Today I am 18 days post op. I am only consuming around 350 calories a day and getting over 40g protein. As each day progress I get weaker and weaker. Today I couldn't even walk through the grocery store. Most foods make me feel overly full so I can only take a few bites. (I am eating with a baby spoon and sticking to the meal plan) I am losing at a good rate and trying to stay optimistic but it's getting hard. Any helpful thoughts?

Are you getting enough liquids? Dehydration can cause weakness. In any event, you should contact your surgeon or PCP - getting weaker and weaker instead of stronger is something that should be assessed by a medical professional.

Directly after surgery, the important requirements are fluids, Protein and Vitamins. Foods are secondary. That is because your body is converting stored fats into the energy that drives your body and as a result you lose weight. As Bufflehead wrote, dehydration might be part of your lack of energy. After surgery, I found that I no longer liked to drink a glass of ice Water. I found my solution by drinking flavored water (Crystal Light) and fine teas. You need to up your consumption of protein. I found most Protein shakes taste quite awful. I experimented until I found a type that I could tolerate. The protein requirement is a combination of the protein you obtain from meals combined with the protein from supplements (protein shakes, protein bars).

Are you allowed soft foods now? Day 18 was my first day of cottage cheese and scrambled eggs. Once I was able to start getting more real foods in, I turned a corner with my energy levels. I think it was mostly because I was finally getting in more calories. If you are only getting 350 calories a day, of course you are going to be fatigued and exhausted! That's not enouhg for a human to function on for any period of time!

Agree with everything. Fluid and Protein and Vitamins. I am Day 17 and finally getting in more calories. I use Premier Protein ready made shakes. Only 11 ounces and 30 grams of protein and taste pretty good. I also use Doc Hale's Whey-licious which is unflavored and can be mixed in as little as 3 ounces of fluid. I use Propel Fitness Water in berry and mix in a scoop of Whey-licious and get 20 g of protein. It actually is pretty good and quick to get in since it comes out to only 4 ounces or so of fluid which hopefully you should like be able to drink in 30 to 45 minutes now. Set an alarm for 5 minutes and take a sip every time the alarm goes off until you get used to it. it is the only way I am actually getting my fluids in - that annoying alarm beeping at me.n

@@martini.js

Hi and welcome to the forum.

Great advice from the others....I just wanted to follow the post because I had my surgery done by HOAB ( almost 6 years ago) and it's good to see others on here from there.

Take care!

David

Sometimes we get excited by seeing the scale fall and purposely reduce calaries to such an extent that we can hardly move because of lack of energy. The best success is something that's sustainable low calaries at 350 a day is not sustainable. Please increase your calaries and remember this is not a crash diet but a long term lifestyle change. Good luck.

wow... im loving these forums. I've found so much help. I am 25 days out and have had the same issue with weak and no energy. I've been to the ER twice in the last week. First it was my potassium, second time dehydration. Its a roller coaster and frustrating because I feel I'm really trying to do everything correct. Just keep trying to get that Protein in and if you feel weaker you must seek medical help. Good Luck!

Edited June 28, 201511 yr by Life is Good in WY

Fluids are number 1. My doctor said the first two weeks he was not concerned with the protein as long as I was getting fluids. I had a tough time with fluids so I switched to using a straw and it works for me