Hi all,

Just need a sanity check here. I just yesterday did my last day of Clear liquids and am SO fatigued. I feel like getting up and going to the bathroom and back is a major energy drain, and that is not like me. Called the doc 3 days ago, and nurse suggested substituting Gatorade G2 for Water to be sure it wasn't dehydration. I did. I just today started "full liquids" (what my docs says is mainly Protein drinks, tomato soup). I am hoping it's just the lack of any "real food" for a week that is making me feel this way. My big concern: I had hoped to go back to work next week but now I'm afraid that just making it from the parking lot inside the building and into my contractor area will be enough for me to want a nap.

I noticed all last week that there were MANY times that I was hungry (not head hunger, but as in my stomach started grumbling). That was very disappointing to me because so many people have reported that they're not hungry at all. If I had to guess I'd say my pouch is about 3-5 oz., because that's how much clear liquid I could drink slowly in little sips before I felt full.

Has anyone else experienced fatigue and/or the hunger?

After surgery I was always hungry, no matter what. I told the PA's at the surgeon's office and they didn't say anything. However, on this site, I received feedback from others about taking a PPI (nexium, prilosec, or something for acid reflux). So I tried prilosec for a couple of weeks and it really did take away the hunger. COme to find out, it is alot of acid in my pouch that wsa causing such a ruckus. Glad that I found that info here.

I know the first week since I was unable to do much except sip on Water, gatorade etc I did feel a little weak. I did however not drink much water and did mostly either gatorade or a Vitamin water to help sustain what I was not getting from food. I had my surgery on Dec 11 and am just starting to eat some small portions of ground food. i have been on the Protein shakes and babyfood for the past week and it has not bothered me at all. Do you get dizzy when you get up and stand??? If so you could be dehydrated. I used to combat this with chicken broth or chicken Soup and then add extra salt as the salt will keep Fluid in your blood system longer thus decreasing your dizziness. I can also tell when I get a little dehydrated as my voice starts to change.

I am coming up on 4 weeks post op and feel as though I could go back to work at this time. I am not sure I could have gone back after 2 or 3 weeks. I needed to rest and started to get some exercise. What are you doing for exercise? Also what are you eating for protein and how often. In an 8oz serving of your protein mix how many grams of protein are you getting?

The fatigue for me was horrible. I was out of work for two weeks and could barely get out of bed. The fatigue and weakness bought me to tears. You will feel better shortly. I was told it was the combination of the liquid diet, low protein and the effects of anathesia (cant spell) in your system. Keep pushing, rest when necessary and work on getting in that protein and you'll feel much better soon. Know this will past!!

I also had some nasty rumbling and a feeling of nausea for the first 2 weeks after surgery. On day 3 post op I called my doctor and she started me on Prilosec as she said that is was probably stomach acid and that it also could be due to the high dosage of antibiotic that I was taking. I finished with the antibiotic and then my script for the prilosec ran out. I have not had any problem with that feeling since that time.

it's sounds like you are dehydrated. Are you taking any vitamins? Try getting a B12 sub-lingual drop that melts on it's own. Might help. I also started taking an acid reducer and my stomach has calmed down a bit. Good luck!

I have not had fatigue at all until I came down with this upper respiratory infection. I have not felt hunger either.

With the respiratory infection, there has been some rumbling and that has felt a bit like hunger but it is really just a result of the drip. I've also had some acid for the first time.

I've been drinking sugar free sports drinks with potassium because that is how people I know have ended up in the hospital - low potassium.

Oh yes, the first two weeks I felt terribly dizzy, nauseous, tired, weak, and fatigued. I couldn't go up the stairs to my 2nd floor without feeling like I wanted to throw up and pass out. I had to stand up veeeerrrrry slowly because the postural hypotension (getting dizzy when standing up) was a killer.

This kept happening however much liquid I drank, and it's something I'm prone to anyway. Things started getting a lot better when I hit three weeks and could start soft foods instead of mushies (they advanced me to purees while still in the hospital). I think the extremely low calories, combined with the shock of the surgery and the anesthetic (as others have said) were what did it to me.

I recall feeling tired and lethargic for about the first 3 weeks... (no energy and insomnia) This will soon pass!