Question:
Nervous @ 5 weeks post lap RNY... advice please?

I suddenly seem to be able to eat more, and more quickly than I did last week. I am still dealing with extreme weakness but do not feel as though I am really losing any weight. At 2 weeks post I was down 24 but I feel that must have been mostly water. My clothes do not seem to be getting loser. I am afraid the bypass was not done far enough and I hope I haven't stretched my stomach. I have been having salmon, sardines, eggbeaters, cheese, yogurt, and small amts of fruit & vegs. I go a little over 48 oz of water/day. Although I had complete confidence in my surgeon for the operation, I do not feel secure in their follow-up program. I have found some things that I disagree with with the dietician's advice, such as carbonate is OK. I guess I am just feeling that I went through all this major life-changing and it might not be working out. I am not planning on weighing myself until I go back to the dr - I don't want to become a slave to the scale again. I started at 335, 5'8", and would love to be 150 and as athletic as I was until about 10 years ago. Does this seem realistic? It really bothers me how weak I feel. I am in NJ and have tried several times to gently shovel a bit of snow, but my heart started beating so fast and I felt so faint, I had to stop. I am praying I will feel normal again, have my strength back. Feedback, please? Thank you so much. — linda S. (posted on March 5, 2003)

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March 5, 2003
Linda, I have been advised through my casemgmt meetings that no carbonation is ok. It will stretch you stomach. It sounds like you don't have alot of post op support. Are there any local groups for bariatric surgery in your area? Talking and sharing with others on your journey really helps!
— Laurel G.

March 5, 2003
You're not going to go through this for nothing! Many of us feel scared at first, we have failed every other diet, why not this? But it will work for you, ofcourse unless you sabotage it, but I doubt you will! AS long as you get in your protein first, drink water, don't drink with meals and exercise some, you'll do wonderful! The things you are eating sound great, and it's all in portion control. SOme days you feel like you can eat alot, and others not so much. Measure your food, see exactly how much you are eating, you might be surprised how small the amount actually is! If you're eating more quantities of yogurt and soup, that's normal, those are liquidy and we can all eat more. 24lbs. in 5 weeks is really a good weight loss! yes, some is water weight, but not all of it. Give it time, and you will start seeing a change in your measurements and clothes as well. I definately think you can get to your goal weight, it will happen, just have to be patient as hard as that may be. Some of us lose slower than others, and we don't know why, that's why it's better to not compare. One thing I do suggest is to try and get in more water. I know it's hard, esp. so early post-op, but that can be a big help in the weight loss process. I try to get in atleast 80oz of water a day, but strive for 64oz and you'll do good! I am in NJ as well, so if you ever want to talk, e-mail me anytime! ([email protected]) Goodluck to you, don't get discouraged- you have been doing great so far and will continue to!
— Lezlie Y.

March 5, 2003
Sweetie, what you are feeling as far as fatigue and uncertainty of if you are following the program correctly as soooo sooo normal! Well, normal for 5 weeks that is. I'm almost 12 weeks out and I'm just now getting my focus and energy back to where it was post op. I'm feeling better overall, but waiting for that big 'whoosh!' of energy I see folks posting about so much! You haven't stretched your stomach, you seem to be eating good, protein sources...just keep up the good work. I think the hardest part for me was the first two weeks and not knowing if I had lost weight or not. Once I got conformation that I was losing, I've just tried to concentrate on my fluids and protein. You are doing fine, and what you are feeling is very normal. Try, if you can to focus your thoughts on postive outcomes and visulize(which is different than fantisize) how you will act and look when you are healthy. It will help you keep positive energy going. Good luck!
— Susan F.

March 5, 2003
hi :) i am a little over 6 weeks and just the past few days i have begun to feel more energy..also at 4-5 weeks i wasnt losing either..i have noticed the past week i am losing inches..i wouldnt worry about stretching your stomach..if it were that easy to do almost noone would be successful!! i can still eat alot myself more so then i would like but as long as the weight comes off its workin..give urself a little more time to heal..u will be great :)
— christine S.

March 5, 2003
Hi! I am a little over 6 weeks post-op and I am 5'6", I started at 350. I still feel very tired everyday. That is perfectly normal. Also, this week I have actually felt a little better than I have been feeling. My energy levels do drop when I over do anything that seems simple like chores around the house. It is ok that you are eating a little more this week. You are healing inside and things become easier to eat. Just take it slow. I know my dr. says no carbonation. They are all different. I did not loose any weight week 2 1/2 thru week 5. I felt exactly the way you felt. All of a sudden I went from 28 lbs. lost from week two, to 41 pounds at 6 weeks. I weighed at my dr. office. I was amazed. I have only dropped one pant size, and two shirt sizes, but the pants are pull on no zipper or snap. I feel better and look better. Give yourself a couple of more weeks and you will start to feel better and notice weight falling off. Make sure to start eating early in the day, and get enough protein. I was not getting enough, when I started eating earlier, eating more, and getting all my water and protein is when I started losing again. YOu can do it! It is working. I was paranoid also. Good Luck!
— christy B.

March 5, 2003
I am 8 weeks post Lap RNY. I am down 60 Lbs. I am 5'9" and weighed 330#prior to surgery. I am just now getting some of my strength back. I have be soooo very weak. I couldn't do my house work without stopping and resting between chores. I know by reading posts daily that everyone is different. Sounds like you are doing fine. I do not drink anything carbonated. I was addicted to Pepsi before, now I find myself not even wanting a soda. If you disagree with some of the things it is O.K. to voice your opinion to you Dr. or Dietician. As a Nurse I can tell you..you will not always agree with what they tell you to do. Much of this is still trial and error. Keep using this website as it is a most helpful tool. The people on this site are a fantastic reference!
— Teresa B.

March 6, 2003
Original poster of question: I can't thank everyone that responded enough. This was my first time asking a question, and it brought tears to my eyes to come on today and see all the help that was so kindly offered to reassure me. It really does help me relax and just take this day by day. One thing I wasn't clear about, the thing that I disagree with my dietician about is not soda carbonation, but calcium carbonate. From all my research it clearly says that we can only utilize calcium citrate - carbonate is useless. I am going to push more water... and I have my 8 week check up on 3.24.03; I will get a new weight reading then. I am glad I am not weighing myself on my own now, because if I went 2 1/2 weeks without losing I would be very depressed. Thank you all for all your personal information that has made me feel a bit normal in the process!
— linda S.

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