I need some Help Day 5 I feel very weak

I have my band put in on Monday I am feeling weaker every day I feel like CRAP all I want to do is sleep but I can not becouse every time I turn I hurts Help me, Leon Also I am forgetting to drink i put it in front of me and I do not want to drink.

Leon I am in the same boat as you r in hopefully someone can give us both good advice. I have a problem with lying flat so I lay on my right side and it is much more comfortable. I had rny surgery mon and still feel like crap. I am totally unable to drink the protein drinks so The dr said to try the 2nd stage protein supplements but I still do'nt know the difference of full or hungry because I always feel hungry. You need to make sure you drink though. I am not to fond of water but I love the Crystal Light pink lemonade. If you haven't tried that then you should. I hope everything gets better for you. Heather

I know we didn't have the same type of surgery, but I felt just awful the first week or two. And EXTREMELY tired. In fact, I was tired for about 5 weeks. My Dr. said that was normal. Anyway, because I had the RNY - don't know if it's different for you - they had me SIPPING out of a medicine cup. They gave me a chart that had 24 hours on it, broken down into 5 minute intervals. Had to drink 64 ounces a day. It was a LOT easier drinking out of those medicine cups in the beginning. I wasn't hungry or thirsty to say the least, and looking at a big glass of water made me feel overwhelmed. The pain? If we're similar, I could never get comfortable. It was either sleep on my back (which I've always hated), or what worked better, was taking a pillow or an afghan next to me and kind of propping my belly on it or against it. I noticed it took some of the pressure off the incision areas.... Hope I could help a little!!! Dawn 336.5/196/145

Hi Leon. I know the first week is rough. We are all different and I know some people write about going back to work within days after a LapBand that wasn't the case for me. I would say 2 weeks would be about right. For me I was fortunate that I was able to take 3 weeks though I did work from home during that 3rd week. You will get better each day however, not eating or drinking will only make you feel weaker so its a double edged sword. Get the rest you need but you will also have to force yourself to eat or drink some protein to get some strength back. Even if you can only get sips in here and there you will feel better for it. And I don't know how your surgeon's diet works but if you are able to get some pureed type proteins in after your first week you will feel all the more stronger. Take good care of yourself - this will pass and you'll be feeling better and better every day. Susie

Hey bro.... I'm so proud of you. I can't wait to get my band. I hope you feel better soon. Don't forget to drink alot. Hey who knows soon you'll be able to fly down to florida to see me more on those economy flights. I can't wait. I'm glad I'm gonna have my big brother for years to come! ~sara

Leon my brother Bandster you will work through this! When I had my band on 1/25/06 I had no appitite as well and my first week liquid diet was quite a job to drink everything. Your weakness/tiredness/fatigue is a result of, surgery, lack of protien and the nasty gas pains. I had gas pain that settled in my shoulder and I could not lay flat in my bed for over a week and the gas pain did lessen but stayed with me for a few weeks. I missed a total of 4 weeks of work before I was ok and even then I was a bit woosey! Do your best to sip your protien and liquids. If you choose to lay around and sleep you will not get out of that funk for a while! Best of luck!!!!!!!!!!!!! Kenny

Hang in there Leon, it gets easier. You are recovering from surgery and that is rough! If you however are really feeling bad and in alot of pain please call your surgeon just to be safe. We are here for you! LisaMarie

Hang In There Leon...tie a knot at the end of your rope!!!! It's not even a full week yet, of course you're still tired, this will get easier i promise you. Do you have a recliner or a couch you could nap on? Will you be coming up to the Fishkill support group tomorrow? Be Well and KEEP ON SIPPING IT'S TOO HOT OUT YOU'LL DEHYRDATE! BE WELL AND BE HEALTHY, ANDI

