Best way to get your strength back?

3 weeks post op.  No complications.  Just weak...  Can't seem to get my strength back.  I don't feel bad or have any pain, just weak all the time.  Today I started on gummy bear vitamins.  Didn't think I was ready for adult vitamins that I had to swollow whole.   I'm trying to stay up with my protein daily.  Maybe the gumy bears will help.  Other than weak I feel good.   Any suggestions.  I am getting in my food (liquid and soft) although I'm not hungry at all.   Mike

Hi Mike: glad to have you aboard, I'm in MN, had surgery july 25 2007.  Exercise is about the only thing I know of to keep your strength up.  I was walking up to 6 mi a day within 4 weeks of surgery. I was fat but in pretty good shape before surgery. I know complications make a difference.   Basically, just keep your liquids up 80 oz plus a day,  exercise as much as you can tolerate, then the next time push a little farther. I do solo Boundary Waters Canoe trips for a week at a crack 2 to 4 times a year. It is amazing how much better I feel. With the 140 lbs off.  I can still carry my 60 lb pack, and my 58 lb canoe. Double portaging.  Pack first, canoe second. Ok I'll quit boasting now It's been quite a while since I've been on the message board,  Working overtime, and grandkids, not to mention the wife and her honeydoos I don't know if this helps you, I just know it's been the best for me so far. Dave Navratil Minnesota

Hi Mike, Well, at 3 weeks you can't help but feel weak. You're still recovering from the surgery and anesthesia, plus the radical change in caloric input and output (malabsorption). Your sleep may not be quite yet either this early, but should get pretty good soon. Some suggestions: Drink all the water you can and then drink some more--dehydration is a real possibility and can lead to fatigue and electrolyte imbalance. You'll probably need to be drinking (sipping really) almost constantly. Consume high-quality protein as you can, but don't expect to be able to consume the recommended amount. Your new pouch is tender, small and not up to the task, and you cannot absorb 100% of the protein you do consume anyway. But try (as per your doc's instructions.) Also, try to be a bit more active every few days. Don't overdo or underdo the exercise, even it consists of short strolls at first. Just be patient as your strength returns. In another couple of weeks, you can ramp up the activity. But at 3 weeks, you just can't consume and absorb enough calories to overcome the deficit created by surgery. So, where does all this leave you? Right on schedule. You will  begin to get more energy, but may feel less than 100% for weeks or months. Some take longer than others to feel renewed zip. You won't feel beat and exhausted, just tired easily, etc. But your spirits will pick up pretty soon and provide an antidote and another kind of energy. I know it seems like forever during parts of this process and I know we can be impatient for the "New Me" including new energy. It will arrive. For now, try to remember that some of your fatigue is good for you--your bod is using energy to repair and heal and--ta daa!, burn fat. As Dx always says, "Your mileage here may vary," to which I'd like to add, "but you will get to your destination!" Hang in there, Mike, when you look back, you'll be amazed at how far you've already come and the best stuff is right over the horizon.

Mike, Exercise and walking helped for me.  I started walking and gradually added distance until I was doing 30 minutes a day.  My energy increased substantially. It is important to drink a lot of water thoughout the day and after your walk. Right now you are still recovering from your surgery, but you will definately have more energy and you move ahead.

Hi Mike, what supplements have they given you to take at this point?  You should be taking at minimum two children's chewables or gummies a day, 500MG of chewable calcium, vitamin D, Vitamin B12 (shots or sublingual) and I would suggest a chewable iron.   It is very normal to be weak at this point.  That is the way it goes.  You will  gain more and more strength each day.  I just wanted to make sure were getting the nutrients you need because that will help a lot.  The iron really helped me.  I got my cheable iron from www.bestbariatricsupply.com It's actually one of the sweetest things you get to eat.

Mike, I am 4 weeks post op and I know what you are talking about. At about 2 1/2 weeks I told the doc how weak I was and she said that my iron count was low. (After surgery it was in a normal range, but the doctor told me that it had been considerably higher before surgery, and that could be a cause of the tiredness). Anyway, I have been taking chewable iron tables since then. I also started walking more. Whether from the iron, walking, or just the passage of time, I have a lot of my strength back and am returning to work half days tomorrow. Best wishes, Joe

Yo Mike, When I was at that point I had a major fatique problem too. It took more iron (in multivitamin). Walgreens' store brand has a small round one Istarted taking two at a time.  B12 was an issue, I sarted taking a liquid super B complex liquid i got from Walgreens but they sell it at WalMart also.  And thatis in addition to taking an additional sublingal B12 1000mg.  And lastly, potassium.  Early on I couldn't tolerate eating even half a banana so I used a pill supplement.  Gatorade has too much carbs and sugar.  Between the bunch, I started feeling human again.   I have never been recommeneded for b12 shots cause myblood work comes back perfect at 3, 6, and 9 month checkups.  The CNP also upped me from regular 18 mg of iron multivitamin to a 28 mg prenatal twice a day.  Some days when I go for longer walks or runs I take that plus an additional two in the afternoon. Hope I didn't over explain, as I sometimes do. Short version: Increased dosages of Iron, B12, B complex, potassium helped me feel better.

Mike try taking naps during the day . I would take a 2 hour nap everyday at 12 noon after my morning walk and would wakeup refreshed and ready for my aftrernoon walk. I did that for 6 weeks while I was off work and I miss those naps alot a year later. good luck

I'm glad you asked the question. Feeling the same way too and the answers have been most informative. Making sure you do everything right is quite a process. Good thing us newbees have all this help. Michael

Hi Mike,

The vitamins and supplements are necessary, but the only thing that saved me was, being able to drink a lot of coffee three months out. I really had the blahs until then.

If you are unable to get both water and protein, you can make put about a scoop and a half of Isopure vanilla in about a coffee cup (or less) of water. This way, you'll be able to get in your protein and your liquid. Just make sure that when it's time to drink water you get *plenty* (should be well *after* that protein paste concoction!). The protein should give you some what of a pickup in a single gulp.

So just saying make sure your protein is fast and easy and your water, plentiful. No need to make your protein drink a source of hydration. I think that just causes a lot of it to be washed right through and could be the source of insufficient blood sugar.

Dave