I'm 9 days post op, and have been feeling fantastic nearly the whole time. I seriously felt normal the last 6 days or so, except for minor incision pain.

Yesterday I overdid it with a long grocery shopping trip. I had also not been hungry the past few day so I hadn't gotten my protein in, and have only been at between 100-400 calories. I now realize this was a mistake This morning I am absolutely physically exhausted. Taking out the trash can has left me incredibly shaky and weak.

How do I recover my strength? I have a business meeting tomorrow, which will be the first time I'll need to get professionally dressed, make up and all. I'll make sure I get as much protein, calories, and water in today as possible. But is there anything else I should be doing? I was thinking that maybe tomorrow morning I should have some carbs/sugar to give my body some fuel so I'm not as weak? I'm obviously not wanting to do that long term and sabotage my weight loss, but I need to get through my meeting tomorrow.

Any advice would be appreciated, TIA!

Kitty,

The obvious is to constantly stick to your vitamins and protein regiment prescribed by your nutritionist. I began exercising and started walking 45 mins a day again as I did post surgery instructed by my doctor and slowly increased my walks based on my progress as I recovered. In just a few short weeks, I was riding my bike again and those rides began small and worked my way back up to 25-30 mile bike rides. Today, I lift weights 4 to 5 times a week and have endless energy, in fact, I have to keep myself in check so I do not overdo it. The best cure, in my opinion, is exercise AT YOUR PACE and try different exercises and you will see improvements and regain your strength.

My energy was pretty good....but my clinic stressed eating more calories than most do. By three weeks I was eating 1000 calories per day and felt terrific. I still eat 1000-1200 per day and will stay here for the remainder of my post surgical 18 months, or until I'm at goal. I think it's the starvation level calories that cause the energy crash.

Eat more as soon as they let you. it'll help.

PS...carbs have always been part of my group's plan. Ate cream of wheat and thin oatmeal very early.

Edited February 21, 20188 yr by Creekimp13

Protein, vitamins, fluids and if you want to add some carbs do so in the form of more complex ones like thinned cream of wheat/oatmeal or no sugar added dairy (yogurt, cottage cheese and even milk have plenty of naturally occurring lactose which is sugar). The refined sugars or even the fructose in fruit juices might not be the best idea this early out:

Thanks for everyone's advice. I'm still weak and shaky, and now have developed pain in my stomach after I swallow, that wasn't there before. I canceled my meeting today and have a call into my Dr., to make sure this is normal recovery, and not something else.

Hopefully it’s just a bump in the recovery road! Let us know how you’re doing