Question:
HELP ME!! What is the matter with me?!?!
I had surgery Oct 29th. I went for my one week check up yesterday and I have lost 16lbs...my thoughts on that, SO WHAT!! I don't care! I am so unsure I did the right thing. I feel aweful! I think I have energy then I go to the store with my husband and I can't even walk around for an hour without getting tired! I can't pick anything up! When I am thirsty I can't drink until I am not! I worry that I wont live a normal life EVER again! Will I be able to pick up my children and play with them? Will I every be able to eat normally? Is my life ever gonna me good again? I HATE being tired and helpless...I don't know what to do. I know it takes time to heal that is not it...I see people at my support group meetings and they all look tired even people who are a couple years post-op!! HELP ME!!PLEASE!!What is wrong with me? — Sabrina Plunkett (posted on November 6, 2003)
November 6, 2003
Hi, Sabrina, I am now 9 mths post-op and still get tired some of the time,
but my energy level has improved so much, and my health too, I wouldn't
trade having this surgery for the world. But, I so know how you feel! The
first 2 mths mths after surgery I felt so bad and was so tired and weak all
of the time, I thought something had to be wrong, but my blood tests came
out fine, and I was told that it is normal for the first 2-6 mths
afterwards to fell this way. So, you are not alone and nothing is wrong
with you! I second guessed myself too at first about having this surgery
doen cuz I felt so darn tired constantly, but I knew that it was the best
thing for me so I just hung in there knowing that it would get better and
it did! I promise it will for you too, this is still very new to you and it
make take time but you will get your energy back soon enough adn start
enjoying life again! As for still getting tired, yes sometimes I do, and I
was told that is part of the process, but for the most part it is on
occassion now and not all of the time! Good luck to you!
— Melodee S.
November 6, 2003
As far as being run over by a truck, that's part of the anesthesia, surgery
trauma thing. For your fellow group people, I have to wonder what their
post op plan is. If they are not doing protein supps or doing high carbs
(surprisingly, most post-op plans are cereals, milk, juice--all high carb),
that certainly can make them look and feel awful. This is where the rubber
meets the road and you can decide how you want to feel, barring any
mechanical things, of course. But let the anesthesia work its way out. It
can jerk your feelings around like a yo-yo for maybe 4 weeks. Just keep
telling yourself that not every day will feel like today.
— vitalady
November 6, 2003
You are looking at others through your tired eyes. When you feel better,
you will be surprised at how much better they look.
— faybay
November 6, 2003
One word for you dear Sabrina....CHILL OUT!!!! We are going to have to
hose you down. You had major surgery NOT EVEN 2 weeks ago. Give yourself
a break. And walking right now for an hour at the store, be glad you had
the energy to drive there in the car...at this time. But wait...For me the
energy didn't kick in until about 8 weeks and then WOW I haven't been able
to sit still since. I had surgery Dec 4 02 and have lost 156 lbs and I
love it. When that energy kicks in you won't know what to do first...Take
Care and Take it easy you are still recovering....it hasn't even been 2
weeks. I was still in the house then walking my laps aroung the dining room
table..but then it was a bad winter for us last year. Take Care Cinde
— Cinde S.
November 6, 2003
I had depression after my RNY. I first experienced it in the hospital on
my last night there. I wished I had never done it, and I couldn't believe
I had altered my body. It lasted for about a month. I didn't want to get
dressed, go to school (I am working on my master's degree), or go to work.
I did shake it, after about 4 weeks. But it was pretty bad. Now, I can
say after 9 months post op and down 145 pounds, that my energy is fantastic
and I am so grateful and thankful that I had this surgery. You will be
able to drink normally, it will just take time.
— raye
November 6, 2003
Hey Sabrina ... give yourself a break!!! You may not notice it from the
outside, but you had major major rework on the inside! I felt awful for
the first six to eight weeks ... but every day it was a little better ... I
now don't get the nausea, am getting more energy (note: its not just
coming to me in one big spurt overnight, but I can definitely see a
difference from where I was right after surgery to now). Your life will be
better than good, you will be able to eat "normally" again (in
fact, at 5 months out, it almost scares me how much I can eat). Try to
chill and go with it ... the first few months weren't that great for me,
but I do not regret my decision ... and IT DOES GET BETTER. Best wishes
(hang in there!) LAP RNY 06/18/03 -71
— Karyn B
November 6, 2003
Like you, I had absolutely no energy and that feeling lasted for about 4-5
weeks. That's why it's so hard for me to comprehend how people felt well
enough to go back to work 2-3 weeks after open RNY. I don't think I could
have driven myself to work (45 minute drive) until at least 5 weeks post
op. Now, at 5 months post-op, I've got more energy than I know what to do
with. I still get tired, but it's a different kind of tired. Give it
time, it will get better. Just follow your program and be sure to get your
water in (you will be able to drink more, quicker as time goes on).
