3 weeks out and very tired. I am not getting nearly enough protein or vitamins. But don't have enough room for food like I should be eating. Please help.

Soon you will be able to get some vitamin B (under tongue) which will help and a chewable multivitamin. But whatever you do...GET YOUR PROTIEN in, this will help you feel better and heal as well. I use the premiere shakes with 30 grams of protein, I add a banana, couple scoops of protein, 52g, and ice, blend and drink that. It will take some time but put it in a cup that has a top to shake and drink it. That is your protein for the day..I felt the same way as you I am 6 weeks post op and feel a lot better, but the first month was the hardest. It gets easier, that is what I have been told, so far it is true.

Are you active? I ask because inactivity will make you more tired.

I have a four and six year old child. So yes, I am active, but not working out.

It took me to the 6th week post op to feel some what normal . I have a 7 yr old and a 2 yr old. So I couldn't just lie around all day either. I will tell you tho I did find myself sleeping ever time I sat down during those first 4 weeks.

It took a while for me too; so don't worry too much. At 6 weeks I still didn't have a great deal of stamina. Remember that normal is a relative term; my prior normal state was having constant pain and being unable to walk more than 5 minutes without getting short winded. A suggestion for the protein Isopure has individual (8 ounce) size bottles that I order from Amazon.com. It's not a shake which is great because I will never ever have another shake as long as I live! 8 ounces and 15 grams protein; the drink has been a life saver since I became lactose intolerant and had to give up Greek yoghurt. Good luck. Things will get better.

There is no real normal since everyone is different. I felt pretty darn good a week out, still a bit tired but I got up and walked as much as I could and that helped tremendously. I had a issue with protein too since I hated pretty much every powder I tried but I found the rtd Muscle Milk lights that saved me, they are 11 oz I believe and dont even need to be refrigerated but I think they are better cold. Good luck, it will get better...soon!

Once I was able to get to pureed foods. My NUT suggested I increase my carbs to get some energy back, so I had veggies in my smoked ham/lentil soup that I pureed. Also, chicken veggie soup and clam chowder, again, pureed. I started to feel human again.

I was tired till around 4-5 months. By six months, I felt like I could whip the world!

Do get your Vitamins, Protein, Water, and exercise in. I did and I'm sure it helped, but it was still quite a while longer for me than many on the list. Go easy on yourself and remember it's temporary. For me, its been well worth it. I've been at goal since March and I fell terrific!

Lynda

Thank you all for the words of encouragement.

I am four weeks out today and feel like I finally am returning to normal. Today is the first day I made it all day at work and did not need to rest for a few in the afternoon. Hopefully I am turning a corner. I have been taking vitamins since I got home from having surgery. Get a sub-lingual B 12, that helps with energy. We won't feel totally normal until we are consuming more calories and our bodies are all healed inside.

Hope you feel better quickly!!