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Who LOST weight after the colectomy?

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Posted 4/5/2009 7:27 AM (GMT 0)
Well, surely we all lose some weight as we wait for our guts to kick in, but I mean, I need to lose a LOT of weight. With the steroids, I have ballooned and I want to lose at least 50lbs with my ultimate goal of 100lbs. That sounds very odd, but basically I have PCOS (some consider it pre-diabetic) and so when you can only eat certain foods from being so sick..it's hard to lose weight when you body just can't digest it the right way! Ahh, the frustration!

I've just noticed many on here say how much they've lost..and it always sounds like it's a good thing! FIll me in!
Posted 4/5/2009 8:12 AM (GMT 0)
Kaycie, I had my surgery in September of 08 and had some complications and ended up with a temporary ileostomy. I had that reversed in December of 08. Most of the weight I lost didn't occur until after I came home from the second surgery, probably because in the hospital they are pumping you full of fluids, etc. I went from 154 town to 125 in a matter of a few weeks. Now I can't gain weight even if I try, or no matter what I eat. I think it's because my transit time is so fast. But then again, I don't eat very much at all anymore. There are so many things that upset my stomach or that can cause potential blockages for met that I stay away from a lot of foods. I feel like I don't eat for pleasure anymore and a lot of time I just don't eat, but that's really bad because I don't drink enough fluids either. Make sure you drink, drink, drink after your surgery. Dehydration is one of our number one problems after surgery.

I wish you luck with your surgery as well as your weight loss! Let me know if you have any more questions.
Posted 4/5/2009 1:33 PM (GMT 0)
Kaycie-
I also have about 50 more pounds to lose. I have lost about 20 do to last few weeks of UC ( i was sooooo sick) and being in the hospital and then recovery. Unfortunately, this past week, I have been eating and enjoyoing food.... Got to stop that. I know that after 2nd surgery I will lose some also and after 3rd surgery too. I have started walking a little. I am starting to walk ( I had total colectomy 3 weeks ago). I couldn't even walk when my Uc was at its worst.
Posted 4/5/2009 1:35 PM (GMT 0)
Kaycie-
I also have about 50 more pounds to lose. I have lost about 20 do to last few weeks of UC ( i was sooooo sick) and being in the hospital and then recovery. Unfortunately, this past week, I have been eating and enjoyoing food.... Got to stop that. I know that after 2nd surgery I will lose some also and after 3rd surgery too. I have started walking a little. I am starting to walk ( I had total colectomy 3 weeks ago). I couldn't even walk when my Uc was at its worst.
Posted 4/5/2009 2:20 PM (GMT 0)

Typically people who have surgery for Crohn's or UC will lose some initial weight due to the surgery itself but will find that once they are healthy that losing weight is as hard as it is for a normal person.  Just because we lack a colon and have a speedier transit system does not mean that we will be skinny.  Calorie abosrption takes place in the terminal ileum which remains.  However, I assume that your prediabetic condition will disappear once off steroids giving you a wider range of foods to eat.  I went into surgery a bit underweight (I was one of the few who lost weight on prednisone) and after surgery put on weight.  I kept on putting on weight until I had an additional 30lbs on my frame and then I got serious about getting healthy.  The only way to lose weight is to reduce your calorie intake and increase exercise.  I did that and have managed to drop about 20lbs.  I have another 10lbs to go but if I don't lose it I am happy at this weight.  I do intensive cardio exercise 6-7 days per week which helps me maintain this weight and also allows me to indulge on chocolate on ocassion.

Sue

Posted 4/5/2009 10:27 PM (GMT 0)
I tend to maintain easily by eating only fresh foods. I don't buy anything that is processed and no soda/pop...I eat whatever I want, just small quantities and IF I WANT to lose weight, I excercise more than normal.

Your body won't be itself for a while after surgery, especially since you've been on prednisone...It is important that you don't torture youself about it...when you get your strength back, you can start with simple walks around your neighborhood! One thing that I did that really helped was hire a trainer at my local YMCA for a couple months...I learned the proper way to work with weights and what I could/couldn't do with my ileo...
Posted 4/6/2009 2:11 AM (GMT 0)
Thanks everyone. I think my post came off wrong. I have just noticed that many have lost weight and I didn't understand how or why. The main problem I have is that the foods that are *safe* right now are foods that are not great for you. When it's all you can eat, and then the prednisone (I was on 30-40mg for 6 months)..well.. it just ballooned into a real issue. I'm hoping once the ostomy is over and I'm healed I can begin to eat more appropriately. There is SO much I can't eat right now. Protein has been a real issue..so I try eating light peanut butter on wheat bread..that I do ok with. I can't do eggs, ground beef...lots of things just cause a bulk of gas and so I feel like all I do is eat carbs sometimes..but it's the only thing that doesn't hurt my stomach at this point.

