Question:
Is it normal to tire easily?

I am 22 days post-op R-N-Y surgery. I have very little energy. I manage to wash a few dishes or shower and do my hair before I need to rest a few minutes. Is this normal?    — earlene50 (posted on April 25, 2008)


April 25, 2008
Yes. I found that to be normal. I was taking naps all of the time. As I progressed, it got much better. Plus I got better at taking my vitamins. If I felt extra tired I would double my B vitamins dose.
   — mindyCB

April 25, 2008
Yes - I'm 32 days out -post-op RNY and I get very tired. At work, I take naps at lunch in my car. It doesn't take much for me to get fatigued. I asked my doctor about this - she said it is normal and could take up to a couple of months for the fatigue to go away. She said it was due to the surgery. Yep - completely normal.
   — C P.

April 25, 2008
Yes, I'm 2 years out and we all go through that. I'm now 61, and I don't have the energy I had 20 years ago, but I have to attribute that party to age too. For the first 3-4 weeks most patients are very tired, and may sleep more than normal.
   — Dave Chambers

April 25, 2008
Yes, I think it's normal to feel tired after any type of surgery. And they with the different eating habits you're adjusting to that as well. The first 2 weeks to one month were the most difficult for me. Now, three months out, I have lots of energy and actually have trouble taking a nap in the afternoon which previously was a life long habit. Just rest when you can and enjoy losing the fat!
   — cjjordan

April 25, 2008
Yes, it is normal. I slept most of the time. Your body is going through major change. When you have this type of surgery your body is in shock. You will get more energy as time goes on.
   — nascar_angel_3_2003

April 25, 2008
Sure...you just had major surgery and are melting away as we speak! Your body is taking on some serious changes in weight! It takes a tole! Keep taking your vitamins and protein supps and stay hydrated. You will begin to feel better as you heal and are able to eat more. Rest if you need to! Allow yourself that! It's justified!
   — .Anita R.

April 25, 2008
Yes, it is. Rather it was completely normal for me. I say you are doing just fine to be able to do thoses things. Keep going, it does pick up and get much better. BE BLESSED
   — datagirl2

April 25, 2008
I would get so tired at work, I would go to the car and sleep. here is what solved it for me. First take Bariatric vitamins, iron, calcium, and B-12 spray. I get them from www.bbvitamins.com. I had to get a B-12 shot the first time, and within 24 hours I was able to go all day without a nap. I use the spray Morning and afternoon, and it works and is small enought you can carry it with you. Over the counter vitamins go through RNY patients too fast and are not absorbed. I could not tell from your profile what surgery you had, but it sounds like a RNY issue, as I don't hear anyone with a Lab Band saying they are now tired. Over the counter Iron, is just passed to the colen almost in tack in RNY patients. If your are RNY Patients the reason is you do not have much stomach acid until the last third of your small intestine where your original stomach is attached to the small intestine by means of the first third of your small intestine. Does that make sence to you. If not, write me and I will give you more details. Best of success to you.
   — William (Bill) wmil

April 25, 2008
Yes! I was extremely exhausted in the first month and as my food advanced so did my energy. I couldn't walk from here to there without feeling completely run down. I am 15 weeks post op and that feeling is now completely gone. Hang in there! Cindy
   — ellabean

April 25, 2008
My Doc says it's normal and can last up to 3 months. I'm 7 wks. post-op and still very weak. I have had 7 major surgeries in the last 4 years. Starting on Mar 25, 2004 with back surgery ( lamenectomy L4 L5), 2 foot surgeries, knee replacement, and hip replacement to name a few. I am also very active and teach exercise classes, walk, and swim. I have been put down by this surgery more than any of them. I thought I would bounce back just like the others, but nooo, this one has floored me. I make sure I have vit. B12 every day (what you don't use come out in you urine), my multi-vit, and calcium. I also make sure I get at least 60 mg. of protien, 64 oz. of liquid, and am eating about 1,000-1,200 per day. I'm down almost 40 lbs. People who have the desease of being obese, and having a hard time loosing weight, this weakness is normal. Your body is trying soo hard to make you start eating again, because is doesn't want to go into the mode where it has to take it's energy from fat cells. It wants to continue getting it's energy from the blood stream (where the energy has come from the food you just consumed). Eventually it will convert, but it will try its darndest to resist. So, just hang in there like I am doing, and rest if you can when possible. Try to resist not exerciseing, because the more you exercise the faster the fatique will go away. Best of luck, Paula B.
   — paulajaneb

April 25, 2008
I was the same way. I was worried about going back to work after 6 weeks but it lasted a little over 4 weeks before I started feeling like myself again. I was around the time I started eating solid foods, it will go away. Remember, even though they give it a pretty name, RNY BYpass, it is still bowel reconstruction! So healing takes awhile and your energy will come back. Enjoy the rest while you can. Take care.
   — noboat4u

April 26, 2008
I was warned that it would be a possibility after my surgery but in MY case I actually have MORE energy AFTER the surgery than BEFORE. My health issues were and ARE legion and the REDUCTION in caloric intake actually HELPED BOOST my energy levels and lifted me from the diabetic torpor that I was in. Three WEEKS after the surgery I had to DROP ALL of my DIABETES medications because my BLOOD SUGAR was TOO LOW! I had gone from taking 70 to 80 units of 70/30 insulin to taking NONE and from taking FOUR pills of Glucovance 5/500 to taking NONE in 3 WEEKS! My change in dosage WAS GRADUAL and NOT ALL AT ONCE but it DID HAPPEN. My point actually was that this kind of thing is NOT unexpected. Your reduction in caloric intake will often leave you with less energy. In MY case, it made me more HEALTHY. This caused me to FEEL an INCREASE in energy level. Had I BEEN healthy to BEGIN WITH and had just been FAT, I TOO, would have probably felt a DECREASE in energy. Hugh
   — hubarlow




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