Hi all. I really could use some insight. I've always had some weight challenges - even when I had UC - but the last year and a half has been incredibly challenging. I had UC for 10 years. Had surgery at the Cleveland Clinic. They told me it was one of the worst colons they've ever seen. The reversal didn't work and I had struggled with ostomy output, so I dropped weight pretty steadily after getting the bag in July 09. In Feb 10, I had the bag put bag on after the reversal left me malnourished and backed up with bacteria. Within two months, I had gained 20 pounds. I hadn't really changed my eating much. I was still sore and recovering from surgeries, so my physical output was pretty low. I told my primary doc I was concerned about
the weight gain. I seemed to gain 10 pounds a month, like clockwork. By the time I hit 40 I was working out like crazy. At first the doc said my body was just confused. It had been like in starvation mode and was trying to settle down. She told me it would balance out. Then, she told me I was working out too hard and to lay off. The weight kept coming, a couple pounds a week, no matter what I did.
I have gained 145 POUNDS since February 10. My weight has been stable for the last couple of months, and I've tried a new primary, who put me on a strict diet (south beach) and said if I didn't lose at least 10 pounds, something was going on. Well, I lost about 2 ounces. And I followed the darn thing - no pasta, sugar or alcohol, etc.
I'm extremely frustrated. I am not on any medication, other than Paxil (which I know can cause weight gain, but not like this). No birth control. My thyroid, sugar, etc have all checked out repeatedly and are fine.
Anybody have any idea what the heck is going on? My surgeon won't try another reversal until I drop some weight. I still have high output (not to the point of dehydration and hospitalization, but it's pretty steady) so I don't know how I can be gaining this weight.
Thoughts??