Upcoming hysterectomy 4/19: Weight gain post-op?

HI, okay I'm so worried about gaining weight! I'm already overweight. So my question is does it come on even if you are watching what you eat and exercise ? I will be going through surgical menopause too. Thank you and I hope everyone is doing great!

If you’re keeping your ovaries, you won’t necessarily go into surgical menopause. I kept mine and was lucky enough to not experience any ovary shock leading to menopausal symptoms.

I’m a lover of fast food, but since I was so gassy and constipated post op I only wanted to eat healthy foods to promote expulsion 😜

I didn’t gain any weight, but the swelly belly made it very hard to wear my normal clothes for weeks. You can’t really tell if you’ve gained weight for a while because of the swelly belly.

Eating right and WALKING are very important post op if your doctor has approved it; however, almost all other exercise is off limits for at least a few weeks if not longer. I had a 6 week restriction for all exercise, no exceptions, and I had a routine procedure with no complications.

I know weight gain is a common worry, but it is of utmost importance to follow the guidelines and restrictions given by YOUR doctor. I saw women on the elliptical 4 weeks post op and when I asked my doctor, she repeated her 6 week rule. Everyone has a different medical history, surgery and age and only your doctor knows all the details

Making little sacrifices can go a long way. Since I couldn’t exercise, I cut down on my pop intake. I love regular Coke, accept no substitutions! Instead of having 3 a day, I had 1-2. Even if you do gain a little weight, your body will likely bounce back once exercise has resumed. A little weight is fair trade off to never had a period again!

I echo the “follow your doctor’s orders on exercise” statement. I am almost 5 months post op, have not and will not be going to the gym anytime soon... yet I’ve lost almost 10 lbs. the medications from anesthesia really affected my appetite... plus I have stayed in miralax. You can really do damage to yourself if you do too much too soon!

Hi Shayebo1973 -

Weight gain is not a given with this surgery. I have not gained weight, and my surgery was almost 7 years ago. I eat healthy and exercise regularly. Here are articles that may provide information:
Weight Gain after Hysterectomy
Special Considerations for Overweight Hysterectomy Patients

Regardless, you do need to follow all of your doctors orders before and after your surgery. And you will be doing lots of walking after your surgery, as this helps you heal. At first you will not walk very far or very fast, but you will slowly extend your distance.

Mstux is correct: if you are keeping one or both of your ovaries you will not be in surgical menopause. That only occurs if you lose your ovaries: Natural Menopause vs. Surgical Menopause.

Bear in mind that weight management is 80% nutrition, 20% exercise, so walking will be ok for a while.

Stay away from processed foods, sugary drinks, this should help a lot!

My top diet tip for successful weight management is to keep a food diary, and don't forget to include all those BLTs - bites, licks, and tastes. For easy portion control, and to ensure a proper balance of nutrients, fill at least half your plate with non starchy vegetables; the remainder should include a serving of carbs about the size of your cupped hand, and a palm-sized serving of protein. Don't be afraid of fat; a moderate intake of healthy fat from fatty fish, avocados, nuts and seeds, and olive oil will help to satiate you, and to assure your body that it's okay to let go of its fat stores. For more fibre and less saturated fat, try going meatless for at least one day per week, swapping out meat for plant proteins like beans or tofu. In addition to sugary drinks, common diet saboteurs to avoid include artificial sweeteners, hydrogenated fats, sodium based additives, and anything your grandmother wouldn't recognize, or a fourth grader couldn't pronounce. As for exercise, I second the recommendation for walking; as your recovery progresses, you can gradually increase your distance, aiming for 10,000 steps per day. As soon as your lifting restrictions are removed, increasing your muscle mass through a well-designed strength training program can help to increase your metabolism, making it easier to achieve and maintain a healthy body weight. Best wishes for a successful surgery and a smooth recovery!

	Quote:
Originally Posted by Seawolf I echo the “follow your doctor’s orders on exercise” statement. I am almost 5 months post op, have not and will not be going to the gym anytime soon... yet I’ve lost almost 10 lbs. the medications from anesthesia really affected my appetite... plus I have stayed in miralax. You can really do damage to yourself if you do too much too soon!

Seawolf,
I am your twin and wondered if it was all in my mind. This appetite thing. I had the same thing happen to me and some other gastro issues that plagued me after surgery...
My appetite remains at almost half of what it normally is and I have had a 15lb weight loss in just over a month. I am learning how to manage my food intake and what foods fill me up too quickly. When I mentioned it to the surgeon he wasn't all that concerned and my PCP really wants to wait it out for another 4 weeks due to inflammation and trauma due to the Devinci method.
So your weight stabilized eventually? I noticed you mentioned you are at 5 months post OP.
I am glad I read your post and you shared your experience with the change in appetite.
Thank you,
Dot

	Quote:
Originally Posted by DottyE Seawolf, I am your twin and wondered if it was all in my mind. This appetite thing. I had the same thing happen to me and some other gastro issues that plagued me after surgery... My appetite remains at almost half of what it normally is and I have had a 15lb weight loss in just over a month. I am learning how to manage my food intake and what foods fill me up too quickly. When I mentioned it to the surgeon he wasn't all that concerned and my PCP really wants to wait it out for another 4 weeks due to inflammation and trauma due to the Devinci method. So your weight stabilized eventually? I noticed you mentioned you are at 5 months post OP. I am glad I read your post and you shared your experience with the change in appetite. Thank you, Dot

Haha! Yeah I lost the most weight between 2 weeks post op and 12 weeks, it has slowed and I think I’ll be stabilizing soon. I have no other GI issues. I have stayed on miralax because I had my hyster for prolapse and I do not want to strain at all for bms. Although, I really eat enough fiber and don’t need to take it. At the same time I think the miralax may be affecting my appetite and it does keep everything moving on through.