Good Luck.
— Carolyn M.
November 6, 2003
Hi Sabrina! I just wanted to say to you that, everything you are
experiencing is very normal. I too was very upset about how I felt a few
weeks after surgery. One thing I did was keep telling myself that
"tomorrow would be better", and you know what it was. I hated
the fact I could not drink normally either, ( I was a chugger) and that I
had to take little sips. But, by 4 months post op, I could drink very
normal. Now, I am almost 7 months post op, down 100 pounds, running on my
treadmill, and eating very normally. Trust me sweetie, it will get better.
Please feel free to email me if you ever want to talk or vent! LOL God
Bless! :)
— EHarding
November 6, 2003
Hey Baby! You are doing great! I remember attending my first support
meeting after 4 weeks, and asking people when they felt better. I had open
RNY and my scar was killing me, I was still taking naps during the day and
worried that I'd never be able to get along with out them. It gets better
every week. The weight comes off faster than it ever did with anything
else, and your energy will improve each week. So will your attitude and
self-esteem. I'm 9 months out, down 115 pounds (5 pounds from my personal
goal), and still losing and feeling fantastic. The first 6 weeks were
absolutely awful, but, I'd do it again to get where I am now. Best wishes
and big hugs to you! --Crystal (open RNY on 1/28/03 298/180/175)
— CrystalBroj
November 6, 2003
Please remember you are only ONE week out from a major surgery! You didn't
say if you were open or lap but please remember even if you are lap the
outside may be minimaly affected but the insides have been rearranged.
Please take a deep breath, allow yourself time to rest and heal. Read the
posts of others experiences and take their good advice. I am sure in a few
weeks things will be much brighter.
— BellaMoon
November 6, 2003
I hope this does'nt come across as being harsh as it is'nt meant too. But
the problem with you is that your body has been through a very tramatic
ordeal about nine days ago. It is'nt going to let you do cartwheels or
anything strenous for awhile! It's going to bitch and groan and make you
feel misable for putting it through this. ;) Please be patient with your
body. Seems that most of us take two to three months to feel human again.
You will probally regret wls for three months. The first two to three weeks
(I had Open) was aweful. As far as energy, it will probally come. I'm 2.5
years post op and still feel absolutly NO energy. I've had all kinds of
tests and nothing reveals what is going on. But I'm the exception rather
than the rule. Most people seem to get their energy back around three
months out. (If I remember right). Anywho, cut your body some slack. It
takes time. Heck I've had 14 surgeries in my life (two more coming up soon)
and it "always" takes awhile to feel good. At first, you think
you never will. But it comes. Just take it easy, let your body rest when it
wants, and do some light walking when you feel you can. You will get
better. We all do! Hang in there. ;)
— Danmark
November 6, 2003
I did not feel human til 8 weeks post op. I'm not a big protein shake
person, I like to eat food , but at this early stage shakes are critical if
you are going to get anywhere near the protein your body needs to heal
properly. I hated the surgery early on, took really 4 or 5 months to be
glad I did it. The lifesyle changes are HARD. took that long to tolerate
any beef other than hamburger or to be able to tolerate chicken breasts. I
was sure I would never be able to have it again. Now I eat steak 2-3 times
a weeks ( in 2-3 oz portions of course) I hated not being able to chug ice
water, It hurt my pouch for a long time to drink cold drinks. I had to
stick with warm tea and sugar free hot chocolate. Now I drink all the Non
carbinated drinks I want, with out a problem. For now sip sip sip and you
will get there. GNC has an unflavored whey protien by designer whey that
adds well to crystal lite type drinks. good luck , you WILL feel better
soon.
— **willow**
November 6, 2003
16 lbs in one week, that is great...as for the energy it will come...I
couldn't last in a store for more than 20 minutes with out being exhausted
3 weeks out. Go slow it will get better.
MaryLyn
— Kriola
November 7, 2003
I am 5 weeks out and I feel the same way...Are you getting your naps???
Sometimes I have to take a long nap like 2hours just to get me going again.
when I was 7 days out I went back to work. I own a daycare. I keep
wondering why am I so sleepy... Well im sleepy cause im not super women!!
Now I have taken me list of things each day to do way down. I nap nap
nap...and I just love that part of my day. Rest is awesome!!!!!!!!
— Amy M.
