Jump to content
×
Are you looking for the BariatricPal Store? Go now!

Energy levels after VSG?



Recommended Posts

How are your energy levels in the weeks and months after surgery? I have a very busy fall and I'm worried about having the energy to get my work done. My options are surgery in early August with 2.5 weeks off (but liquid diet for the week of extended family vacation) or mid-August with 1.5 weeks off (still requires a few days of liquid diet on vacation) or wait until next summer, which I don't want to do.

My job can be stressful. I can take some half days but I also have some required long days. But if I have to be on the liquid diet during the whole vacation, I will have to tell my whole family and I might be cranky.

So my questions are:

Will having an extra week to recover help me start back full throttle? So much so that it's worth being on the liquid diet during the whole vacation?

How will my energy levels be after a few weeks and months? How long before you could work long days with decent energy?

Share this post


Link to post
Share on other sites

Im 8 weeks out and my energy level is just now returning to previous levels. If i dont stay hydrated it really takes the wind out of my sails.

Share this post


Link to post
Share on other sites

I went back to work at 1 week but I have a desk job and work from home if not traveling. I was able to work long days but dragged ass at night. I didn't get my full energy back until the end of month 3.


Share this post


Link to post
Share on other sites

My surgeon gave me a reprieve from the full 10 days in the liquid diet. I was in vacation for 2 weeks got home on a Saturday started the diet in Sunday and had surgery on Thursday. I had an amazing recovery (I'm 3 weeks out). Because I had a bmi of 40 and am a lower weight patient starting at 223. He said it would be fine. I had a really active vacation and didn't over eat in it I think it helped.
Check in with your doc and maybe there's a modification to the liquid diet he would allow- like no sugar or low carb. Just a thought...


Share this post


Link to post
Share on other sites

First, just have surgery ASAP. The longer you are heavy the more damage you do to your body.

Energy levels were weird for me. I would have a lot of energy, huge bursts, then I would be instantly exhausted and need a nap.

The first 6 weeks your body is working over time to repair itself. My Dr said the first 6 weeks are for healing not weight loss. You are having the majority of a major organ removed and it sends your body into freak out mode. It is working overtime to heal and repair all the incision and cuts and reconnect nerves and make sense of what happened. That takes a lot of energy and you are not consuming a lot of calories.

If you are very diligent with your eating, and keep your calories over 600 (which believe me can be hard), 800 would be better and keep your Fluid in take up you should be okay, but you can't guarantee it and no one can tell you.

I have a high pain tolerance and it was easy for me to push myself after surgery (which I regret, I should have rested more, it is major surgery). Everyone is different, you don't know how you are going to be after surgery until it happens to you.

Share this post


Link to post
Share on other sites

I went back to work after 10 days. The first week back I had to leave early a few days to take a nap. Once I got to week 3 and could eat more my energy has been better. I'm working 40+ hours, not my pre-op 60+. I could work more but I'm making a conscious decision to take better care of myself.

Share this post


Link to post
Share on other sites

I went back to work a few days shy of 3 weeks the first 2 weeks no energy but after that I'm just as energetic as before hand my biggest prob is I work a remote job and struggle to get my Protein in averageing 70 g per day

Hw 325 cw 270 Sw 292 gw 190

Share this post


Link to post
Share on other sites

I went back to work after 7 days. There is no time of the year that is not busy for me and I typically work 6 days a week 60-70 hours a week.

The energy level thing has been a mixed bag. I find I am less focused than I was before surgery, tend to be moodier (my period so far has stopped since surgery) and need about an hour more of sleep at night.

On the other hand I wake up easily in the morning, experience being more rested than before surgery and physically just feel a lot better.

In addition I no longer have diabetes or borderline blood pressure. My Vitamin D levels are normal and the subway commute (which in NY involves lots of stairs) is no longer daunting.

I have had to change my sleep habits to have this work. I no longer stay up until 2 am.

I feel like my energy levels are just returning. But I would not trade it off the benefits the surgery gave me.




Share this post


Link to post
Share on other sites

Thanks everyone! I'm going to call tomorrow and see if it's possible to schedule for a week earlier.

Sent from my SM-G930F using BariatricPal mobile app

Share this post


Link to post
Share on other sites

I had my vsg on 6.22, and I felt great from the end of week 1. I found it hard to sit still at home, and ended up organizing closets and drawers and things to keep busy. I took naps daily for the first 2 weeks, so I was grateful to have been given 3 weeks off work. I am not quite a month out, and I feel normal, but with more energy!

Sent from my SAMSUNG-SM-G920A using BariatricPal mobile app

Share this post


Link to post
Share on other sites

Create an account or sign in to comment

You need to be a member in order to leave a comment

Create an account

Sign up for a new account in our community. It's easy!

Register a new account

Sign in

Already have an account? Sign in here.

Sign In Now

  • Trending Products

  • Trending Topics

  • Recent Status Updates

    • rinabobina

      I would like to know what questions you wish you had asked prior to your duodenal switch surgery?
      · 0 replies
      1. This update has no replies.
    • cryoder22

      Day 1 of pre-op liquid diet (3 weeks) and I'm having a hard time already. I feel hungry and just want to eat. I got the protein and supplements recommend by my program and having a hard time getting 1 down. My doctor / nutritionist has me on the following:
      1 protein shake (bariatric advantage chocolate) with 8 oz of fat free milk 1 snack = 1 unjury protein shake (root beer) 1 protein shake (bariatric advantage orange cream) 1 snack = 1 unjury protein bar 1 protein shake (bariatric advantace orange cream or chocolate) 1 snack = 1 unjury protein soup (chicken) 3 servings of sugar free jello and popsicles throughout the day. 64 oz of water (I have flavor packets). Hot tea and coffee with splenda has been approved as well. Does anyone recommend anything for the next 3 weeks?
      · 1 reply
      1. NickelChip

        All I can tell you is that for me, it got easier after the first week. The hunger pains got less intense and I kind of got used to it and gave up torturing myself by thinking about food. But if you can, get anything tempting out of the house and avoid being around people who are eating. I sent my kids to my parents' house for two weeks so I wouldn't have to prepare meals I couldn't eat. After surgery, the hunger was totally gone.

    • buildabetteranna

      I have my final approval from my insurance, only thing holding up things is one last x-ray needed, which I have scheduled for the fourth of next month, which is my birthday.

      · 0 replies
      1. This update has no replies.
    • BetterLeah

      Woohoo! I have 7 more days till surgery, So far I am already down a total of 20lbs since I started this journey. 
      · 1 reply
      1. NeonRaven8919

        Well done! I'm 9 days away from surgery! Keep us updated!

    • Ladiva04

      Hello,
      I had my surgery on the 25th of June of this year. Starting off at 117 kilos.😒
      · 1 reply
      1. NeonRaven8919

        Congrats on the surgery!

  • Recent Topics

  • Hot Products

  • Sign Up For
    Our Newsletter

    Follow us for the latest news
    and special product offers!
  • Together, we have lost...
      lbs

    PatchAid Vitamin Patches

    ×