Hibernation Syndrome

[BZButterfly79 19]

This is the first time I read about this, have any of you experienced this? Thanks

First Stage of Post Op

HIBERNATION SYNDROME

After WLS, you may be feeling tired and become depressed. When you are several weeks post op, and are either on a liquid diet or you are eating many fewer calories than you were pre op, this depression and inactivity can become more pronounced.

All you want to do is sleep, you may have crying spells, you may begin to believe that the surgery was a mistake, or you may think 'what in the world have I done to myself?

All these feelings are completely normal and, to a certain extent, are to be expected. The low number of calories you are eating produces what many of us call the 'hibernation syndrome' and your depression and feelings of despair,are a direct result.

During the weeks immediately following surgery, our body starts to notice that we are not taking in enough calories. It doesn't know we've had WLS, or that it's the year 2000. Our body is missing food, thinks this is a famine, and struggles to conserve our energy. The human body reacts like it always has in a famine; it makes us depressed--so we don't have the motivation to do anything, and it makes us tired--so we don't have the energy to do anything. In this way, we will conserve as many calories as possible and remain alive.

You can see the practical value of this as our bodies have been living through famines, snowstorms, and other periods of unstable food supply for centuries.

This stage can last several weeks. Our discomfort is compounded as we are, at this same time, trying to recover from major surgery, adopt new eating habits, and deal with a liquid or soft diet. To get out of this stage, our body has to say to itself 'gee, this famine is lasting a bit too long. If I keep conserving my energy with inactivity, I will starve to death. I'd better use my last store of energy (the remaining fat and muscles in our body) to hunt up some food'. At this point, our body will switch from getting energy from food, to getting energy from our fat (and muscle too if we don't eat enough Protein) and that is what we want.

In order to deal with this difficult transition period, tell yourself that you're right on track; this is exactly what is normal and to be expected.

Tell yourself that, in a few weeks, this will pass, and you will feel like a completely new person. We all seem to turn the corner about 4-6 weeks post op. Then, your mood will lighten and, with your weight loss starting to add up, you'll feel more positive and have a better outlook on life. Just keep telling yourself that you will not always feel this way! You WILL be back to feeling like your old self. Just give it time!

[LilMissDiva Irene 3,281]

Wow that is some great info. I think I did experience that to an extent. I do still in bouts to this day. I think it was the main factor is me taking so long to get back to my workout routine.

I know many here have experienced this as well. All I can tell you is, at least if it happens you will know about it. It will pass...

[YOLANDA240 13]

This is the first time I read about this, have any of you experienced this? Thanks

First Stage of Post Op

HIBERNATION SYNDROME

After WLS, you may be feeling tired and become depressed. When you are several weeks post op, and are either on a liquid diet or you are eating many fewer calories than you were pre op, this depression and inactivity can become more pronounced.

All you want to do is sleep, you may have crying spells, you may begin to believe that the surgery was a mistake, or you may think 'what in the world have I done to myself?

All these feelings are completely normal and, to a certain extent, are to be expected. The low number of calories you are eating produces what many of us call the 'hibernation syndrome' and your depression and feelings of despair,are a direct result.

During the weeks immediately following surgery, our body starts to notice that we are not taking in enough calories. It doesn't know we've had WLS, or that it's the year 2000. Our body is missing food, thinks this is a famine, and struggles to conserve our energy. The human body reacts like it always has in a famine; it makes us depressed--so we don't have the motivation to do anything, and it makes us tired--so we don't have the energy to do anything. In this way, we will conserve as many calories as possible and remain alive.

You can see the practical value of this as our bodies have been living through famines, snowstorms, and other periods of unstable food supply for centuries.

This stage can last several weeks. Our discomfort is compounded as we are, at this same time, trying to recover from major surgery, adopt new eating habits, and deal with a liquid or soft diet. To get out of this stage, our body has to say to itself 'gee, this famine is lasting a bit too long. If I keep conserving my energy with inactivity, I will starve to death. I'd better use my last store of energy (the remaining fat and muscles in our body) to hunt up some food'. At this point, our body will switch from getting energy from food, to getting energy from our fat (and muscle too if we don't eat enough Protein) and that is what we want.

In order to deal with this difficult transition period, tell yourself that you're right on track; this is exactly what is normal and to be expected.

Tell yourself that, in a few weeks, this will pass, and you will feel like a completely new person. We all seem to turn the corner about 4-6 weeks post op. Then, your mood will lighten and, with your weight loss starting to add up, you'll feel more positive and have a better outlook on life. Just keep telling yourself that you will not always feel this way! You WILL be back to feeling like your old self. Just give it time

I'm going through this right now, last.week I was moving working out. This week I have had no energy I've just been watching HOUSE reruns and sleeping. Thanks for the information, I'm glad to know this will pass.

[myrori 55]

I am only 10 days out here so I am not sure what is to come. I do know that I was so sure about this operation I did not once have any buyers remorse I hear of that folks experience in the days right after. I am just so excited and thrilled to have this tool I sought all of my 47 years. I have been stuck in this go forward and it will all be good mode since Jan of this year. I took off 50 pounds pre op and never even thought to "eat it up" before the surgery because soon I wont be able to. My thoughts were the more I can take off now, the less I have to take off after the surgery.

Now if this is all temporary and I get depressed, well you wonderful folks are the very folks I will turn to, as you all great folks and no one who has not gone through this would never understand.

So for any of you struggling with this depression I would like to be the first to say, We are here for you!

[Dawn 16]

I totally think my body is doing this! I'm not mentally depressed but I do think my body is physically depressed and I'm not loosing any weight I lost 16lbs the first two weeks and now the scale shows no loss I keep telling myself my body is just trying to "work itself out" and get used to the new way of eating!

[myrori 55]

Hang in there Dawn. The fist week I lost 3 pounds and stayed there. Then all of the sudden in 3 days I have lost 5 pounds? Crazy right?