Surgery On Monday The 13th Feeling Very Tired Is That Normal - ThinnerTimes

Rubyhawk · 03-17-2006, 01:47 PM

HI All. My surgery went real well only took a little over an hour. came home on tuesday, had a lot of the so called gas pains on tuesday. Wed I felt great did three loads of laundry and kept the kitchen straight. My oldest daughter is home for spring break from college, and her and her sister and leave a trail where ever they go in the house teenagers you know. So maybe I am trying to hard to keep the house neat. But thats my hang up clean house. can't stand clutter. did the same on thursday. Today is Friday and I woke up feeling like crap. did I push myself to hard? I am so tired. it feels like a freight train rumbling thru my gut. Lots of girgling is that normal. I am up to 4 protein shakes per day and about 30 to 45 ounces of water. I know I need more water but thats about all I can do at this time. I am not scheduled to start any type of real food for three weeks, then I get to try a couple of tablespoons of scrambled eggs. I must say I am scared even thinking about regular food. My doctor had me on only liquid protein 4 weeks before surgery and now 3 weeks after surgery the same. I lost 25 lbs before surgery and 3 lbs post op. So tell me guys is being this tired and icky normal?? Thanks for the feed back Ruby.

Gladitsme · 03-17-2006, 03:06 PM

Ruby, you had a lot more energy than I did post op. I just laid around the house and groaned between taking my plodding walks around it. LOL Yes, you just had MAJOR surgery. Of course you're going to be tired. It's normal, and natural.

trickychick68 · 03-17-2006, 03:09 PM

I am a total neat freak but for the first week, i made myself not do any house work and my mom helped out with cooking and looking after my son. you should be resting and giving yourself a break. and tired is completely normal.

sdgrrl · 03-17-2006, 03:15 PM

Yeah,
For just having had surgery that is as major as a transplant, not being able to pick up after teens 24/7 and feeling like crap would be a perfectly normal response.

People used to have to be in the hospital more than overnight--I know a lot of us stayed a day or 3. I'm wondering if perhaps you need to discuss this with your kids, lay down your parental rights and have them be responsible for running the house for a day or two each themselves. Or something. One thing I found out the hard way is that there is a minimum amount of rest and healing we need. If those of us who are superachievers don't give the devil his due, we are merely postponing and lengthening our recovery. It's a lot uglier than doing it the first time around--readmission to the hospital, infection, open gaping absesses that get drained and packed, on and on.

Your kids absolutely need to understand that you didn't just have "day surgery". This was major stuff and needs to be respected as such.

Mercedes · 03-17-2006, 03:46 PM

Wow Ruby,
you seem to be doing too much! I had my RNY on the 5th of this month & I only just managed to do one load of washing today (it's 10.35pm here) & I was pooped.
I've purposefully sat around in my nightdress, so everyone is aware I am "ill" & convalescing. I have had to have a nap in the afternoons, as well as sleeping 8 hrs plus a night. I went to see my Surgeon one week post-op & asked him how long I would feel so bone tired & he shocked me by saying six months.

Don't worry the pain does get better every day, I can remember a week ago saying I would never forget that imho awful agony but guess what; I have! I do get the odd twinge in my incision sites, (usually when I do too much) but nothing I can't handle.
Good luck with trying to persuade your daughters to do a bit more to help you around the house.

SDphotogrl99 · 03-17-2006, 05:03 PM

I couldnt even take a shower without having a nap after for the first week. I can't belive you are doing so much. I would be super tired too if I were you! Slow down and recover!

Bypassingme619 · 03-17-2006, 05:22 PM

Ruby Welcome to the Losing side. Well when I came home I had this gush on energy and I wanted to keep walking and walking but then two days later it all hit me like a ton of bricks that hey you just had a serious operation and you need to take it easy. Ruby I am not mad at you about trying to keep your house clean because I am very anal when it comes to my house being clean, I can't sleep if there is stuff out of place. Maybe it is time to sit the kiddies down and explain how you like things kept and they need to help out until you are able to regain most of your strength. Don't over do it, get your rest when needed. It gets better with each passing week. Keep them vitamins aboard.

brookscn · 03-17-2006, 05:50 PM

Ruby:
Please take it easy - I had my surgery on the same day, and while I don't feel like I can paint our fence in the backyard (and LORD knows it needs it) - I still feel the pangs of "oh, there's laundry to be done". Our NP, Kelly, told me to TAKE IT EASY. Please, please, let the clutter pile up a little and give yourself a rest. You had MAJOR surgery, you went home earlier than most, and we don't want you to have a relaps. We have a LOT going on in our household - our house is on the market, and the parade of realtors will start this weekend - but I'm AM going to take that sitting down!!! I'm finding it very easy to YELL from where I'm sitting to have someone do something as opposed to doing it myself (doctor's orders!) - I'm mostly yelling at George, our 2 year old sheltie - he's a royal pain sometimes.

You don't want to rip any sutures, and the inside ones are the ones you can't see - those can be dangerous. And next time, you may be stuck in the hospital for longer. We care about you - Be careful.

MiladyB · 03-18-2006, 07:50 AM

Hi Ruby,

I'm almost 7 weeks post-op and I can tell you that by the end of the day I still feel exhausted! It sounds to me like you may have pushed too hard for this being the first week post op. I know that I also was in the hospital over night and I actually felt pretty good. I tried to do a little too much and ended up sleeping for at least half of one day and still slept all night.

I couldn't believe I had slept that much but I really felt like my body needed it. I too have teenagers that don't like to pick up after themselves so I ended up having a little talk with them.

The gurgling is perfectly normal. My stomach made all kinds of loud noises after surgery. It still does periodically but not as much.

Just be kind to yourself. It's time for you to be selfish. It's okay.

You just had major surgery and it's your time to be taken care of.

michelleJC · 03-18-2006, 06:40 PM

Fatigue has been my only problem since surgery. For the first few weeks I took naps daily and any exertion left me drained. I am 3 months post-op and still have yet to return to work full time because of severe fatigue. I am a nurse and am on my feet the entire shift (8-10 hrs.) I have tried it 4 times and could barely make it through. I guess we have to remember that this is MAJOR abdominal surgery and takes over a year to completely heal. Please don't over do it. You could really hurt yourself and do some serious damage.