I feel tired alot, when can i expect to begin to feel my normal self again? Is 3-6 months about right as thats what i have heard.
Also i seem to have a nagging cough and bring up phlegm which is thick but clear. Has anyone else had this? I dont have a great appetite and am still losing weight. Ive read this is common but when can i expect this to get better? Everyone who sees me says im doing well and making good progress so im sure i am but just wondered if anyone could shed any light on any of the above.
Thanks
Graham
16 Replies
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You are bound to feel tired at this stage. It is a very major operation, plus your lungs have had a bit of a bashing and your stamina will take a lot more time before it builds up again. But if you can make progress from week to week (allowing for a bad day or two) you will be quite OK.
After 6 months you certainly will feel and look better than when you left hospital, but you won't be feeling completely right yet. It takes quite a lot longer for most people.
The cough can take quite a long time to clear. If there is no chest infection it will probably go in time, but it does not feel right does it! Getting the doctor to check every so often will be worthwhile.
Eating is likely to be a minefield, so it is not wonder that you do not look forward to it. Your taste buds will probably have changed for a while. It is difficult to eat at the best of times, and losing weight is natural for a while. Some people lose more than 3 stones and sometimes as much as 6 (depending on where you started from). Weight is not a mark of health provided that you can take a reasonable amount of nutrition into your body and you will settle down eventually into a 'new normal'.
I can send you a copy of the OPA booklet if you contact me direct.
If people say you are looking better then you probably are, but it does not always feel like that on the inside. It will take more time than you are led to believe, but slowly and surely you will make progress. It is not really like getting over a broken leg; you cannot hurry the body's healing processes on this one. You have to somehow come to terms with making progress slowly, and cange your eating pattern so that you eat little and often. So some things, like eating a 'heavy' meal will not be possible again.
But there are lots of people out there who had their surgery many years ago that are enjoying a good qulaity of life, and that is something that is certainly worth looking forward to.
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Thanks very much for your comments Alan. I think from what i have heard and read taking things slowly and one day at a time is definetly the key.
How can i contact you direct? Sorry, im very new to this website.
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Email me on opa@alanmoss.demon.co.uk
Or if you go to the directory you can click on anybody there and send them a message. It's all very clever, but you need to know how to di it first!
Cant add much more to what Alan has already told you, if you look through a lot of the older posts you will see we have all gone through similar things, that may help you understand a little more.
I had the op in Feb 2012, so I still class myself as the newbee on here, and even now I`m still coming to terms with problems. When I came out of hospital the hardest thing was being grounded for 6 weeks, my wife cant drive and being in the middle of nowhere, it got to me. I forced myself to go out each day for a short walk to get out and about. Once I got behind the wheel again, FREEDOM.
Eating still gives me the odd problem, food doesnt seem to interest me but slowly its coming back, taste bugs get shot to pieces, i hated the taste of tea and coffee slowly its coming back.
Remember 6 weeks is a very short time after such a big operation, time as they say is a big the healer. Although you may not feel you are making progress, you will. If people say you are looking well beleive them, even now when i meet friends they say how well i`m looking, filling out in the face. Yes I did loose 3 stone, but for the last month or so its levelled out.
On a lighter note after I came home I used to sit on a pillow because I had lost quite a bit of weight from my rear. Quite funny when I mentioned it to the health visitor who came to check on my dressing, she said DO YOU WANT A PADDED CUSHION, well 2 days later it arrived, helps a great deal still using it now.....
You will find on this site you will get plenty of support, even if its only someone sending their best wishes. Welcome and hope to hear you are progressing.
Kind regards.
Good words from others.Even though you may be on the mend in 6 mths time in reality will take a longer time to get over it.The OPA ( Richard suggests 2 years) I am 14 mths post op and still feeling tired.Battle with food but getting better month by month.I had padded cushion in early days and a blow up mattress which was great.Plegm still a prob now but improvement from few months ago.Its a major invasive op.Still you have had it so one of the lucky ones as the flip side is,dont have to explain so I look at it as part and parcel of recovery. Its all better than not being here.Stay positive as in time it does get better
Hi Graham, for me it was a slow but steady recovery..make sure you have a rest in the afternoon otherwise you will be exhausted..be kind to yourself..you have been through alot and so has your body. My surgeon said 12-15 months and he was right..now almost 4 years on I have alot more energy although as a vegetarian I need vitamin B12 injection every 3 months and take daily iron tablets. Glad you found this forum, it is so helpful, people who know what you are going through and can share that experience with you. Good Luck.
Ditto to all the above. One thing my surgeon said to me early on that stuck in my mind was I would learn to accomodate the changes to my digestive tract, and I didn't really understand him then, now almost 2 years on I do. There are still lots of foods I can't eat as they kick off weird reactions, but now I know what they are I aviod them. I still have episodes of 'dumping' but I recognise the symptoms early now and can control it better.
There is light at the end of the tunnel and day by day you will feel better, and one day you will realise you haven't thought about 'it' all day
Baby steps Graham, and use this site it has helped me so much, I post a question and all my lovely new friends are there to help.
