid intake in the evening and try to get all of your protein in. I added powdered protein to everything except my water in the beginning. You may want to consider iron supplements too. Are you taking your vitamins? The reason that you probably feel faint, especially in the shower is that you are probably dehydrated. So you probably have a slightly lower blood pressure than your normal. Then when you get in the shower and under the warm water, your blood vessels vasodilate (open up) due to the warm water and this lowers your blood pressure even more. After you get out and towel dry, your body temperature cools off again and the blood vessels go back to their norm raising your blood pressure back to its norm. You should avoid doing anything strenuous while you are feeling weak. I would be discussing this with your doctor. There is a risk of you passing out if it goes on and you don't want to fall in the tub or shower. good luck to you.
   — Kari_K

March 25, 2007
Hi Deanna. Thanks for your question. You have just had major surgery honey, breathe and take it easy. Two weeks out, you will still need lots of sleep. You need to keep your fluids up, this is hard, but you must keep drinking. Try diet popsicles, they are good, or warm tea (decalf) or bottled water. Be sure you are taking 2 chewable vitamins every day. You may have an iron or vitamin issue, so keep those up for sure. Other than that, you are just recovering from a huge surgery on your body. Please advise your surgeon of your issues. Mine told me that if I didn't feel a little better every day that she needed to know about it. You should on average be getting better every day. It doesn't mean you are gonna be super woman, you weren't before surgery so you aren't gonna be now, but you should be progressing. Once you can walk, start walking around the block, that will help with stamina. But fluids are really important now, fight to keep them up. Take care, Patricia P.
   — Patricia P

March 25, 2007
The first two week or so, I felt the same way. I was doing everything I needed to do, drink my fluids, eat my vitamins, get my protein down, but let's face it....you just slept all night (and you weren't drinking anything in your sleep) so.....when I got in the AM to take my shower....I'd roll out of bed, jump in the shower like usual. Not so good....dizzy and naseau. So I would take a 1oz. shot of apple juice before my shower - that helped - a lot! Then, I changed my routine and ate breakfast before jumping in the shower - that really helped. I am almost 6 weeks out and I don't have to worry about it anymore. I get up, jump in the shower, go to work and eat breakfast there. If, on the off chance I feel a little woosy, I take that shot of apple juice and I am good to go. It will get easier and better; just remember you are still recooperating from MAJOR surgery. Even though you feel pretty good and your outsides like amazing.....your insides are healing and moving around trying to find their new home. :) Good luck, hope that info helped.
   — jammerz

March 25, 2007
Sleeping for 8 hours (and thus not eating) is like having breakfast at 8am and not eating again until 4pm...with no snacks or water in between. It might be helpful to eat and then shower. Or you could try a little bit of juice before showering (and eat the rest of your breakfast/protein afterwards). Try the water, try the snack, and if it doesn't resolve, I think a trip to the doctor would be a good idea--might be a good idea to go even if the juice/extra water do help. Best wishes.
   — mrsidknee

March 25, 2007
I have Anthem Point of Service Insurance and they covered justabout all of my surgery. My surgeons office collected a 500.00 fee before the surgery , but that is all that I have paid. I would rate them a 10!!!!!!! My surgeon was Dr. Roy Cobean at Casco Bay Surgery. So. Portland , Maine.
   — lambie20507