Question:
need energy . what to take to booste it

5 months out post op. had RNY gastro bypass. i take 3 protein drinks a day aloing with all my vitamin. iron, calcium, vit c,a,d and b6, b12. biotin niacin. multi vit. too. i work out 5 days a week as well. why do i feel so sluggish. i feel so drain . does anyone have this problem ? what should i take. every day i force my self for activites. im tired all the time.    — yvettetas (posted on July 3, 2007)


July 3, 2007
Please speak to your Dr. In my case, it was around that time that I realized that I was having problems with Iron. A change in the type and amount of iron fixed it up right quick.
   — CChappell

July 3, 2007
Are you eating enough protein??? I am not having that problem at all, and I am not taking near the vitamins that you are. Two multivitamins a day, b12 once a week and calicum. I wish I had LESS energy. I would like to sit down. I drink all my fluids and get between 80-120 mg of proteins a day, and I try to get as much as I can from food. Call you doctor if you try more proteins and it doesn't get better. If you don't feel well enough to exercise, don't force yourself, take a day to rest and feel better or just walk one day and not hit the gym everyday. Good luck, keep us posted.
   — Diane C.

July 3, 2007
I have to agree with Chris on this one, I would call your doc and see if he can draw some blood on you. I had anemia problems after surgery. I was also vitamin D deficient prior to surgery. I know some of us have problems with B vitamins as well. All of these can cause you to feel very tired.
   — amysocko

July 3, 2007
Go see your Doctor, you may be anemic. He can help you
   — Evelyn J.

July 3, 2007
I too felt tired and had little energy. It turned out that I was anemic - I wasn't taking iron. All iron is not alike. I am on high doses now. My blood count was 7.4 when I was in the ER....a normal blood count is 14. I needed 3 pints of blood!
   — Sheri A.

July 3, 2007
Hi Yvette, thanks for writing. First, I want to applaude your efforts on weight loss. You are doing a superior job with your diet and exercise! Wow, I am impressed, and I really mean that! Congratulations on your hard work. You should be seeing your surgeon at 6 months, and they need to do blood work to see if everything is in order. If it is, then here is what I suspect you might have to look at. Yvette, there is no greater drain on the both than stress. Are there emotional issues that are draining you, or even the full time job of losing weight can be stressful. Are you getting enough sleep at night? Are there things going on in your family or job that are bringing you down? Do you have a terminally ill loved one that you are caring for? Any or all of these things will sap the energy right out of you. If your life is fairly normal (who has a really normal life????), then perhaps the blood test will tell the story, maybe you need a little more calories wise or real food? You don't mention how much real food you eat. You also don't mention how much water you drink. These can help boost your energy, especially in the summer. The heat can drain and dehydrate you quickly. Hope some of this helps as you look over your situation and please contact your surgeon for the blood test, that will be an important start. Take care, and kudos to you girl, you are doing great. Patricia P.
   — Patricia P

July 4, 2007
Could be low iron or B12. Do you go to your doctor and have blood tests soon?
   — Novashannon

July 4, 2007
Congrats, it sounds like you're doing very well otherwise! My six-month blood work showed that I was low on iron. I've been taking a supplement since and now am in the normal range. Low iron will make you feel sluggish, plus you're expecting a lot from your body without a lot of calories to burn off. That's great, really, but your body is still not used to the lower calorie count. If the problem is your iron count, it will take quite a while for you to get your energy back, even once your iron count starts going back up. Please ask your doctor or nutritionist what form and how much iron you should be taking, and be prepared to deal with constipation from the iron supplement. Get a handle on that right at the start or you'll be miserable, not to mention "gassy". Best of luck!
   — packrat

July 4, 2007
I agree with the others... it could be your iron level is too low and also your B-12 level. I found I was very tired and had no energy the first few weeks after my surgery so I uped my protein along with taking more B-12 .( I prefer the shots-was using them before surgery ) I also find from time to time if I am feeling tired I take more iron because I have a low ferrian level and am always working to get it up! Mine is between 13-18 and my doc wants it to 40 or more). Good Luck but I agree check with your doctor to be sure!
   — jpcal

July 5, 2007
Okay, this is just me, but protein, vitamins and water are NOT a good diet! Are you eating a varity of foods? I don't know what your surgeon/dietician taught you, but I was taught to eat a balanced diet from day one --fruits, vegetables, meats, carbs, etc., even on a pureed diet. I always had plenty of energy and never lost any hair, never was anemic (despite monthly bleeding like a pig).Your body needs FOOD to survive!I was 47 years old when I had surgery, and month after surgery, went with a high school marching band to Florida for four days, and had a blast at all the amusement parks!
   — koogy

July 5, 2007
Im having the same problem. I will be six months out on July 16th. All I want to do is sleep. Sometimes at work it takes all I got to keep my head up. So far my blood work has looked good. I see my doctor the 18th. Everytime Ive told him about me being so tired, he said its just my body adjusting after surgery. He said normally in six months your energy will boost back up. I will ask him what type of tests is he running. Good luck.
   — barfiep01

July 5, 2007
Hi Yvette, for a fast pick me up try drinking a little orange juice. Don't drink too much , because it could cause you to dump. Then make sure that you are getting enough protein and water. Good luck, Vanessa
   — Vanessa Dates

August 20, 2007
as long as your labs are fine and your doctor says you can have caffeine get the non-carbonated energy drink FIXX I drink half of one every day and i feel great. it mus be all the green tea and b vitamins in it
   — jeff marchioni




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