Patience is the key word mate. I know it's a lot easier said than done, been there myself. I can only agree with everyone else regarding progress and symptoms. Had my op in May 11, still have days when I feel exhausted and still eat like a small bird, hence major weight loss, which probably adds to the tiredness. Like you I thought it was a case of when I was better, but I think we all need to accept that we never will be back to 100%, though what is 100%? When first diagnosed I weighed nearly 18 stone I now weigh 12, which is the 100% healthy?
Two things which hopefully might bring it into perspective, firstly, 6 weeks after the op you are home, I was still in IC after 6 weeks, came home after 7 weeks.
Secondly feeling like I do know is a small price to pay when compared to the alternative if I hadn't had the op.
As I said patience is the key and to quote my wife, every time I try to act like I did pre op "Your'e not bloody superman, take it easy"
I am now 10 years post op and living an almost "normal" life. The first month after surgery I was totally shattered just getting dressed was exhausting but slowly things improved. 6 months after I was back at work part time but every now and again stilll had days when I was very tired. Just take it slowly, treat yourself well, your body has been through a major op but it will improve. Every person is different and the rate of improvement varies. Eat little and often, and eat food you enjoy. I lost 2 1/2 stone but gradually as my appetite improved I have put on 2 stone and levelled out at 91/2 stone which to be honest I could do with losing 1/2 stone at least!!!!
The phlegm thing is strange because I didn't cough much in the first few years but this last year I have been really bothered with thick phlegm and I would appreciate any advice from others about what could be done.
In the meantime be patient, take it easy, things will improve.
I agree with what everyone else has siad, but can I add, i was originally told I would be back to work in 3-6 months, and there was no way I was ready.
I really didn't feel ready to get back into the 'real' world for 2 1/2 years. I know this sounds like a long time, but I would rather have been told it would take this long than to think there was something seriously wrong with me, as I should have been better earlier.
Can I also say, the OPA (even though I probably didn't realise it at the time, as I was very down), were a great help, and always ask the question, even if it seems a minor one to you.
I had terrible problems with dumping, but my doctors had no idea and basically kept telling me it would get better. When you realise it's quite normal, it just makes you feel better!
Thanks to all of you for replying. Ive only just joined this forum and have been looking through the blogs and questions and am really pleased i found you all.
One day at at time is definetly the message im getting, and patience. Im picking up my exercise and doing what I can whilst being careful of not over doing it.
I can concur all the comments above. Give it time.
Reading numerous blogs on the after effects of this major surgery, I think the important thing before surgery is to be as fit as possible, muscles and respiratory. When I had my pre op test, bike and breathing test, the guy told me that as i was super fit I would be out of hospital quickly and back to normal quickly.
Things will get better and better, but you will have periods of terrible tiredness when your blood sugar level goes all over the place. But you will learn about "Dumping" gradually. Dieticians know very little about this problem I'm afraid, they seem to be clueless. They told me to eat lots of junk sugary food to get my weight up which was completely wrong advice.
I lost nearly 3 stone, and only recovered one and a half stone. So What! I am the better for it.
My operation was nearly two years ago when I was 78 years old, I'm now 80. So What! I feel good and strong most of the time and people tell me I don't look anything like my age. Sometimes I feel shattered because I don't sleep so well and my blood sugar level (I think) suddenly drops.
I exercise with weights every morning (don't rush in to this and start slowly and with great caution) that is very good for my general fitness and my lungs and heart etc.
I hardly ever eat cakes, buns or white bread etc. I allow myself small portions of chocolate and an occasional biscuit, but if I eat too much of these things then I pay the price and have to lie down for a couple of hours
I sleep much better when I drink water before I go to bed, but of course no food whatsoever at least two hours before and learn how to go to sleep sitting up. (with my excellent DAB radio sometimes) You can lie a bit flatter on your side in the early hours - but never completely flat.
And I take vitamins that I'm convinced are very good for me.
For the first year I rested for an hour's sleep in the afternoon. Now I don't need it most days.
Every day in every way you will get stronger, but there will be a few hickups along the way. Believe it!
I am now 10 years post op and living an almost "normal" life. The first month after surgery I was totally shattered just getting dressed was exhausting but slowly things improved. 6 months after I was back at work part time but every now and again stilll had days when I was very tired. Just take it slowly, treat yourself well, your body has been through a major op but it will improve. Every person is different and the rate of improvement varies. Eat little and often, and eat food you enjoy. I lost 2 1/2 stone but gradually as my appetite improved I have put on 2 stone and levelled out at 91/2 stone which to be honest I could do with losing 1/2 stone at least!!!!
The phlegm thing is strange because I didn't cough much in the first few years but this last year I have been really bothered with thick phlegm and I would appreciate any advice from others about what could be done.
In the meantime be patient, take it easy, things will improve.
3-6 months sounds idealistic but not madly achieveable for most of us who have had this op. though I hasten to add that is only my personal view. I am nearly 2 years post op and it really is getting used to many changes and allowing the body to adjust to the results of surgery. Healing and adjustment. Both take time but "slowly slowly" and "gently, gently" does it!
Just an update on the thick phlegm problem. I had a dilation and almost straightaway my cough improved and I stopped bringing up phlegm. I think it must be related. Has anyone had the same happen to them?
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