Following getting banded on Tuesday, I went straight on to liquidised food rather than a liquid diet. Each “meal” consists of 2 liquidised table spoons worth of fish/chicken etc and two liquidised table spoons worth of veg/ potato etc

I am a big guy who was eating about 3000 - 4000 calories a day prior to my pre surgery diet. Now I estimate I am eating about 600 -700. Yesterday was Bad! I never suffered from hunger pains because my stomach is still swollen, but I was so tired and lethargic and kept having to take half hour sleeps throughout the day. I am due back at work on Monday and am worried I just will not have the energy to concentrate or work properly.

Like all businesses at the moment my company is suffering in the recession and has been laying people off, so I never even requested time off for illness but just took a week’s holiday entitlement instead and never told anyone about my surgery.

I know the stomach needs time to heal but this low calorie intake is insane. The tiredness only really kicked in yesterday. Is this normal? Do you get used to it? Do you get over it? Any ideas how I can boost my energy levels and get through this so I will be able to work properly?

Thanks

John

I was banded in May of this year and the tiredness kick in for me as well. Some days I would just sleep all day. After about three months I told myself this is enough and started trying all kinds of different remedies. The ones that work the best are the b-12 shots from the doctor or liquid b vitamins that i got from smoothie king. Also I got some Acia berry vitamin weight loss pills and those work great. Just make sure to take vitamins and ask your doctor if he can give you a b-12 shot before you go back to work....Good luck....Valerie

Try meal replacement products i.e soups or shakes. I don't know what brands you have in the UK but they are complete nutrition and you shouldn't have a problem getting them down and they shouldn't cause any problems.

It's tough...I was extremely exhausted for a while but it got much better when I increased my calorie intake and started working out. Even initially working out, I was too exhausted to do it but the nutritionist told me to increase my calories. Naked juices have a lot of vitamins and they're very tasty. I only drank half of one a day but they're a great boost. Make sure you're getting enough healthy carbs. My nutritionist said I was so tired because I wasn't getting them in addition to not eating enough calories. It will get better...just have to give it some time and test what works for you...GOOD LUCK!

Dear John,

knock off what you are doing...stop worrying, please...drink atkins shakes, eat diet Jello, cup a Soup, chicken cream, wont hurt you..let your tummy heal, it will and fast too....just keep drinking Water at intervals, and keep your Protein to a miimun...stop fretting,no need to tell anyone............

you can do it, and you will do it...

i as banded on luly 31, on liquids for two weeks, then mush, mashed potatoes, squash, diet jello etc., now regular food, only a little bit...hang in there, do not give up on allof this bandstuff...........calm down.

there are many people who understand exactly what you are going through....relax..your tummy is healing now, do not force food it has to heal the band placement has to heal etc...then you will be back to normal.....

carole.partridge61gmail.com if ou would liketo email me.

Carole

make sure you're getting in your iron. My nutritionist said 36mg normally and I need 50 (I was getting in only 18 at that time).

I found getting up and working out helped- beleive it or not.

I drank a LOT of herbal teas also to fill in the hunger and that seemed to help... with a bit of milk and sweetener. Did not give me more energy but helped with those almost sick hunger pains.

Can you try going back to work 1/2 days for a week or so with a dr. slip... I wouldn't imagine the dr.slip needs to say why right? Good luck and keep us updated on how you're doing!

Thanks for all the advice guys, I will take it all on board. Its a hard journey, but I can truly say that without the advice I have recieved from the folks on this board it would have been a lot harder.

Once again, thanks for the help.

John

Hey John.

I hope you are hanging in there! I also found the energy thing really hard to deal with - it was like starting out with Diabetes all over again, but without the sugar rush!

What helped me was getting out for a walk each evening. The shakes are good to give you input, but I really didn't start feeling "normal" again until a couple of days after walking again (I couldn't make it more than a few yards straight after surgery but within a couple of days I was able to make a km or 2).

Hope that helps a bit!