Over my fears of haveing surgery & now a few questions

So back a few months ago I questioned myself about having surgery! Now I'm steadfast in my deciosn and I can't wait for my six months to be up! One question I have is how did you combat fatigue after surgery?? I have a mentally challanging job and when I get home I have my parents to take care (my Mother has Alzheimer's & my Father hasn't been able to walk the past year and a half). I'm worried that I will run out of gas once I get home and take care of them. How have others dealth with fatigue?? Any suggestions & ideas would be greatly appreciated.

My other concern is finding time to move and workout! I know I need to put myself first and get the exercise in and its easier said than done. I just recently started walking on my lunch hour rather than working thru it. I know its a baby step but I figured its a start.

One last question. Did anyone have edema beofe surgery? Has it improved now?? I'm interested to see what will happen with mine!

Thanks in advance for the responses!

Girl, you have so much on your plate...so good for you in caring for your parents...love-yah.  But, to your question...Reflecting back to how I made it through the day pre-WLS...I can't hardly imagine...somehow, I guess, and not very well.  What I discovered is, that after WLS, as I lost the weight...I GAINED energy-enthusiasm, and performance in what I did.  Strange, but what I thought I was needing (food in overabundance) to cope with my life- was exactly what was WEIGHING (pun intended) me down.  I gained energy..I got a life.  Go for it!  bonnie

Thanks Boonie! Here is to me gaining the energy and enthusiasm that you did! God willing! :)

Well this is MAJOR surgery...and hoping that you have no complications...you will be tired...Your body will def feel it..you will not eat..so that alone is a major shock for your body...I know some people felt "normal" in a few days..I didn't feel 100% until maybe a month after surgery...I didn't have no complications..or crazy reactions to foods..but i did get tired easily...I was off work for 3 weeks...(surgery 07/08)and the first week back to work i was truly exhausted! My only suggestion is don't push yourself too much..give yourself time to heal!!  For the first 3-4 weeks all i did was walk...

Good Luck on your journey!!

Thank you kindly for your reply! Hopefully I'll bounce back quick!

Fatigue - I just worked on getting as much rest as I could.  Exercise can wait if it needs to for you!  

I did have edema issues prior to surgery - I take magnesium citrate (a small amount) and that seems to help!

I'm hoping the edema will get better! Thanks for the suggestion!

http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B00GW5NX9C/

I use a 1/4 teaspoon of this stuff in a shake once a day.  I don't know if it's helping, or if the weight loss is helping, but my ankles seem to be a lot better!

Find the time in your day whenever you can to take care of you.  It sounds like you have an awful lot of folks depending on you to take care of them, so be sure you take care of you so that you can do that.

As for the edema...yes, I had it before surgery.  I still do, in my legs especially.  It doesn't matter how much movement I get during the day or how much fluid I drink or how little sodium I eat, it's still a bother.  I still take a diuretic for it because otherwise my legs are miserable.  Thanks, varicose veins! :(  It's not as bad as it was pre-op, but it's still not great.  At least now I can wear shoes other than flip flops!

Do you wear compression stockings to help with the edema?