Leon: I send this to all new postops in my support group (mostly RNY) but still pertains greatly to Lap banders as well!: (Skip the parts that don't pertain such as dumping etc). Your body has been through major trauma, it will be tired and sore...Dehydration can sap that energy further. Can you do protein shakes? The ymay bost some energy! How about vitamins? Walk every few hours to avoid risk of blood clots as well, even if you are tired! Be well! Focus on Fluids One of the main challenges for a WLS patient over time is to maintain hydration. Your body needs just as much fluid after the surgery as it did before surgery, yet the new stomach pouch limits you to 1-2 ounces at a time. (NO MORE GUZZLING!) Maintenance of fluid intake may also be difficult because of the necessity to take in food or fluids, and not both at once. You must compensate for this by taking small amounts of fluid on a near-constant basis. Usually this means that you should carry your fluid source with you at all times. *** We cannot overemphasize that the liquid must be a caffeine, carbonation & calorie-free. Patients who use fruit juice or other calorie-containing liquids for hydration may experience inadequate weight loss because of the calories in these fluids, and can experience dumping syndrome from the sugar. Caffeine is a possible appetite-stimulant, diuretic and irritant and can potentially cause ulcers in the new pouch and add to dehydration and low-iron blood (which we already poorly absorb iron post-op). Carbonation can possibly cause gastric irritation, if carbonated beverage also contains phosphorus it may act to leach calcium out of bones, and some feel it may stretch pouch/stoma. Drinking at least 64 ounces of fluids post-op is a necessity. Water is the body's best source, and serves the purpose to aid digestion and absorption of food; it regulates temperature and circulation, carries nutrients and O2 to the cells of the body and removes toxins and waste. Dehydration can cause/aggravate constipation, kidney stones, urinary infections, high or low blood pressure, difficulty controlling diabetes and migraines. Dizziness, clumsiness, muscle cramps in arms and legs, dark yellow urine, fatigue, irritability, are sunken eyes, low blood pressure and fainting, bloating, and a fast, weak pulse -- are signs that dehydration is setting in. Fluids should be consumed on a near-constant basis, but not during meals and not soon following food. If you drink during your meal, you will tend to wash the food out of the stomach pouch, and consume more food than is desirable. It may seem strange at first to eat without drinking but it works fine. A good tip here is to actually not have any fluid on the table while you are eating. In addition to reducing your overall food intake, this new habit will encourage you to chew more thoroughly before swallowing, because you will not count on the fluid to wash down half-chewed food. Also note that soup is kind of like drinking liquids with food - soup is not an absolute "no-no" but recognize that it should not be a regular part of your diet. Liquids should not be consumed for about 30-60 minutes after eating. This is because the food actually forms a plug that blocks the outlet from the pouch until it has all passed through. If you drink liquids on top of this plug it will create a very uncomfortable sensation and may also force food downstream more quickly than it should go. ***(VARIETY IS THE KEY TO GETTING THROUGH THE FIRST 2 WEEKS!)*** Keep a journal of each hour in a day for the first week of fluids. Write down what you drink in the hour and what activity you do! You should move every 1-2 hrs even if it is just walking around the house to avoid respiratory or circulation problems. This helps keep you mindful! Remember you cannot catch up on fluids later in the day OR take a 2 L soda bottle empty and fill it each time you sip some fluid with same amount this is a great visual as to how far to go and how much u have drank, set midday to have it 1/2 gone!!!! Take Care, Jamie Lap RNY 10/9/02 Dr. Singh 320/163 5'9'' (lost 45# before surgery) Plastics 6/9/04 & 11/11/2005 Dr. King http://www.obesityhelp.com/morbidobesity/members/profile.php?N=c1132518510 "Being happy doesn't mean everything's perfect, it just means you've decided to see beyond the imperfections!"

Hi Leon, Welcome to the Bandster world. It does get easier. It was hard for me to drink post op as well for the first 2 days anyway. I remember trying to drink the barium in the hospital, which was the worst part of the surgery for me. Just rest and take it easy, you just had major surgery. Make sure you are taking your pain meds. Liquid Tylenol was my best friend for a couple of weeks. Kristine