November 7, 2003
sabrina - you are doing oh-so-wonderful, and the post surgery depression is
normal. that was a big surgery you put your body through, and now your
head's going through a different type of 'trauma surgery'. honestly, i
felt the same way for about 2 weeks - almost cried. i'm just over 6 weeks
out now (lap rny 092303) and down 55 pounds - and NOW i'm 'getting' it. it
will really be okay. all change is painful and uncomfortable, whether good
or bad change. hooray for your 16 pound loss. you'll be great! Diana:)
— Diana D.
November 7, 2003
Hi Sabrina: While I can't answer for the people in your support group who
look tired that far out...I can say, I went through this. I actually
didn't start getting tired till I was a couple of months post-op. It got
so bad, I went through a major depression. I did all the lab tests at 5
months out and everything came back fairly normal. The past month, things
have changes dramatically. I'm losing weight slower and that may account
for part of it. My body is "adjusting" as my surgeon put it. I
feel so much better, and so will you. You're still so early post-op.
Please don't get discouraged. It's all temporary. Part of the early
post-op (and part of why you feel so tired) is that you're eating so
little. Also, you have all of these mental adjustments to make (you're not
eating with everyone else because it's depressing to watch people eat; you
resent that food is no longer the friend to you it used to be; you are
recovering from MAJOR surgery, etc.) I went through it. I thought things
would never be normal again. Well, I was wrong. I feel 100 times better
today than I did a month or two ago. I didn't believe anyone who told me
it would get better...well, it did...and you'll get there too...trust
me...YOU have to make the effort after a couple of months. Get in all your
protein (don't skip this), get in all your water and get in as little as
even 20 minutes of exercise...a brisk walk before lunch, a couple of laps
in the pool, a dance routine to your favorite songs...anything to get the
blood pumping. Before you know it, you'll be popping off the walls!
— Amy A.
November 7, 2003
Hi, Sabrina. I don't think there's anything wrong with you. All the
things you describe were exactly how I felt the first couple of weeks. I
was very afraid of not ever feeling normal again. I've had a great
recovery, though, and at almost 2 months out (9/11/03), I'm feeling good
and normal both! I just can't eat as much as I used to, and that is still
a mental adjustment, but I'm getting better every day. I'm down 40 pounds
from my highest weight last summer, and feeling good about how I look and
feel. My energy is back, and I now know this was indeed the right thing
for me to do! I bet you'll get to that point also. As for the tired
post-ops, I can't comment, but I personally know 5 other post-ops who range
from 6 months to 1-1/2 years out, and they all look normal to me with
normal energy. Hang in there, Sabrina, I can personally tell you that
every day gets better.
— Carlita
November 7, 2003
Sabrina, what you are going through right now is so normal. I SO remember
having your EXACT feelings so early out. You WILL feel better soon and
there will be such energy and good health. Don't overdo at first and be
assured this will all pass. I am one year out and I have lost 230 lbs. I
do as my doctor instructs...vitamins, protein, water and exercise. Maybe
some of the people from your support group has other issues that prevent
them from enjoying the good health and return of energy this surgery
provides for us. I went back to work 6 weeks after open RNY. I was just
starting to regain my energy and stamina. I made sure I got plenty of rest
and I took my vitamins. Be sure you are taking B-12, and if they are
sublingual you are letting them dissolve under your tongue. Keep a
positive attitude and let this ride out. Good luck to you.
— Ginger M.
November 7, 2003
Not wanting to ride that "horse" too hard here, but honey--be
kind to you body. You have just been through MAJOR surgery. Forget for a
moment what kind, anyone who has had surgery that was anywhere close to
being this invasive, is going to need time to heal--doesn't matter if it
was open or not, what was done on the inside is a BIG Deal!!Your body is
going to demand from you that you give it the time it needs to heal. And if
your brain doesn't pay attention, your body will force the issue. The 1st
time I went to the store, about a week after surgery (hubby just wasn't
good at reading labels yet), I used one of those motorized carts. Didn't
start out in it, thought I'd be OK. But oh, man was I glad to sit in it. I
barely had energy to finish even riding in that! I took 5 weeks off work,
and I really did sleep and baby myself. After all--what did I have to
prove--that I was Rambo?? I'll never forget during my 2year check-up
earlier this year the question popped up, "How is my energy leval
compared to pre-WLS?" Compare?? As opposed to a potato that couldn't
even walk into work without stopping 4 times from the parking lot. As
opposed to going to the fair and never leaving the goat barn because
walking around to see things just wasn't an option? Hey, I have energy, I
have a life! Did I have these things at 1 month, no way. But they will
come, you will see the benefits. For me--I'ts the best gift I ever gave
myself! Please give yourself time, be good to yourself!
— bek4901
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