still weak and feeling yucky~

Hi, I had the lap rny on 3/8, and have yet to really bounce back yet. I read about all of you doing so well and it concerns me a bit. I am struggling with getting the protein in..BIG TIME...cant drink too much of anything and the taste of the protein powders arent doing it. I am on liquids for 2 full weeks..(see dr. next tues) and have been essentially eating tomato soup (with milk and adding dry nonfat milk to boost it) but I can't drink the whole cup. Same with b-fast and the instant b-fast. I mix it all up (like a smoothie) and then can still only get in about 1/2 of it before I feel full and bloated (usually this takes an hour to consume) Needless to say I am weak, and tired. Hate this feeling. I want to bounce back! had to post and vent. Thanks Kris

I am feeling same way...I am only 4 days post op, and doing great as far as not needing pain meds and getting around and so forth from my open RNY, but feeling yucky and weak and can't even begin to get in the clear liquids and protein I am suppose to....I think we all go at our own pace, so don't let it bother you hearing about other people...just talk with your doctor and let him decide. Good luck.

I know that the eating programs vary and you must talk to your surgeon about his requirements, as some of them may be predicated on your history or needs. However, it sounds to me like you're trying too hard. My surgery was 3/2 and I am still on soft foods, just now transitioning to things like a hard boiled egg or a small piece of salmon (lived through the egg, trying the salmon tonight). I am not drinking protein drinks because I've seen so many messages about people feeling foul from drinking them in the early stages -- have been to various boards. Some people become lactose intolerant after surgery. You might want to get some lactaid and see if that affects how you feel. I think if you can get down stuff from your list that tastes reasonably good, well, that's great. I could NOT drink a cup of soup, that's for sure. It's more like half a cup. You want to eat two or three things at one sitting in small amounts. Do not also drink liquids when you eat, as that fills you up too much. Resume drinking 1 hr. after eating. I'm told that I have to *work up* to all the protein over a 3-month period. My next phase of eating (slightly beyond soft foods) has to do with eating 1 1/2 oz. protein of something very moist and digestible, then 1/3 c. or so of some pureed veg, with maybe 1/4 of applesauce etc. at the end. And I doubt I will eat ALL of that. I will prioritize the protein, eat it first and fini**** then eat what I can. Only at the end of a number of months, will I be eating the full protein. Of course to maintain our health, we have to achieve all of this eventually but it takes a while to heal and happens in stages. (At 100+ my ideal weight, I'm pretty sure I'm not gonna dry up and blow away overnight! ) I've had a couple of complications and easily an extra week of feeling really sick. Now that I'm better from the infection, I'm getting that very tired feeling. From other messages I've read, I think it lasts between 1- 2 months. I'm finding it's better if I don't fight it. I've cut back on what I was expecting to do in this period and have told everybody that it's just the way it's going to be. I go to bed at least 2 hrs. earlier than I do normally. I find I still have to rest during the day, but I don't go back to bed. My emphasis is on making steady progress and working on accepting that. My impression is that it's not so much that people feel really good, it's that they are elated to be on the losing side and come here, sometimes, to celebrate that. Of course, people also come here to reveal their anxieties, fears, and problems. Of course there is always the person who feels great and is running around, doing housework and so on. But I think that's not the rule of thumb and certainly not if you're my age (53) and also dealing with some co-morbidities. Are you drinking enough water? I'm up to about 50 oz via a sports bottle and climbing to the required 64. If you're dehydrated that can make you feel really dragged out and awful, too. Hope this helps. It may sound like I have it together, but I assure you I have had a pretty tough time and cried more than once. Gano

Girl I feel great now but I know where you are at. I felt the same way for about 2 weeks. It gets better each day. Just do what you can to get in your protein and water. I found the Boost shakes to be the best but they fill me up way fast. The atkins shakes taste ok and are easier going down. Maybe the tomato soup is thicker and filling you up quicker. I would just try a few different things. Good luck to you and let us know how you are doing. I bet youll feel 100%better next week. Hold on and youll get there. LaDonna -22

Hi Kris - We are surgery buddies! I had mine done on the 8th as well -- and don't be discouraged....you are far from alone. I feel tired quite a bit and just need to take a rest. I have the same diet regimine as yourself - 2 weeks of full liquids before I can move to soft foods. I have found, though, that one of the things that "picks me up" and is on my full liquid diet (although its not really a liquid) is to start my day with either Cream of Wheat or Cream of Rice. I think it has something to do with having a solid in my new pouch. I struggle getting my protein drinks down, because they don't seem to do much for me, but I religiously attempt at least 2-4 ounces at a time, two to three times a day. Definately get as much water in as you can, that can make a difference too. Its too funny though -- I'm living on tomato soup right now because I'm craving something - ANYTHING - with flavor. But I can only get in about 2-3 ounces at a time. Good luck and you will start to feel better (goodness I hope so...that as much for your benefit as mine ) Lissa in Washington

Hi Kris, and to all who agreed with your way of thinking, I made the mistake of trying to advance too quickly because of what I was reading on this message board. I read about people who were way more active than I was and it concerned me. I know we all have the fear of failing after we've taken such an extreme step. I didn't want to feel as if I'd already failed ten days out. So I ended up pushing myself to do more than I was really ready for and it cost me extra recuperating time. I'm still not 100%. Luckily it wasn't anything as severe as having to go back into the hospital with serious damage, but I did pull a muscle in my side which was VERY painful. We are all so different. All we can do is really gauge what we're personally ready for and work hard to NOT compare ourselves to anyone else. I look at it this way. I'd gotten so disgusted and hopeless with even the IDEA of dieting that there's no way I could have lost weight at this point. It would have been probably another year of eating anything and everything I wanted before I even felt emotionally ready to try another diet or exercise program. As it stands, I have lost 15 pounds in 18 days! I could NOT have lost that 15 pounds on my own. Probably I wouldn't have been hopeful enough to lose 15 pounds this whole year! So no, I haven't lost 50 pounds like some and I still am not able to get in all my fluids or protein either. But what good will it do any of us to try and keep up with others by force-feeding ourselves or hurting ourselves with over-exercise? I learned the hard way, so learn from my mistake! We're all in this together. We're all swimming out of this shipwreck together, one by one, we're surviving. I am so proud of all of us, just for taking this step! Take it at your own pace and listen to your body before you advance to the next stage. Blessings, Eve

Well said, Eve! It's so hard not to compare ourselves with others! Everyone's body is different! And we will all be better next month than we are now! Joy

Remember you just had MAJOR SURGERY. I overdid it one day and now I'm paying the price by being completely exhausted all the time. I do find though that if I have my two chewable vitamins w/iron per day (like I'm supposed to) I feel a bit better. You really have to try Joy's spicy Bean soup...it fantastic. I was never a refried bean fan so I didn't know if I would like it, but I really do. Check the message board under my post for the recipe. Good luck, don't rush things. Karen L