Unusual weight gain

In the 6 weeks following step 1 surgery(for jpouch), my daughter has gained 15 lbs. During her long course of steroids, she only gained 5 or so, before the surgery. If she was pigging out due to newfound freedoms, I could understand it. While she certainly is eating more overall and more variety than pre- surgery, it has not been enough for this to seem right. Off steroids only one week,low residue diet until 2 weeks ago, no weight deficit going in. She was quite sick over the past 2 years, and done virtually no exercise. She is out walking daily, though she has fatigue and muscle weakness from prior inactivity. Anyone think of anything that could be causing the gain besides the simple answer?
Some kind of bacterial or hormonal or thyroid issue? She is miserable and it is messing with her delicate psyche.

Agree with Marianne - my first thought was water. Was she having a lot of diarrhea prior to surgery? How depleted was she? Now that it's stopped it could just be her body actually filling back up again, so to speak, and her body is starting to actually take in and keep much more of the calories and fluids she's taking.

It could also be fluid retention from sitting or laying around in the hospital and the house. I remember my stomach stayed pretty puffy/swollen looking after my first two surgeries for a little while, and some of my initial weight gains weren't any real actual weight, as it all sorted itself out after a while.

I admit to being confused, just doesn't feel right. Surgeons nurse emailed her and said to not worry about anything except blockages or dehydration. Body image stuff seems like an annoyance, but if it is a symptom of something bigger, I feel like we should tune in. I might have to pull the Mommy card and call myself. Thanks, folks.

Hey Katmom!!

Once I got home I gained 15 pounds in a month!
And yes I say it was from stuffing my face with all the no-no UC food!
lol. my surgeon told me to be careful.

When I first got home I had no appetite. But within a week I was eating pretty much everything in sight. Also I was so used to having to eat high calorie/high fat foods with UC to maintain a liveable weight.... that it took me awhile to realize - duh, you have to eat like a normal person now if you don't want to pork out. :D

So I am back down five after adjusting what i am eating and how many times a day.

Seriously though - just from being able to eat whatever I want and stuck home all day - I literally gained 15lbs in about 4 weeks.

A delicious 15 pounds of FREEDOM! :D