I am 3 weeks post op, had a couple complication -- infection, got a virus with fever for a few days afterward -- but have not been able to work up energy or stamina to be able to unload the dishwasher, then put the dirty ones in without resting in between.

I am getting around 50 g protein every day, working hard to get at least 64 oz water in daily, taking all my meds and supplements. The doctor's nurse says I should be exercising daily. Heck, taking a shower wears me out.

Is this normal, or I am doing something wrong?
Jean

Your protein intake is WAY below what I have been told is a minimum. Still, I can remember that I didn't do much better than that in the beginning. For several weeks I was very tired and easily exhausted. I just forced myself to go through the motions anyway, even if I had to sit for a minute and it all was okay after that. Hang in there. You should be fine. Remember too that you had an infection and give yourself a break.

It will get better!! I am pretty sure my dr said 60+ protein when I was first post op. He also told me to go on little walks as much as possible so at first I would only walk to he mail box,then the neighbors drive way,so on and so forth. The energy will build! You will see!!!

Hey Jean.. not only are you recovering from a major surgery but infection and a virus?!
Of course you're feeling sluggish. For now, keep on getting that protein and water
in and reast a lot. In my book, your shower counts as exercise for now!
Sure hope you'll be feeling better soon! Keep checking in with your Doc and of course,
with us!

I was told to walk to the mailbox and back - then walk a few steps more, then the next day a few steps more until you can walk the black.

The exercise helps you to heal also - helps your body to heal

Welcome to the melting side!

I totally agree w/ the others. I think you need more protein. My requirement is 60 gm, but I feel better if I'm closer to 70.
I'm sure that infection & virus took a lot out of you. It's hard enough to recover from the surgery alone!
Get lots of rest. When you feel up to it, try to do some walking around the house for a few minutes at a time, even if you do need to sit down in the middle. You can also sit on a chair & do some leg lifts & some of the arm exercises you probably learned in gym class. Just don't overdo. And don't beat yourself up. There is a lifetime ahead of you to do the hard stuff.
You will get to feeling better. It is a gradual process.
Congratulations on getting in your water & vitamins.

Hey, Mickeefynn! Nice new Avatar. I'm going to do mine like that too. Gonna put my fattest pic & current one.

Hi Jean, I am sure everyone went through the same things. I was in the same boat you are. I tried to walk around the block 3 days post-op and tripped over the curb and lit flat on my stomach. Good thing I had alot of padding then. But, your stamina and energy will grow and grow with your continued effort. After losing 85 lbs. & 3 1/2 months out, I feel like I'm 20 years younger and getting better all the time. Give it some time and heed the advice of the pros on this site and you will be fine. Welcome to your new you. You will adjust. Keep your head up, attitude is the key. Ed

Listen to your body - you are doing just fine...the energy will return, but you aren't going to be running any races this week or next! This has been a traumatic shock to your body - it needs to heal - and it will. Trust yourself - do what you can and rest when you must. You are really new to this - how you are feeling at 3 weeks is not how you will be feeling at 3 months...hang in there. We are all pulling for you!

Keep plugging away at getting your protein in, your exercise up but mostly get yourself well. That's gotta be job one. Fluids and vitamins in. Rest. Heal. The rest will fall in to place when you feel 100% again. 3 weeks out is still the infancy of your recovery. Once you're on solids, your protein intake will shoot right up.

keep us posted on your health. Wishing you well.

Give yourself time as a virus and infection are hard enough to recover from let alone surgery. They use to say that after a surgery it can take a year to feel like yourself again. WLS feel better quicker because of the weight loss but please remember that any surgery can take a year to recover completely from. It was tough on me the first few weeks. Try carrying a small pillow with you if you have discomfort walking. I carried a pillow against my stomach for about a month. It helped. Keep your spirits up and look to better times coming.

Diamond Girl

Don't believe everything your surgeon told you... they're often generalizations, and on occasion, they're also meant to push you in the direction of having the surgery. It's a business, remember?

Everything everyone else has said is too true. I'll add that my surgeon told me I'd be ready to go back to work in a week, that I wouldn't need to eat any extra protein for the first year, my minimum protein requirement was only 30 gms, and that I'd be able to eat ANYTHING I wanted to... no restrictions whatsoever! HAH!

Now that I've found out what reality feels like, I ensure I get at least 80 gms protein daily, avoid all processed sugars, and restrict my carbs as much as humanly possible. I went back to work part-time after 5 weeks, full time only three weeks ago - I had open RNY on October 23, 2007. I've lost 55 lbs., and my surgeon says I'm failing. I "should have lost at least 80 by now..." (Bite me, doc.... I gotta really nice juicy spot right over here...!)

Anyway... my problems aside... I considered showering exercise, walking to the car was a major event and I tried hard to remember that I wasn't a teenager anymore... I was going to need more than a minute to recover from major abdominal surgery! Give yourself a break, and give yourself some time... You're gonna be just fine!

Hang in there, things will get better. I agree with the others that you need to up the protein. Walk as much as you can and push yourself a little further every day. It will get easier.

Darrie,
If you're a failure, then I am too. Like we don't have enough to handle with all the lifestyle/diet changes, how dare your surgeon call you a failure. You're a single mom who has taken back her life. That makes my blood boil!
Hooray for us! Together we've lost a whole person...a small person, but a person non-the-less.

Hi Sweets! It sounds like you are feeling pretty normal. I had pretty much a complication free surgery and I didn't go back to work for 5 weeks and I had to take a nap every single day. I would do my exercise (walk around the cul de sac) and then come in and take a nap. The walk made me need a nap but for me I had to put myself in a daily exercise mindset. Remember extra protein helps the body heal and you are doing a bunch of healing right now. The energy will come. It is easy to become impatient waiting for it but it WILL come! Love yourself and take care of you and the rest will come.

Hugs!
Ang

Hey Jean (The Dancing Machine)

Great name!!!!

You will do just fine. You have just had a few more set back than some of us do. My Dr. told me to try to get 60 to 75 g of protein it seams like a lot but with the supplements you can do it. Just give yourself some healing time and do what you can. I have lost 48lbs in 2 1/2 months, I think that is to slow but everyone Say's that is good so we just try everyday to do something good for our selfs. You have come to the best site for help.

Good luck and Keep Dancing!!!

Betsy

Thanks so much for everyone's comments. I will try to increase the protein and get a walk in everyday. I don't know how old most of you are, but I think that could be a factor also. I'm 54 and I'm not bouncing back so quick. But it IS getting better every day . . and I'm sure the BEST is yet to come! You are such a wonderful group of people!
Jean

I am in my 50's and I think that it does make a difference. But still it will be a good difference when you start to feel better and can get around better. I remember worrying about picking something up off the floor, worried that I would fall on my head. Now it is not a problem. Hang in there. There are quite a few of us in our 50's.

Diamond Girl

One last little idea. I was told that it can take 1 week for every hour you were under anesthesia. And yes, I will agree that 3 weeks out is like newborn stage. I, too, had an infection post op and had to carry a wound vac around with me for 6 weeks. Once I increased my protein to 100 g a day and got serious about my vitamins and got past the infection THEN I STARTED to get my energy back. You can't even give consider getting your energy back until you are past all of your infections. Your body can't handle all of that. Relax, get a protein drink, and just hang out and get some support. Every once in a while go take a walk to the mail box. Then maybe increase the distance from there. Take it easy! Love yourself.