4 days Post-OP struggles

[KBailey2022 3]

I saw this app on an ad post and thought I’d get some questions I have.

I had the Gastric Sleeve 4 days ago now (1/27/20) and I’m struggling a bit.

Not with cravings or anything but my stomach feels very heavy - heavier than usual. Did anyone else feel this after surgery? Will it eventually go away?

Also sticking to my liquid diet is hard when I just don’t want to be bothered. Dehydration is a big problem with me. Before surgery I used to be In the hospital constantly for dehydration and I’m struggling now. Any recommendations on how to keep up?

My last question is how weak and tired I feel. I’m so tired that I’d rather just lay in bed than be bothered with having to do simple tasks like showering - which I loved to do before surgery - and now I see and feel it’s a choir.

I guess my question is will this all past in the next 2 weeks or so? My checkup isn’t until February 12th and I just feel like by then I’ll be 20x better than what I feel right now.

[Uomograsso 364]

You have to drink. In the hospital the gave me one ounce cups and I needed to drink four per hour. One ounce every 15 minutes. My stomach hurt at first but knowing I had to do it to get released made me do it. Eventually it got better. I don't think there is any magic trick, but just break it down to one ounce every 15 minutes. Set a timer if you need to.

[catwoman7 10,939]

you just went through major surgery - it'll take awhile to bounce back. I felt mostly OK within a few days, except for being tired - that lasted a month or so, as I recall - but it got better and better every day.

[Michele1/27/20 0]

Hey surgery twin. I had my sleeve done on Monday the 27th also. I don't have any issues with my stomach feeling heavy. Although, I am also struggling with the constant sipping. I'm trying but there are times where I don't want to bother with it either. That being said, I am able to sip my broth and drink my thinned yogurt. I am also struggling with tiredness. I've been taking my Flintstones Vitamins daily. I'm still having pain mostly around the incision site where my excess stomach was removed so I just want to sleep my pain away. Good luck to you though.

[loridee11 510]

I'm a little over a month out from RNY and it does get better. The heaviness you describe could be swelling - you just had major surgery. I took my measurements before and about 3 or 4 days after and my abdomen was 3" larger at that point due to swelling.

And yes, I felt very tired the first week. Again, you are healing from major surgery and taking in limited nutrition. I noticed an uptick in energy at around a week, and then another one at around 3 weeks. I did start forcing myself to walk 1/2-1 mile a day at a week and I think that helped (I live where it doesn't get too cold so the sun really did me good).

Finally, Water is no joke as you know since you have been hospitalized for dehydration. I made myself take a few sips everytime a commercial came on OR someone on TV ate or drank anything. Eventually I could do more than 1 sip at a time and now I can drink basically like normal.

Good luck!

[BigLoser2020 9]

I struggled with the low energy issue as well. I'm 8 weeks out and I'm just now starting to really feel like myself again. I went back to work after a week and I think that was probably a mistake. The surgery is no joke and I should have taken more time off. Shortly after returning to work, I came down with pneumonia, which was a side effect of the anesthesia I'm told. Like you, I initially had trouble getting the fluids down and ended up needing IV fluids as a result. I'm now able to drink more without too much discomfort. It does get better! As of right now, I'm feeling MUCH better but I'm in a stall that has lasted over three weeks. That is frustrating!

I should add, my experience may be a little different due to having RNY GB instead of VSG.

Edited February 1, 2020 by BigLoser2020