weight issues

Okay, I looked at some of the posts on post-op about weight gain and that concerns me. I put on about thirty pounds after my first child and have pretty much maintained that till now - am on the high end of the BMI chart. I guess it is a reflection on our society that I am almost more worried about possible weight gain after the hysto than anything else! Even pain doesn't seem so bad. I have nothing against anyone else being overweight, I'm just frightened of it myself because there is a family history of diabeties and I've seen my mom suffer poor self-esteem because of being overweight. It doesn't help that my dad makes nasty comments about how fat she's gotten when she's not around. It really hurts my feelings. I'm so anxious about the surgery anyway, and now to hear that you could gain weight? Anybody with any reassurances, advice? I don't want to have to constantly diet just to maintain where I am. With two little ones I'm constantly running anyway!

I actually lost (and kept off) 20lbs since my surgery a year ago. Right after my surgery I didnt have an appetite, so it was easy to loose.
I too worried about weight gain with HRT. My doc. assured me that weight gain would not be an affect of the meds. and that you have to take responsibility for your weight not blame it on surgery or HRT. With that in the back of my mind, I was able to keep the weight off.

I have stayed the same weight, but I am only three months out. One of the good things from my surgery that I didn't expect is that I didn't realize that my uterus was about the size of a 18-20 week pregnancy. I am an 8, but always had a little tummy pooch since my pregnancies. The first time I stood up after surgery, even with the swelling, I noticed a difference. I still have the little apron of "pudge" under my navel, but my tummy is about half the size as before. This is my motivation to lose the 8-10 pounds I gained a year ago when I went on progesterone cream to try to avoid the hyst.

I agree with gottahavefaith that we tend to blame weight gain on hormones instead of taking responsibility for it ourselves. I have felt so much better physically since my surgery that I feel like exercising and eating right and look at this time in my life as a good time to make a change and get healthier.

You will probably note some initial weight gain right after the surgery because of IV fluids and such, but that does come off in a few days. There's also the swelly belly, which can last from a few weeks to a year, depending on your body. However, you can lose weight after a hyster. So far I've lost 11 pounds since surgery (this includes the 5 pounds I gained on my vacation) and I'm still losing. The same rules apply, a healthy diet and exercise. My doc also said that weight gain after a hyster is usually the result of poor diet more so than the meds, and that women have been told for so many years that they will gain weight after a hyster that they just accept that fact and eat whatever thay want, then blame the weight gain on the surgery. Of course, your activity level will be limited for a while, but once you're released to exercise again you should be fine. Starting a healthy diet now, before your surgery is also a good idea. I lost 21 pounds prior to surgery and it made a lot of difference in my recovery.

I had a weight loss right after my tah/bso. I didn't have much of an appetite and couldn't eat much at a time for awhile either. I'm almost 4 years post op and have maintained a weight that is within my "ideal" range
By the way, I was concerned too - I had been overweight for years before I lost almost 75 pounds. I SURE didn't want it back

Best wishes.

S

After my hyster I lost 40 pounds and have managed to keep it off 18 months later. Immediately after the hyster I did not have an appetite at all which was the reason for the initial weight loss. Once my appetite returned I began to watch what I ate and drank. As the pounds came off my energy level improved and I'm now able to do more than before the surgery. I still have some weight to loss but I don't expect to lose it overnight. After all it took years to put it on !!!
Best wishes with your upcoming surgery.
Nancy

Thanks for all the responses. I feel a little better now, but the anxiety is still high. Thank goodness there is so much support out there!

Nancy it' so good to have such hopeful information it seems there really could be more to look forward to than no more heavy painful periods, thanks!
TediB

I just want to say that I too was really concerned about weight gain and ERT. I watch what I eat but sometimes splurge, but I do cardio and core DVDs and I try to walk 2-3 miles several times per week. I really makes me feel better knowing that if I take care of myself after as well as I did before that I shouldn't have any trouble staying the same weight and size. Thanks for the posts.