Question:
When will I feel normal again?

My staples and drain come out in 3 days. I'm so sick of sleeping in a recliner, liquid BM's and raging gas bubbles even my husband can hear moving around inside me. I know I'm whining but when will I no longer walk like a hunchback. Thank you for listening to my bitching.    — Alison N. (posted on March 18, 2002)

March 18, 2002
I wish I could tell you it gets better quickly. Unfortunately it didn't for me. It took me almost 6 weeks to walk normal, and sleep in bed rather than my recliner. I still sometimes get the liquid BM's when I drink milk, but not as much as before. I am now out 3 months. It does get better, but unfortunately for you, you are still in the beginning stages. good luck.
   — sbinkerd1

March 18, 2002
I suddenly felt much better at about 2 weeks post op.
   — cindy Q.

March 18, 2002
I did not feel significantly better or normal until 5-6 weeks post-op. By 3 months, I felt better than I had pre-op.
   — kateseidel

March 18, 2002
It was a couple of months before I could walk standing up straight. And it was 6 months before I could get strength to walk or do anything as I had no energy. I felt like the walking dead. I just did'nt bounce back good after WLS. Most people seem to do alot better on bouncing back than I did but we are all different.
   — Danmark

March 18, 2002
as you can tell from reading these answers we are all different! I am 4 weeks post op today and I feel completely normal, I do get tired alot easier but it gets better everyday. I know how you feel, the bubbles in my stomach were not only loud but sometimes painful!! this too shall pass!! good luck, Becky
   — rebecca N.

March 18, 2002
Each person is different but here is my experience. I felt HORRIBLE for 2 weeks after surgery! I hated having surgery and had NO energy....cried all the time. At 2 weeks out my fiance suggested that I join the gym. I crying ask him if I cant walk to the potty how the hell he expected me to go to the gym and proceded to cry harder. Finally he convinced me to try it. Let me tell you. At 2 1/2 weeks out I began going to the gym and that was a turning point for me! I started feeling great! I have alot more energy and feel better than I felt previous to surgery! BTW I had Open RNY Distal.
   — Melody F.

March 18, 2002
The first two weeks were the worst!!! By the time 6 weeks rolled around I felt 99% normal. Hang in there Good Luck
   — Robert L.

March 18, 2002
I agree with about 2 weeks is the beginning of feeling better. At a week and a half I took an hour outing at the store, came home and slept for 6 hours. But by two weeks, I was walking normally, sleeping in my own bed, eating SOME 'normal' (yet soft) foods... I was still taking naps and taking it easy, but it was much better. Now 2.5 months out and I still have variable BMs, but much less gas, no pain, and am feeling great. Hang in there. You will feel better soon!! Good Luck!
   — Angela B.

March 18, 2002
This could have been written by me about 5 weeks ago. I did not think that there would be light at the end of the tunnel ever. I had surgery Jan 18, I thought I would be able to go back to work 2 weeks later. At 2 weeks out I could barely walk to the mailbox, I was exhausted, sore, mean tempered and weak as heck. I began to feel better about 4 weeks out, went back to work at 5 weeks out and that was the turning point for me, The More You Do The Better You Will Feel! Period. I went to my surgeons office in slippers because I coulld not even walk in my low heeled shoes. Now I am as close to 100% as you can get, down 60 lbs, and I feel like a million bucks. I get a monthly B12, you might want to look into this, it makes a huge difference. So, hang in there! Everyone told me it would get better and guess what? IT DOES!! Except for some food issues (vomiting, gas etc) I cant think of a thing to complain about! Good Luck, you will feel great in a few weeks!
   — donnalawbabe

April 10, 2002
Oh I feel so much better now I am 1 week post op and feeling so bad, each day gets better but i still get really sad that I cant function yet...But I guess we has to expect this right?? As far as someone saying the more we do the better we feel, they are right! i actually ventured out to the movies last night ans It took everything I had, but today I feel so much stonger!!
   — Caroline G.

April 28, 2002
It took me four MONTHS to stop asking God to please please reverse the operation. I thought I'd never have a moment's peace. BUT the WONDERFUL NEWS IS that after four months, I stopped being sick plus my doctor said bluntly, "You say you mutilated your body. What do you call what you were doing before with all that eating?!" A real wake-up call and a statement I've pondered a lot since. I have lost over 115 pounds in 8 1/2 months, gone from a size 26/28 to a 14 (I'm 5'9" and this is an excellent size for me.), and most importantly, I feel GREAT for the first time in 20 years. So, HANG IN THERE -- Trust me, it IS WORTH IT. God bless you!
   — cjtich

June 18, 2002
I am one week and one day post op and apart from decreased energy levels, I am feeling relatively pain-free. No nausia, still semi-liquid BMs but getting better, and even eating very small amounts of solid meat. (hamburger, chicken). My staples are a bit annoying but otherwise ok. I did a long walk yesterday. I think it really depends on the indivudial. :-)
   — Kelley F.

July 7, 2002
I had that rolling stomach feeling for the first week. I think it was mostly hunger. I didn't feel hungry, but when I put some solid foods in my tummy it felt much better. The first soft solid I ate was cottage cheese & a slice of pear. It was so good!! I had Lap and was able to go back to work at 3 wks. I was weak and tired at different times during the day, but I just carried my little lunch box with freezer packs in it, loaded with food and snacks that I could have. I ate every 3 hrs or so. It really helped me keep up my energy. I am 1 mo post-op and really starting to enjoy life again....
   — Regina F.

February 5, 2003
I am two weeks post op tomorrow, and I am feeling really good, back to work today. I know this is not the norm but I thought I'd throw in my 2 cents just to let you know, it could be 2 weeks or 2 months, everyone is different and how fast or slow you recuperate is effected by many different factors.
   — Stacy M.

March 11, 2003
I am exactly 1 week 1 day post-op. Laparoscopic. I am feeling better each day. Getting used to this life style change. I cried a lot the first few days home. But reminded myself that this was the very best desicion for me and my family. Walk as much as you can. and keep up your sipping fluids. We'll just hang in there together.
   — TERESA C.

May 15, 2003
Hello I am one week and 2 days out and am feeling so good! I am not really having any problems. I a still on a liquid diet like i am told and things are healing very nicely. It seems once I got the rain out it was all up hill from there! good luck Nina
   — NINA D.

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