Question:
Things to do to avoid sleepiness and weakness post op

I have a very active 5 year old boy, not so supportive husband and no family to really help. I will be off 10 weeks. I am taking full advantage of my time. However, I need to know what I should do 2 weeks pre op and post op to prepare my body for the untaking of this surgery. I am very active and rarely sit now so, what can I eat, take or excersise to be ready. If there is anything.    — tayee24 (posted on May 9, 2008)

May 9, 2008
Has your hubby met a post op out a year? seeing success may make him more supportive. a positive attitude can be a great help.
   — bob-haller

May 9, 2008
Hi...Congrads on your surgery! How exciting! First of all...THINK POSITIVE at all times!!! Think about YOU! I only had my MOM....and at first she didn't like the idea....but now that I'm 6 months out of surgery...I've already lost over 65lbs! Your husband will come around evenually....he needs to go to one of your support groups...Your doctor will give you all the instructions for eating and exercise that you need...ALWAYS CALL YOUR SURGEON IF YOU EVER HAVE ANY PROBLEMS WHAT SO EVER!!!! That's what they are there for...YOU! So Good Luck with your surgery....I'll get through it...BELIEVE ME! I DID!!!*smile* :))))
   — LindaA

May 9, 2008
Hi Tammy, I checked out your profile on this site and I see that you selected a RNY. That is what I had soI will give you a little feedback. The first thing is to make sure before surgery, like the last two week, take off some weight as this removes fat from the liver, which is on top of the stomach. THis allows your surgeon to work easier and put less of a strein on the liver during surgery. My wife was supportative, but most of my family told me that I looked find at 330 lbs, and that I had always be overweight so what difference did it make at my age. You need to think about two people right now, yourself and your child. Do you want to live to attend your childs mwedding? Do you want to see your grandkids? If you could live to see your great grandkid would you like that? Of course you would, but if you do not take care of your self now, you will come down with Diabitees most likely by 45. You could go blind, have kidnewy failure, have your legs and feet go num, all from diabities. You may think it will not hapen to you, but then what about high blood pressure, and high colestroal? That will bring on heart problems and often early heart failure. I know because I pushed my weight to 62 years of age before I acted and had a RNY. It can not cure Heart problems, but it did cause the Diabities to go away, but I still have the damage done by diabities. It did cure my high blood pressure and my high colestroal, but it will not remove the 5 stents in my heart. Have you ever been to an old folks home and seen anyone that was overweight there? Not likely, as they all die over overwight before they every make it to the old folks home. You may have though at 35 that you got a long time to correct this, but you are about to the age where the skin you streched will still most likely return to normal with excersize, but 5 years from now will be too late. Take care of yourself for once and life will help you take care of you son and your husband. I will tell you that the weight loss will bring a change to your life. If you have been your husbands drinking buddy, he will not be happy when you give up drinking. It can put a strain on a marrage. I am very lucky to have a wife for the past 42 years that saw me just put on 5 lbs a year, and just do what she could to help me lose it. But when I decided to have the RNY she has ate what I cooked (I am the cook in our family) and she gave up drinking and took you excersize, went to classes with me, and walks with me each day. She took up golf with me recently, and while she realy does not like the game, she goes and practices with me, to show her support. Not everyone is lucky with their spouse. Try and talk to him about how you want to be there for him and your child and this is important to you. If that does not work, focus on yourself. You have made a sound decision. Now to after surgery. I came home after 5 days in the hospital, but the people your age when home the next afternoon. Get some rest for the first few days home, so plan on having someone to look after your child. Take the pain medication and sleep. Then when you feel better, try to walk some each day and just go further for the first two weeks. After two weeks I started at the gym, at first 10 minutes on a stationary bike was all I could take, but each day I added a minute or two to what I did the previous day. Then when I got to 20-30 Minutes on the bike, I added the tredmill for 5 minutes the first day in addition to 30 minutes on the bike, then each day I added additional minutes and equipment until I got to 1-1/2 hours per day (about week 6-7). I got a personal trainer one day a week to help me learn the equipmwent and what I needed to do. I joined the streching classes and I started to take sundays off as I had to go back to work. I needed one day to rest and relax, and I still do a lot of excersize, but I take sundays off, just to give my body a rest. Its now 5 months, and I am down 100 lbs. I have 70 more to go. I hope this helps you. If you need any more information, I am glad to help if I can. Just write me. Best of success to you.
   — William (Bill) wmil

May 9, 2008
Hi Tammy! I just had lap RNY on 4/29/08 and I understand your concerns. I have a 3 yr. old and a 6 yr. old and the original plan was for them to continue to go to school/daycare for the 2 weeks post-op for me. Well, they both came down with strep throat, so they ended up staying home with me this past M-F. I was already off all pain meds, so honestly, it wasn't a problem...the recovery from this surgery is very easy! Each day I felt 100% better than the previous, and I am going back to work after only 2 weeks. For the first few days when you are still on pain meds, you will need someone to help you with your child. But after that, you will feel better and better every day. You might find that 10 weeks off is too long...who knows. Your doc will probably put you on a liquid diet 2 weeks pre-op which will help shrink your liver for the surgery and it isn't as bad as it sounds. I found I was still able to cook meals for the family while on it and I actually lost all interest in food...Yeah! Of course, any exercise before surgery will only help you lose, which will help with the liver shrinkage. You're going to be fine and this is the best thing you could do for yourself and your child. I wish you the best!
   — gclark918

May 11, 2008
You will need help the first couple of weeks - with lifting and bending. This is a major surgery, and you will (most likely) be very tired or tire easily. Make sure you get plenty of rest, get your full amount of proteing and fluids and take your vitamins. Missing any of them can cause additional weakness.
   — gonnadoit