Jen M's June 8th surgery with Dr. Boachie

[JamieAnn]

Very strange about the weight gain!

I'm curious how you feel pain-wise on a scale of 1-10 now, Jen (and the others who had surgery last week). Has it gone down drastically? What can and can't you do at this point?

[JenniferG]

From reading this forum, I think the weight issue is another area where we differ enormously. I didn't lose a gram, but my extra 2 inches stretched me out and I *looked* a lot slimmer. Best of all, I got rid of a groove at my waist on my right side, where I was "wedged in".

It's amazing how we are all so different.

[jsully]

I did get 2 units, also got Lasix and look bloated. Don't feel bloated but am taking laxitive tonight. I have only gone once since surgery. Also only in hieght gain.

[Doodles]

The gain is probably due to swelling. In rehab they weighed me and I'd gained 20 pounds! I couldn't figure out how it was possible having had very little food for about 12 days! That will probably go away relatively fast. Janet

[debbei]

Jen,

you sound like a different person than I talked to last Wednesday. I'm so glad you have come around the bend. Just know that you will continue to improve; it takes a while but you will get there.

Call me whenever you need to.

[debbei]

Janet-

I'm sooo glad you mentioned that!!!!!!! I couldn't believe it either! I didn't eat anything at the hospital since I was so nauseous. I for sure thought I lost about 10 pounds after my surgery but when I got home and weighed myself I gained 10 pounds!!!! I couldn't belive it!!!! Janet, did you get any blood transfusions? I received 2 units back of my own blood and I think this might count for some of the weight gain. My belly looked like I was preggo! I thought most people lost about 20 pounds after this surgery!!!!!!

Does anyone know why you gain weight?

Thanks,
Jen M

Jen,
the same thing happened to me. I came home, and although I looked slimmer, the scale showed 10 lbs heavier. Over the next month, I lost that 10 lbs and more. I think it was water weight.

[Confusedmom]

Just guessing...weight gain could be caused by combo of swelling, all the liquid they pump into you in the hospital, possible water retention from meds, constipation and (of course) the hardware. The books suggest you will probably lose weight when all is said and done. I'd give it a few weeks.

Evelyn

[LynetteG]

I had come home heavier from the hospital too, I looked 6 months pregnant, but thankfully the swelling does go down, and as you start to wean off the meds, your bowels start to function more normally too. Unfortunately the meds keep us blocked up!

[JenM]

My surgery was 6/8 and I left the hospital on 6/16 weighing 10 pounds heavier and barely ate anything at the hospital. This morning I hopped on the scale and lost that 10 pounds plus an additional 2 pounds. I'll explain what happened to me in another thread last night as to why I lost the weight so fast. Have to say it was the scariest night of my life!!!!! I am still terrified by it!

JenM

[Back-out]

Looking forward to hearing your experience Jen, and glad it ended happily (it did, right?? )

I wonder how all that water retention affects ones bathroom calls at night after the surgery. My guess is post surgically (for a month or two), you have to get up numerous times at night to pee - during the day too, but it's those "Night Calls" that concern me as I am wobbly at that time. Doesn't help that after two bladder ops plus cord damage, I have various kinds of incontinence. (Just finished a big URO work-up to try to come up with a differential dx) .

*Sigh* But forewarned is forearmed. I KNOW I need something steady to grip as soon as I stand up from sleep - meaning, already now, much less later!

[ADMoul]

I gained weight after surgery, too, mostly due to fluids from blood transfusions and eating really well once I got home. Yes, I had to get up a lot at night to pee. The narcotics made me thirsty, so I would drink, and then have to go again. That was one of the worst aspects of being in the hospital. The nurses would have to come in to get me up since I couldn't get those compression stockings off by myself. I felt like I no sooner went, then I had to go again. I still have to watch my salt intake/fluid retention but the more I walk and swim, the better I feel. I still keep my elevated toilet seat at my upstairs bathroom, just to give me a little more security when I get up at night and am very stiff. That's getting better, though.