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4 days post-op - energy help



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Hi all, I'm new to the site and this is my 4th day post-band. I'm super excited about my life-long journey, but in the immediate sense I'm HUNGRY and completely wiped out. My husband's looking at me like I'm crazy and says "You just had surgery Thursday!" but I thought I'd be a little more energetic by now. I'm no stranger to surgeries so I thought I'd bounce back within a day or two. Unrealistic? I'm walking around the house, doing some light chores, etc but yesterday my 6 yr-old and I ran to Kohl's and I was exhausted when I got home. I'm assuming this is all normal, although everyone is different? Not sure if the lack of energy is due to surgery alone, or combination of surgery plus less calories? So far my first 4 days have included 2-3 Protein Shakes per day, chicken & vegetable broth, Protein & Vitamin waters, and a little Jello. Any post-op strategies to keep the hunger at bay and get some pep back, or am I expecting too much too fast? My Dr said recovery time is typically 5-7 days, but on this 4th day I still feel sleepy and energy-drained almost as much as Day 1. Veteran Banders, any advice?

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You're doing really great. 4 days I still wasn't driving, let alone out and shopping. Day 9 I went outlet mall shopping and had to take a break and rest in the car.

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Every doctor has a different protocol post-op so it's difficult to advise you without knowing what type of foods you're allowed to eat? You're probably taking in fewer carbs so you may feel a little weak till you can balance your diet with a variety of foods.

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Give yourself a break! You just had a significant surgery and it will take a week or so before you are back to yourself. I took a week off work and found myself taking daily naps! The days I pushed myself too far, I paid for it the next couple of days. Everyone heals differently and each surgery is different. Relax and recuperate, get caught up on some good books or movies.

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Thank you guys for the reassurance - my plan was to return to work tomorrow but after 4 days I'm still wiped out. Pain is MUCH better today and I'm only taking Tylenol (the Hydrocodone makes me feel too funky!) but it's the sheer lack of energy. Had the hietal hernia repaired with the lap band Thursday - does that affect recovery too, or not really?

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Thank you guys for the reassurance - my plan was to return to work tomorrow but after 4 days I'm still wiped out. Pain is MUCH better today and I'm only taking Tylenol (the Hydrocodone makes me feel too funky!) but it's the sheer lack of energy. Had the hietal hernia repaired with the lap band Thursday - does that affect recovery too' date=' or not really?[/quote']i

I'm two weeks post op, started feeling better after a week but am still unable to bend to my left without a sharp pain. I feel like my energy level is low too, am exhausted by 8pm and I think that's just due to my lower calorie and carb intake, on the good side am 12 lbs down and thrilled! Take your Vitamins, they help!

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    • Alisa_S

      On day 4 of the 2 week liquid pre-op diet. Surgery scheduled for June 11th.
      Soooo I am coming to a realization
      of something and I'm not sure what to do about it. For years the only thing I've enjoyed is eating. We rarely do anything or go anywhere and if we do it always includes food. Family comes over? Big family dinner! Go camping? Food! Take a short ride or trip? Food! Holiday? Food! Go out of town for a Dr appointment? Food! When we go to a new town we don't look for any attractions, we look for restaurants we haven't been to. Heck, I look forward to getting off work because that means it's almost supper time. Now that I'm drinking these pre-op shakes for breakfast, lunch, and supper I have nothing to look forward to.  And once I have surgery on June 11th it'll be more of the same shakes. Even after pureed stage, soft food stage, and finally regular food stage, it's going to be a drastic change for the rest of my life. I'm giving up the one thing that really brings me joy. Eating. How do you cope with that? What do you do to fill that void? Wow. Now I'm sad.
      · 0 replies
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    • Alisa_S

      On day 4 of the 2 week liquid pre-op diet. Surgery scheduled for June 11th.
      Soooo I am coming to a realization
      of something and I'm not sure what to do about it. For years the only thing I've enjoyed is eating. We rarely do anything or go anywhere and if we do it always includes food. Family comes over? Big family dinner! Go camping? Food! Take a short ride or trip? Food! Holiday? Food! Go out of town for a Dr appointment? Food! When we go to a new town we don't look for any attractions, we look for restaurants we haven't been to. Heck, I look forward to getting off work because that means it's almost supper time. Now that I'm drinking these pre-op shakes for breakfast, lunch, and supper I have nothing to look forward to.  And once I have surgery on June 11th it'll be more of the same shakes. Even after pureed stage, soft food stage, and finally regular food stage, it's going to be a drastic change for the rest of my life. I'm giving up the one thing that really brings me joy. Eating. How do you cope with that? What do you do to fill that void? Wow. Now I'm sad.
      · 1 reply
      1. summerseeker

        Life as a big person had limited my life to what I knew I could manage to do each day. That was eat. I hadn't anything else to look forward to. So my eating choices were the best I could dream up. I planned the cooking in managable lots in my head and filled my day with and around it.

        Now I have a whole new big, bigger, biggest, best days ever. I am out there with those skinny people doing stuff i could never have dreamt of. Food is now an after thought. It doesn't consume my day. I still enjoy the good home cooked food but I eat smaller portions. I leave food on my plate when I am full. I can no longer hear my mother's voice saying eat it all up, ther are starving children in Africa who would want that!

        I still cook for family feasts, I love cooking. I still do holidays but I have changed from the All inclusive drinking and eating everything everyday kind to Self catering accommodation. This gives me the choice of cooking or eating out as I choose. I rarely drink anymore as I usually travel alone now and I feel I need to keep aware of my surroundings.

        I don't know at what point my life expanded, was it when I lost 100 pounds? Was it when I left my walking stick at home ? Was it when I said yes to an outing instead of finding an excuse to stay home ? i look back at my last five years and wonder how loosing weight has made such a difference. Be ready to amaze yourself.

        BTW, the liquid diet sucks, one more day and you are over the worst. You can do it.

    • CaseyP1011

      Officially here for a long time, not just a good time💪
      · 0 replies
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    • KimBaxleyWilson

      Three months and four days ago... I was in Costa Rica having a life changing surgery! Yesterday we had a followup visit with Dr. Esmeral via video chat and this morning my middle number changed.  I'm down 47lbs and two pants sizes. I can wear a Large tshirt for the first time in like... 14 years! Woot!! Everything is going great. I have zero regrets. I went down to the riverwalk with a friend and walked 2 miles on Monday without even getting fatigued. And no more snoring or chugging pickle juice for crazy leg cramps! I need to go to the gym more... I'm making new shirts next week so that will motivate me. LOL But I'm also just not as TIRED all the time! I have a LONG way to go...but seeing the progress on the scales and in the mirror is a huge motivator!! Thank you all for cheering me on and supporting me!!
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    • bellaamey

      https://alluniqueguide.com/java-burn-coffee-reviews/
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