Hello All,

My name is Alexandra. I was sleeved on June 28th, making today one week post op. I've been doing OK. Still have some gas pains and soreness in the belly. I occasionally find myself "getting hungry" while on this clear liquid phase. It's not terrible, I think it's a combination of my mental hunger and gas. Anyway, I've been struggling the last few days with my energy levels. I feel like I have NO energy and sometimes find myself getting cold sweats and light headed spells; I am unable to walk or stand for long periods of time also. I decided it's probably because I am getting no nutritional value from what I am putting into my body at this point. Yesterday I had a few spoonfuls of zico chocolate coconut Water (not a clear liquid) in hopes of it providing some extra nutrition and possibly an energy boost, but got scared and stopped. Is there anything I can have during this clear liquid phase to boost my energy? I do not want to veer off on my own path and start full liquids against my doctors recommendations, but I am not functional and I need to return back to my day to day activities.

Any advice would be helpful!

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I think I stopped clear liquid while still in the hospital

I'm 5 days post op and going through many of the same things as you Alexandra. Little hunger pains-nothing too bad and they don't last. I'm able to get in over 80 oz. of liquids too, which is good. But very low energy. Thankfully this is my last day of Clear Liquids and I'll soon get to put some Protein in my body as I graduate to the full liquid stage. How long are you on clears? Best of luck to you!

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I was on clear liquids for a week but got to add protien shakes on day 2. They help a lot. There are also some protien waters that can help as well as adding unflavored protien powders to your liquids. Getting in protien is essential to feeling better and healing. Hope you feel better soon.

A lot of doctors put their patients on Protein shakes right out of the hospital. You should ask your Dr if you can start adding shakes slowly. I was also sleeved June 28th. I do 3 oz Breakfast, lunch and dinner. I also eat one SF Jello a day, one SF popsicle, and 1/2 bottle of Gatorade ZERO. IMHO you shouldn't suffer. Also, try sublingual B12 for energy.

Try Vitamin Water Zero Rise Orange flavor (it is the only flavor with potassium). Try pacific bone broth and/or bone stock (available on Amazon and some whole foods) which both have about 10 times more protein than regular chicken broth. And isopure zero carb clear liquid drinks (the alpine punch aka koolaid flavor is the best). So if you are not drinking shakes, how many grams a day of protein are you getting? You still need to aim for roughly 70 grams of protein a day. And BTW why are you drinking chocolate coconut water that is loaded with sugar? Coconut water is good in that it has a LOT of potassium that you need, but at this stage you should not have more than maybe 4 oz unsweetened per day (otherwise too much sugar).

You should be able to use Syntrax Nectar fruit and tea flavored protein powders to make clear protein shakes, just mix with ice water.

Isopure is another option for a clear protein shake.

Diluted, light, and diet fruit juice are also options. G2 and Powerade Zero.

Your body has access to all the energy it needs from your fat cells, so the type of food you are eating (or not eating) at this point really should not have an effect on your energy levels. Make sure you are getting all your fluids in as well as your vitamins. Dehydration is much more likely at this point than malnutrition.

Low blood pressure can also make you feel weak and dizzy. Are you monitoring your blood pressure?

Symptoms like dizziness and cold sweats should be referred to your medical team as well. Those are potentially serious problems that they need to look at and help you figure out what is going on. Good luck!

As for being unable to walk or stand for long periods of time...yes that is correct. We all were unable to walk or stand for long periods of time because we just had major surgery. Except for our occasional walks around the block, floor, our houses we were supposed to be resting a recuperating at a week out. I took two weeks off of work and still had trouble standing and walking for long periods for several weeks after that. Liquid Tylenol rest and hydration and adequate protein intake should get rid of the cold sweats. If not please take your temperature because it could also mean you have a fever or an infection is brewing. But again many of us had cold sweats and weakness in the first week or so post op.

Hello All,

My name is Alexandra. I was sleeved on June 28th, making today one week post op. I've been doing OK. Still have some gas pains and soreness in the belly. I occasionally find myself "getting hungry" while on this clear liquid phase. It's not terrible, I think it's a combination of my mental hunger and gas. Anyway, I've been struggling the last few days with my energy levels. I feel like I have NO energy and sometimes find myself getting cold sweats and light headed spells; I am unable to walk or stand for long periods of time also. I decided it's probably because I am getting no nutritional value from what I am putting into my body at this point. Yesterday I had a few spoonfuls of zico chocolate coconut Water (not a clear liquid) in hopes of it providing some extra nutrition and possibly an energy boost, but got scared and stopped. Is there anything I can have during this clear liquid phase to boost my energy? I do not want to veer off on my own path and start full liquids against my doctors recommendations, but I am not functional and I need to return back to my day to day activities.

Any advice would be helpful!

Sent from my iPhone using the BariatricPal App

How are you doing in getting in your Protein? What is your protein target? How close are you to 64 oz Fluid.

You just had major surgery and so will be tired, but the sooner you can reach your protein and fluid targets the better you will feel.

I appreciate all the comments and feedback. Unfortunately, the guidelines from my doctor were strict CLEAR LIQUIDS ONLY for 14 days. I just called the nurse at my doctors office and explained my low energy levels and she recommended swapping out some of my diluted drinks like Gatorade, with full sugar drinks. She made it very clear that I cannot move on to full liquids and there was no mention of Protein. The nutritionist that spoke to me before I left the hospital also told me not to focus on protein but to focus on getting my liquids. I need to look into some of these clear Liquid Protein supplements as I'm not sure how I can return back to my daily activities on just Water broth and watered down Gatorade.

Thanks all!

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I'm 5 days post op and going through many of the same things as you Alexandra. Little hunger pains-nothing too bad and they don't last. I'm able to get in over 80 oz. of liquids too, which is good. But very low energy. Thankfully this is my last day of Clear Liquids and I'll soon get to put some Protein in my body as I graduate to the full liquid stage. How long are you on clears? Best of luck to you!

Sent from my iPhone using the BariatricPal App

You should still be able to get in your protein with clear liquids. There are clear protein sources: Isopure, ProtiDiet liquid beverage concentrates, bone broth, to name a few.

I got most of my calories in the first week from diluted fruit juice and skim milk. But I was still only averaging around 200 calories per day until I was able to add thicker/pureed soups.

I got most of my calories in the first week from diluted fruit juice and skim milk. But I was still only averaging around 200 calories per day until I was able to add thicker/pureed soups.

If you could have skim milk could you not have premier protein? It is about the same consistency and has much more protein than milk.

I got most of my calories in the first week from diluted fruit juice and skim milk. But I was still only averaging around 200 calories per day until I was able to add thicker/pureed soups.

If you could have skim milk could you not have Premier Protein? It is about the same consistency and has much more Protein than milk.

Oh, yes I could. I was just struggling with the taste at the time and opted to get my protein through small amounts of Isopure and GENEPRO in broth.