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Does having a VSG help with energy problems?



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I understand that soon after the surgery the body is fatigued while still healing. My question is about several months later. Could I see an upswing in energy levels throughout the day? I've always had a hard time with napping and my doctor did some blood tests and prescribed a low dose of Synthroid for a subclinical case of hypothyroidism. I would really enjoy having more energy to play with my daughter more often!

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VSG doesn't help with having more energy, but the resulting weight loss does :)

So the answer to your question is yes, you will have more energy once you heal up and the weight starts coming off.

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The weight loss definitely helps! Just don't ever let yourself run out of Vitamins. I went without for a week between paydays and thought I was dying by day 4. Maybe it was psychological, but BOY did I feel like a wet dishrag!

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It's a combination of things. Eating a more well rounded diet, exercising regularly (yes a good workout energize me!), and losing weight all make me feel more energetic. However, part of your issue is a slightly malfunction thyroid. You can still get to the point where you have more energy, it just may take a little longer. My sister has thyroid issues and she found that increasing her multi Vitamin to 2 x's a day, taking Iron every 2 -3 days, along with her synthroid helps her energy levels. I also have been getting her to go for a walk with me on Sunday afternoon's.

Perhaps talk to your doctor about increasing your multi Vitamin and taking an Iron supplement. Just keep in mind when adding iron you need to increase your Water intake.

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If I have not had enough Protein during the day I start to get sluggish. Make sure you are keeping up with that!

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Carrying less weight around will definitely help with energy. However, I believe the diet may play a substantial role as well. Many of us dramatically cut the amount of carbohydrates we consume post-operatively and replace that with increased Protein. Protein is so much better for our bodies than simple sugars!

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I'm only half kidding when I say my days (pre-op) were planned around when I could lay down again. Getting up in the morning was a chore, and after getting home from work, all I wanted to do was grab a nap before dealing with what ever had to be done. Weekends? That meant catching up on sleep.

I prayed that what I had read about people getting energy after WLS was true. The first few months, it wasn't my experience. It was tiring. But I know now that I was still healing. At a little over a year out I can tell you that the difference is amazing. Truly. I'm not kidding when I say I feel like I'm 20 (I'm 52).

I also am on thyroid med. Keep an eye on your levels, make sure they are routinely tested, you'll need adjustments.

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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. LeighaTR

        I hope your surgery on Wednesday goes well. You will be able to do all sorts of new things as you find your new normal after surgery. I don't know this from experience yet, but I am seeing a lot of positive things from people who have had it done. Best of luck!

    • 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
      1. This update has no replies.
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