I wasn't completely prepared....

[VSG_lauren 104]

I am all about educating myself on as much as I can... Deciding to have the VSG was no different. I did tons of research. I read medical journals and studies as well as personal experiences posted by others who were already post op. I had my VSG done on 9/22/14. I know I'm only about 2.5 weeks post op.. But I wasn't prepared for the fatigue that comes with the process. I can hardly eat and the weight I've lost isn't exciting because it just feels like medically induced starvation. I pray to God that I get done balance soon. I don't feel healthy..pre-op I was a healthy obese person. I want so badly to just have balance again. I hope that 6 months from now I too can say this was the best decision that I ever made. My advice to pre-op patients is to understand that the first month post op is hard. The surgery is easy in comparison to the extreme fatigue many patients go through post-op.

[Chubtastic 21]

I appreciate your honesty I like being prepared

[TheCurvyJones 721]

It took about... Hmmm... I dunno, 12 weeks or so??? Before I felt myself again. Your energy will return and you will feel spiffy very soon! Hang in there and congrats on your loss so far!

[TheCurvyJones 721]

Oh remember to get TONS of rest, you are still recovering and your body does that best while you sleep. If you need a nap, take one! Need to rest, get it in!

[*Lexie* 1,486]

So sorry to hear how tired you are. I was sleeved on 9/24 and my energy started coming back once I started getting some real food. I still wear out fast but it's not near as bad as when I was on the liquid diet.

[jjinWA 511]

I relate to the 'tired' comments, the 'life will never be normal again' comments, etc., because I said those very same things and I felt the very same way! BUT that was when I was only a few weeks out. Now after 3 1/2 months out I can honestly say that life is returning to normal. I do have my energy back and my eating habits, though entirely different then in the past, are certainly becoming a normal way of life for me. I love the new me even now with just 49 # loss. I cannot imagine how life will be when I reach my goal, but regardless getting there is no longer such a struggle. You will get past the first couple of weeks and life will settle in to a new normal and that will be a good thing!

[cmick14 34]

Lauren - thank your for posting this! There are many days I fell like I'm the only one lacking energy. I am so thankful for the procedure and for a pretty painless recovery. I guess that gave me a false assumption that Icould still go at the speed pre surgery. Reality set in around da 6-7 when my body said, sorry I think you need a break, and my mind was saying get out there get moving. Hopefully moving to the pureed stage on Monday will give me more energy and I can get back to walking my dogs.

[CowgirlJane 14,259]

I was well prepared - luckily my doctor let me know all that was coming. You are likely mildly dehydrated. If it gets worse, consider IV fluids even. You get to feeling better week by week, but I admit i did not feel fully human until about 12 weeks post op...

Now, don't let it get you down. It is temporary. I lost 160# total and am healthy and happy - it was worth going through a few months of low energy and feeling like a wet noodle at times...

[Babbs 14,680]

It gets better. I promise. You will start feeling more and more normal as the weeks go by, and one day you will wake up and say "Hey! I actually feel like myself today!" The first month can down right SUCK. Hang in there

[Sharon Walls 24]

Lauren, I am about a week ahead of you. Still plenty tired at the end of the day and going to bed early, but my stamina gets a little better every day. I have about 4 good days in a row, then a setback day where I am knackered and rest more, then back to more good days. I have moved to soft foods now, and getting in more "real" foods is helping, since I don't normally live on Protein shakes, Jello, pudding, broth and cream Soups. I noticed a big improvement when I got to eat eggs and tuna/chicken salad the consistency of dip. And keeping hydrated directly effects my stamina as well.

[VSG_lauren 104]

Thank you for the kind words everyone... It's not lack of sleep for sure.. I'm sleeping 10 hours.. It's lack of calories. I hope I feel better soon

[sweetcheeks709 38]

Thanks for al the input everyone. I'm 10 days until surgery and have been trying to prepare myself for whats in the future for me.

[Pictou 12]

I'm only two weeks ahead of you and my experience has been different. Yes, I felt tired the first 10 days but have quickly recovered. I even had gout in both feet that threw me for a loop, then the past week both my husband and I have had a terrible cold. But it does get better.

It will help when you can eat more food but you have to get liquids in all the time.

Consider asking your surgeon for a B12 shot.

[nonnax2 30]

.

[MichiganChic 3,262]

This is so normal, but I felt like I was the only one who felt so bad. Even the nurse at my doc's office said people go back to work with no problem after a week or two. I was out of work 4 weeks, and could have been out longer. I was very weak and tired, and just felt pretty bad in general for the first couple of weeks. It did start to improve slowly after that, and I never did just wake up one day and think - wow- I'm better now! It was gradual over months, but every day was a little better than the day before. In fact, I can remember posting early on that I wasn't sure I would do it again if I knew what I was in for. However, at almost 2 years out, I'm so happy I did! I am thrilled every day that I've been given this gift.

Hang in there, drink your fluids and eat as you are supposed to, and it will get better!