I'm in no hurry to get the weight off.. I just am having major self-esteem issues with it all.
Posted 4/6/2009 6:20 AM (GMT 0)
It is difficult to eat the proper foods when ill. It is hard to have people see it as a problem of overeating when what is happening to your body, like PCOS and the use of steroids is not avoidable.

Take care and be healthy. In a few months you will have more control over your health and you will be on right right track, sooner than you think. I hope your PCOS subsides and removes you from the pre diabetes state.

Oh, it is also harder to lose weight in your condition, this is more than UC alone.

Take care,

Donnaeil
Posted 4/6/2009 11:32 AM (GMT 0)
Kaycie--I know what you mean about the 'carb' diet...with my Crohn's I called it the 'Twinkie' diet because I ONLY ate junk like that!!!! YUK, and since I am the queen of Organic now, DOUBLE YUK!!!

You are dealing with a lot getting ready for surgery and worrying about your child etc...I promise you, things will be SO MUCH BETTER right after surgery, you won't believe it could happen so fast...Hang In There:)
Posted 4/6/2009 8:55 PM (GMT 0)

OHIO76 said...
Kaycie--I know what you mean about the 'carb' diet...with my Crohn's I called it the 'Twinkie' diet because I ONLY ate junk like that!!!! YUK, and since I am the queen of Organic now, DOUBLE YUK!!!

You are dealing with a lot getting ready for surgery and worrying about your child etc...I promise you, things will be SO MUCH BETTER right after surgery, you won't believe it could happen so fast...Hang In There:)

I'm glad I'm not alone....how is it I can eat peanut butter cups...but the second I stick a piece of chicken in my mouth I regret it? I swear!!!

There are still days I'm going.. "I don't feel horrible? Maybe I'm jumping the gun?" Truth is.. I'm trying to remind myself..you do NOT take pain pill daily for GUT pain..you just DO NOT!" And, my Crohn's arthritis is OUT OF CONTROL! So, I guess I'm hoping for a lot of things... 1st the ostomy alleviates the need for pain meds (eventually of course) and 2nd, the ostomy alleviates the the arthritis pain as well.

Ugh! Not sure if the wait is harder then the surgery or not!
Posted 4/7/2009 9:50 AM (GMT 0)
I only lost weight due to hardly eating for 10 days because of nausea after anaesthetic.  Life is so much better after a colectomy though of course things work different because you produce more air with an ileostomy (dont know much about UC or whether it causes sm bowel probs).  I find white carbs thicken things very well,and crisps, as do jelly sweets, like Haribo.  I had a burger the other night and when i woke up the next morning my bag was ready to explode with air, and the output was watery so i guess that didnt agree.  though i can eat a little red meat just obviously not a big burger.  its a matter of trial and error and chewing well.  i dont know how much i weight but at least my jeans arent so tight which is good.  i was about 10 lbs above my ideal weight before tc, so i hope i have lost about 7 lbs. x

Posted 4/7/2009 1:40 PM (GMT 0)
Kaycie-I was the same way when i had UC i could eat rolos and pizza, but if i ate a salad i was sick for days!
Actually one of the only things that was always a safe food for me was pizza, so i ate that alot!
Posted 4/7/2009 2:38 PM (GMT 0)
People seem to think that I have lost weight since my surgery but it is only the prednisone puffiness that is gone. Actually I have stayed about the same. Even though I faithfully go to WW every week I cannot seem to lose like I want to. However, it might have something to do with my love of food-think? I eat everything except salads-the food that I should be eating. Still scared to try a salads.
Posted 4/9/2009 9:52 PM (GMT 0)
I've actually gained some much-needed weight since my colectomy. I feel healthy now and have the energy to exercise, since I'm not sick anymore. I can also eat a variety of foods, so I enjoy that, too! :-)
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