15 replies to this topic

[mjune]

I met with my surgeon and his nurse today.  His nurse told me that the recovery of gastric bypass is a full three months long.  She said people just feel unwell for about three months (low energy, listless, drained) and then it's like a curtain opens and they feel really well.  Hmmm....I'd prepared for hell week and a few extra weeks of pain/discomfort, but is it really a full three months until I can expect to feel well?

[Jason76]

I am 4 weeks out and I feel fine.  I am not super charged or anything like that but definatly not listless.  I still have my days, but I had days like that before surgery.  I would say it took me about 3 weeks after surgery before I started to come back to normal; right around the time I could start eating soft foods.  I would think that it would only take that long if you had complications.

I went back to work and got back into my routine after 2 weeks which I think helped alot.  However, every person's experience is unique.

Good luck.

[mistymee]

It was about that for me, yes.. but I had complications during surgery and around the 6 week mark, I became severely, severely dehydrated.

Also, I was taking optisource for my vitamins and it turns out that optisource is lacking in a lot of what I needed.  Once I was rehydrated and taking proper vitamins, I did much better.  But I was out of work for 8 weeks, and I would come home from work and just want to sleep..

[soon2bthin]

I felt great after the first week. But the first couple of days were killer.

[habibi]

Its been about 2 months for me and I feel wonderful. I've lost about 45 lbs but then again I'm at the gym 4-5 times a week for an hour at a time, I eat well with a lot of veg, fruit and protein. It probably took me a good 4-6 weeks before I felt well but I ate the right things, didn't push myself (except at the gym) haven't tempted myself with sugars, and have been taking care of my body.

You see people on here who aren't going to the gym, who are eating too many carbs, and who are probably not changing their habits and are probably not doing as good as they could be.

Change your outlook, do the right things and change your life.

[Okie Sunshine]

I am a month out and feel relatively good.  Like Jason I went back to work soon and think that it helped to get back into a schedule.  The first few days back I was exhausted and only worked half days and then came home and crashed but after about a week my body seemed to adjust and I have felt pretty good since.  I don't think my stamina is quite back to where it was prior to surgery but I did spend 11 hrs working in my yard today so it's close.

[Lynette]

I didn't need pain meds when I came home and was out running errands on the third day but I did run out of steam easily for a couple of weeks and then the first week back to work was tiresome but nothing awful.  I guess everyone is different though?

[freetobeme]

I totally believe that it is what you make it.  You have to take care of yourself and listen to your doctor but I am two weeks out and feel great.  I am waiting on my post surgery appointment to get back in the gym.  I do get tired, but I did that before the surgery also.  I took one week and two days off work and it was fine, again, I believe you have to listen to your body and the doctor to make decisions.  Good luck, I am so happy that I made this decision and have not regretted it.

[dying2bethin]

I will be 4 weeks post-op this Wednesday. I still have left sided pain when I bend over to far and am weak I can not stand protein powder and am having a hard time getting in more than about 40 gms a day also can not stomach my vitamins so I am having a tough time of things. I went back to work after 2 weekd 3 days since surgery was on a Wednesday. I did ok back to work just tired around 3pm. I have only lost around 17 to 20 pounds sinc surgery depending on what day it is. lol I was hoping more more if a loss in pounds but the inches are falling off. I know everyone has their own journey so I am just happy to have been given the chance to start this journey and will work on making it a sucess each day one step at a time. Michelle;)

[cinwa]

I think that most are able to get back to some semblance of a normal routine by the 3-4 week mark.  But it probably wasn't until I'd gone through all the "stages" of the post-op diet that I truly felt 100%, physically and mentally. That was around 8 weeks.  

I was eating a reasonably balanced diet, dropped a good few pounds too as Josephine mentions and people were beginning to notice (that's an incredible moral boost).

It was only the first few days that were uncomfortable but that's the same with any major surgery.

[rsw]

I am almost 3 weeks out and I am slightly run down some days, but I feel generally good.  Pain is gone for the most part.  My energy has been good starting about a week after surgery.

[Kaly]

Josephine said:

It's really just the first 3 or 4 weeks that you feel bad. I think what she means with the 3 months is that it's a big marking point for most people where they feel good. By that point the nausea is mostly gone, the swelling has gone down, you're in a routine where you know what you can eat and can't, and you've lost a lot of weight so you can start exercising more. I don't think she meant that the first 3 months are miserable as much as she meant that if you can work hard in those 3 months the rest gets easier :)

And this is important to note.... eating is a lot of trial and error. It's very different for each person and takes a while to figure out what your pouch will allow and what it won't and that may change often. It's a HUGE life style change and takes time to adapt. I just hit my three month point almost two weeks ago... and I still can't eat a lot of things.

Corrine said:

I think that most are able to get back to some semblance of a normal routine by the 3-4 week mark.  But it probably wasn't until I'd gone through all the "stages" of the post-op diet that I truly felt 100%, physically and mentally. That was around 8 weeks.  

I was eating a reasonably balanced diet, dropped a good few pounds too as Josephine mentions and people were beginning to notice (that's an incredible moral boost).

It was only the first few days that were uncomfortable but that's the same with any major surgery.

And for me it was a sudden feeling or sudden realization... hey I don't feel like crap anymore! :)

[mjune]

Thanks everybody.  I am having surgery the second or third week of June and will return to work the second week in August.  I really need to be fully up to speed by then because the beginning of the school year is intense.  I feel better after hearing from all of you about the realistic probability that I'll be up for it.    

Habibi, I'm glad to hear you are doing so well.  I know you were frustrated early on, but it sounds like you have really taken charge of your health.  Congratulations on all your success!

[Theadra]

I am a month and a couple days post op and I still have up days and down days, but I can tell you I am not ready to "go back to work" (I dont work).

I tried to straiten up the house the other day and ended up feeling really bad so I sat down and blacked out. To much for me. There was no heavy lifting or anything, just got my blood pumpin a little and was standing up wiping tables & windows, folding clothes (didnt put them away) and squatting down to clean up puppy mess (they LOVE to chew paper towels) and at some point that was to much.

You just have to wait and see and encourage yourself to get up and move everyday, listen to your body and do what you can. eventually it will all come around and you will feel great. I know I woke up the other day and realized that I didnt have left side pain anymore and I dont honestly know when it stopped, it just happened and I am VERY grateful that has made a big difference in my ability to move about and walk easily!!

[Kay]

I'm 2 weeks post-op from OPEN surgery---much different. Today was the first day I walked outside a little. I was exhausted and needed a nap!  I still have abdominal pain, can't pick things up from the floor, etc.  In the last few days I've started getting hungry...it is actual growling and contractions in my pouch. The protein drinks don't stay in the pouch long, so I have this feeling a lot. I'm hoping to feel more comfortable and have a happier pouch in a couple more weeks after more healing and getting some soft foods started.

[beccasmith]

I am two weeks out and I feel fabulous. The only problem I had, which is rare, is that the stitch they put in the muscle inside is one that gets absorbed by the body and it is on a nerve. So I have a little pain with that. I walked a mile today. I cleaned the house. I've been out dancing. I haven't had this much energy in years. I feel great. I hope you experience the same as me. I think it helps that I take my vitamins in the morning and I walk. The more I walk the better I feel.