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4 Days Post-op....feeling really depressed and lots of anxiety...

I had surgery on March 21st, returned home on the 23rd. The only pain I’m experiencing is the biggest incision but I’m feeling a lot of sadness and anxiety. Anxiety that I’m not walking or breathing into the deep breath tool, and that I’m going to develop blood clots. I’m very tired, resting a lot, sleeping a lot. Is this normal 4 days out? I’m usually an on the run, never stop moving kinda gal and the laziness is getting to me I guess. Also crying a lot wondering if I made the right choice? I’m drinking as much as I can. Yesterday I got down 1 preimiere protein and about 30 additional ounces. Today I’m pushing for 64 but I’m weak. Any advice or help would be appreciated. Thanks!

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Call your doctor. Weakness like you're describing isn't normal. You should be walking around every hour to prevent clots and not napping....because you need every hour possible to sip fluids.

The walks don't have to be huge...just little walks around your house every hour.

Sounds to me like you're getting dehydrated or have something else going on.

You're also suffering some buyer's remorse....which is pretty common. It gets better.

I am very concerned by the weakness you're describing. When I was four days post-surgery, I was comfortable walking 5 miles a day. I was picking up my house, doing light housework, shopping, etc. I felt terrific. I know experiences vary....but if you're usually a high energy person...the dramatic shift you're describing is troubling.

  • Author

I have done wash, gotten a shower, cleaned a little but mainly I just wanna lay around bc I can’t do much else. I def don’t have energy to walk five miles.


I had no energy at all for at least three weeks post-op: but the caveat is that I'm not in great condition at all and I'm 62 years old, so . . . without worrying yourself crazy, yes, maybe check in with your doctor? But realize it may just be a reaction to the anesthesia (really takes a while for some people to shake that from their system) or to the surgery itself. Just check.

  • Author

I actual got up and did my hair, got dressed, took a walk up and down the street, went up and down a flight of steps. I think I shouldn’t have used the work weak, maybe just tired and depressed. I’m a 36 year old female, starting weight was 290 and this was my first ever surgery so I think I’m just bummed. I’m getting down my liquids today pretty well. It 2 o clock and I’ve gotten 2 protein shakes and about 30 oz of clear liquids so far


16 minutes ago, DMF3296 said:

I actual got up and did my hair, got dressed, took a walk up and down the street, went up and down a flight of steps. I think I shouldn’t have used the work weak, maybe just tired and depressed. I’m a 36 year old female, starting weight was 290 and this was my first ever surgery so I think I’m just bummed. I’m getting down my liquids today pretty well. It 2 o clock and I’ve gotten 2 Protein Shakes and about 30 oz of Clear Liquids so far

Sounds like you're doing great!

I took naps every day for my 3 week post op time off. That doesn’t seem unusual to me. But I was doing laps around the main level of my house every hour the first week and then the second week I was outside walking as far as I could. It wasn’t pretty. But I didn’t do hardly anything besides get my fluids and protein in the first few weeks and do my laps. And id fall asleep in the recliner during the day. Naps aren’t the devil. I was just as tired as you described. But as long as I was walking and moving every hour and getting my fluids I was fine

I took a lot of naps too. Sleep is also important for recovery. I was very tired and weak for about 2 weeks post op. I would always feel better when I woke up from a nap. I’m starting to get some energy back. Yay. :)


  • Author

Thanks logicwand! I appreciate your feed back. I’ve been up for most of the day now, I’ve been pushing myself to take walks to the corner and it has helped me a lot today!


I had surgery on March 21st, returned home on the 23rd. The only pain I’m experiencing is the biggest incision but I’m feeling a lot of sadness and anxiety. Anxiety that I’m not walking or breathing into the deep breath tool, and that I’m going to develop blood clots. I’m very tired, resting a lot, sleeping a lot. Is this normal 4 days out? I’m usually an on the run, never stop moving kinda gal and the laziness is getting to me I guess. Also crying a lot wondering if I made the right choice? I’m drinking as much as I can. Yesterday I got down 1 preimiere Protein and about 30 additional ounces. Today I’m pushing for 64 but I’m weak. Any advice or help would be appreciated. Thanks!

I went through the same! Low energy, anxiety about clots, thinking I made a mistake and lots of naps. My friends even came to visit about 4 days out and I couldn’t wait for them to leave so I could lay back down. I didn’t even have pain meds after day 2 so I couldn’t blame that. I was just beat. It passed by 2 weeks post. Just hang in there, get up anyways, follow the program anyways and when it passes you’ll feel great!

One of my friends said as her fat melted away into the universe and released all the hormones stored there it was like puberty, pregnancy and menopause all wrapped up in a messy prickly ball. She was SO happy when things in her body calmed down and she could get,on with life. Even cried one day when the dog barked at her, thought he didn't love her any more. Probably,was something like Elroy seeing the,mailman walk by. But at the time she refused to be consoled.[emoji69][emoji33]

Sent from my VS880PP using BariatricPal mobile app

Hi. It’s actually not uncommon for some WLS patients to feel depressed or anxious after surgery. As I deal with both, my nurse practitioner has been monitoring me closely. So far I’ve been well. Over time, WLS surgery can help relieve depression. So, be gentle with yourself.

It can feel overwhelming bc you want to do everything perfectly. I napped daily for weeks. My biggest focus was (and still is) getting protein, fluid, and moving. I certainly wasn’t close to my 69 grams of protein initial goal nor my fluids goal. In fact, I still work hard to get it in and my surgery was 12/28/17. I saw my surgeon today and she is very happy with my progress.

Of course, if your exhaustion is severe, you may need to have your iron
and b-12 levels checked. Rest assured that what you’re experiencing is not uncommon. You know your body and should be concerned, please call your surgeon. That’s what he/she is there for.

I’m happy to hear that you’ve moved about. Your body needs rest too and it’s perfectly fine to give it what it needs. Sending you [emoji295]️ [emoji304] and [emoji882].


*60 grams


Well,my first message was choppy. I meant should you be concerned, please call your surgeon. I wasn’t suggesting you be concerned.


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