Lack of energy

Hi there cali people! It has been a few since I posted. How is everyone? I wanted to see if anyone else out there is experiencing a lack of energy. Mine was so bad that I would pass out alot and just sleep. Could be in the car driving ..sitting up.. in the bathtub.. anywhere! WAS CRAZY.
But now it is a bit better. Not entirely as good as pre-wls. But manageable. So.... does anyone take any kind of supplement or diet pill, energy pill, energy drink that may give you that extra boost of energy ? If you have any suggestions of what works well for you that would be great. Thanks so much!

It takes a while for me to get going in the morning.  Do you get in enough protein?  Of course I am not quite 4 months out.  Have you talked to your physician?  It sounds like you really need to.  Good Luck with this. 

Oh yeah hun. This has been going on for a good three years now. I have talked to many docs and have done all tests and bloodwork and they all come out fine. Its just the worst side effect of wls. Worst for me anyway.

Hense why I wanted to see if anyone has any good luck with any certain energy pill or drink?

Oh wow, I just read you live in Winton, I live in Merced.  I sure hope some of the experienced ones can help! Bob Justice is a Physician Assistant with Castle MFA and he had this surgery 5 years ago he is really good.  I have been seeing him for years.  He might be able to shed some light on this for you.

Deb, how's your blood work?

Severe anemia can cause those symptoms.  I ask simply because we long termers tend to slack off blood work. :-)  I take my vitamins pretty religiously but came up severely anemic this last time out. Had to get iron infusions.

I've completely re-adjusted my vitamin routine and now feel so much better then I did for a long time.

BTW-Good to see you.

Toni

Ugh my internet really sucks lol I have typed this three times now. Anyway, yeah I wi**** was somethign that could be fixed but my bloodwork has always been ok. I have pretty much learned that this is a side effect of wls for me and I deal with it. you give up some things and get some things in return I guess.

There just has to be an energy drink or pill on the market that people have used to get that boost through the day that isnt so bad? Hopefully!

Hi Deb,

Nice to see you here.  I know you said your bloodwork came back ok, but the symptons you describe are exactly what I was dealing with and I had severe anemia.  I've had 4 iron infusions since June and am doing much better now.  Hoping I won't need another infusion for at least a year or so.  In my case, after being sent to a hemotologist, I am dealing with two issues.  #1, I'm lacking in whatever it is that causes the iron to bond to the blood, or sum such nonsense.  This was not a result of WLS as I've always suffered from anemia or low iron counts.  #2, which is more the problem from WLS, I do not absorb iron one little bit from foods or supplements.  The only way to get iron into me is intravenously, hence the infusions.

When is the last time you had a CBC done or at the very least just an iron count?  It might be worth it to you to get it checked again.  One other thing is also B12.  If you are lower on iron and lower on B12 but not low enough on either individually to cause concern, the combination of them may also cause the problem.

If you are leaving all your blood work results to the interpretation of your primary care physician, he/she may not be looking at the levels in combination.  You should really see a bariatric physician or a hemotologist to get a truly accurate analysis of your blood work.

Hope you find out the problems.

Stephanie

I get the blood work done quite often. Last was done a few months ago. My primary actually had bariatric surgery herself along with her hubby , which is why I chose her lol, so she is a little more up to speed vs a normal doc. However, I also have all of my labs faxed to my bariatric surgeon as well and they call if something is out of wack. I take B12 injections once a month. Was thinking of upping that to twice a month to be honest to see if that would help. Supplements just don't do anything for me and I don't mind the needle so I would rather just give myself a shot once a month.

Did your iron levels always come back normal?

No, my iron levels have always been low all my life.  Low iron was never anything new for me.  I was taking iron supplements and I was still low.  Then I had to have a hysterectomy last March and my iron just about bottomed out. I was a mess.  That's when I was sent to the hemotologist and they realized I just don't absorb iron orally from supplements and they started me on the infusions.  It's made a world of difference coupled with B12 shots.  You might try that more often then once a month.  Low B12 can do all kinds of crazy stuff to yourself.  And it might not be that you are low, but just need extra.  I'm not a doctor so who knows really.  But I do know extra B12 won't hurt because whatever you don't use, you'll leave in the bathroom.  LOL

lol true! Well ive done b12 like crazy before when this all started. i started taking it once a day, then once a week to finally get to once a month. Just to feel better. .........didn't do a whole lot in the feel better dept. My levels are always good . Thats what I dont get. Even saw a cardiac specialist to rule out anything there. I just pretty much have lived with it. It kinda sucks though bc if i ever go to a movie theatre I need to take an energy drink before so i dont fall asleep. At nigh****ching tv I have to make sure I sit up completely or I am out. Sometimes sitting up doesnt even help. I miss out on alot.

Tired of being tired? lol. Right now I just want a boost long enough to do me some good while working out. I need the xtra energy to get on the workout scene again. Energy drinks arent always cutting it for me anymore. Does your body get used to those? Mind you they are sf, but still....