Question:
Is it normal to feel so weak 4 days post op

I am so weak. I don't feel like I can do anything for myself. I am someone who does everything for herself and others. I am not used to being so dependent on everyone. I feel like I can hardly pick up my own arms to do anything. Is this normal 4 days after surgery. Lots of gas pain in shoulder and chest. Lots of abdominal pain from surgery. Hard to even take a deep breath. I had a revision surgery that was from 21 years ago to the new ryn surgery. I don't know what is normal or not normal. Thanks Susan    — SusanSp (posted on May 9, 2009)

May 9, 2009
You could be dehydrated. Your job right now is to sip, sip, sip liquids non-stop. I love Fuze low-carb drink, Propel, sugar free kool-aid. I was weak also and my doctor told me that I needed more fluids. I forced myself to drink and I did start to feel better. Also chicken broth helped because it has sodium in it. Good luck
   — okbuffy

May 9, 2009
The nurse who discharged me said that ANY pain in the shoulder should be reported IMMEDIATELY. Please call your doc now. I'm 2 weeks out.
   — Bev B.

May 9, 2009
Are you kidding me? You just went through major surgery. YES!! It's normal to be so weak. I'm 6 weeks out and still feel weak. However, please stay hydrated. I know it's hard, but you have to. I remember the first week. It was hell for me and I couldn't stop thinking, "What have you done to yourself?" Hang in there and allow people to help you. You're not in a place to be the same ol' giving person you were prior to. Give it some time though. You'll feel better as each day passes. Just rest for now.
   — Bootsee01

May 10, 2009
hi susan this dont sound normal you should call and make an appointment with your doctor asap he sould be to find out what is wrong and do something to help you get back on your feet. i hope you get to feeling better soon sandy
   — sandy fairweather

May 11, 2009
Susan, I hope you have spoken to your doctor by now and they were able tohelp you with knowing what to eat and getting pain meds that work well. I will be weak for several weeks. It can take up to 8 weeks to feel normal again. Usually the extreme tireness lasts only about three weeks. Don't worry too much about protien yet. Just get your clear liquids in for now. They should advance you to more solid foods slowly. they should have given you this information before sending you home. I hope they have you on a liquid pain med it absorbs much easier and you can sip it. When you drink take very small sips at a time and don't use a staw.
   — trible

May 12, 2009
like others said, i hope you've contacted your doctor. likely it's typical post-op gas pain, but it's good to check. as far as being weak...i was VERY tired still at that point. i was just sort of nodding off throughout the day, and i let myself do it. your body is working overtime on healing, like it would with any "injury" or similar, but it also is getting less fluid and nutrients than it did before. KEEP hydrated. i know others have said it, but it seriously made a huge difference for me. the days i got less fluid i could definitely feel it. as far as it being hard to take a deep breath, they actually kept me in the hospital longer, and on oxygen, partly because of my inability to take deep breaths. some of it was due to an allergic reaction to morphine and dilottid which depressed my respiration, but even after it was hard. the nurse said that was common after surgery because deep breaths hurt, so your body prefers shallow ones! did you get one of those spirometers (i think it's the right word) to measure your breaths? it has a tube you breath into (actually mine had me inhale) and it measures the volume of air inhaled/exhaled. the nurse told me what my target was, and i had to use it a few times an hour or so once i got home, more frequently at the hospital. i honestly can't remember how often, but it was frequent. i hope you're feeling better. what you're describing is basically how i felt 4 days post-op - i was still in the hospital at that point - and i just remember them really stressing that i NEEDED to get that oxygen in. your doctor can tell you for sure.
   — rachieo