Hi

I am 3 days post op. (surgery on Tuesday). I was just wondering when everyone started to feel normal again?

I'm just over two weeks out and it took me over a week to really feel better. I still don't feel normal -- my stamina isn't back -- but the first week was really the worst. I was having bad gas pain and my ribs hurt for some reason, and I couldn't seem to ever catch my breath. Going up stairs made me dizzy and and nauseous.

I had kind of a meltdown at the end of the first week; I panicked because I suddenly starting worrying that I would never be able to eat or drink without some kind of pain, or feeling exhausted and out of breath all the time.

But just like every other person on this board says, it will get better. We promise.

Hmmm ... that is a good question. I don't think I ever did go back to feeling the way I did pre-surgery. At least not yet. After getting through the initial shock of surgery, drinking broths and then mushies, I started a 3 week stint of extreme fatigue which was turned around by increasing carbs. After that, I had lost so much weight and now had so much energy, I could do things and felt better than I had in years.

It truely is a roller coaster, and I really don't want to go back to my old normal, but I'll say I started feeling better after I got through the fatigue stage, about 5 weeks post-op. Had I listened to my body and talked to my NUT earlier, I'm sure it would have been sooner.

I'm on day 7 and I still get tired easily. Probably because I'm struggling to get in enough Protein. I think it started to get better day 4 or 5 and yesterday was a good day. I still can't go more than 50 ft from a bathroom but I have less pain and stuff.

I'm walking and I couldn't walk preop and that makes me feel better.

The "pain" was gone by day 6-8 for me.. Im on like day 10 now and i feel good expect Im really stiff in the morning and Tired... but for the most part you wouldhave never guess I had major abdominal surgery

I sure don't feel like I did before surgery. From day 2 after surgery I have had more energy and felt like a new person. Before, I couldn't imagine getting up and walking to the fitness center here and then walking more than a mile on the treadmill. Now, I do it regularly.

I don't remember the surgery causing me to feel down at all. I was convinced TOTALLY that I was going to die during surgery. Waking up from it was like a whole new life given to me by God.

Unpleasant things have happened, but they can't take away that one major blessing that He gave me. I, too, promise all of the newbies that your physical and mental condition gets better and better. Losing the weight is a side effect!

I'm on day 11 and for me the turn around day was really day 6. I felt so much better. I took a shower and put makeup on! I even cleaned a little.. very little. But it felt good to not be in pain with every move I made. It does get better. Fluids are my biggest struggle right now. And now slowly reintroducing soft foods. I had no idea how consuming this process would be, but I wouldn't go back for anything!

My pain went away probably day 3 or 4. Now I just have general stiffness and fatigue. My big challenge has been fluids. Today is day 17 and I actually feel good. Following my eating/water plan to the T and it has made a big difference

Going to try work on Monday. I warned them - may not make a whole day - the fatigue is still pretty overwhelming.

at 10 weeks out, I feel pretty good. I struggle with getting all my water, it actually hurts my stomach when I drink it. I worry that I'm getting too much now and my stomach will stretch. It's crazy making. But overall I feel alot better. I have lost 50 lbs since my journey started pre-opt. Happy as can be.