Stoma and weight gain

[giftedbyadoption]

Good morning everyone....
I have a question for those who have had the stoma pouch ... does everyone gain a lot of weight after the surgery??..

Everything I read and others I talk to say to expect to become heavy?
I have RA so my small size has always been good for my joints and the weight concerns me BUT I need the surgery as well

Thanks for anyone who can help?

Lizz

 

[robbo87]

It all depends, Since having an ileostomy I've personally struggled with my weight and not put very much on (despite my best efforts) where as others seem to have gained quite a bit of weight.

 

[Terriernut]

Lizz, I have gained about 20lbs. But I was very underweight due to being so sick. Problem is, my weight is all in the belly!

You dont necessarily HAVE to gain weight with a stoma. I guess we are used to being thin, and being able to eat without packing it on because it all goes straight thru. (or at least in my case it did)

But once you have a stoma, you enjoy eating more generally and whoops, what happened...good grief look at that scale! I have to go on a diet now. A first for me, and at my age, not easy.

 

[Nyx]

I was drastically underweight when I got Oscar - I was 115lbs and I'm 5'10" (I looked like a stick figure with a head...lol). I now weigh 180lbs, two years later. I seem to have plateaued at this weight, and I'm pretty happy with it. I could stand to lose a few pounds, but I feel so good that I don't really care that much.

 

[Terriernut]

Cindy...you is GAWGOEOUS!! (that is gorgeous folks...ab fab!!)

 

[kossy]

I think some of the reason for weight gain is being more health and able to eat more. Plus, after surgery for a while (I don't know about anyone else) I was eating more and hardly active for a few months.

 

[ponygirl]

my boyfriend had to have an emergency ileostomy and he gained weight quickly after the operation. however, he was very ill before hand and had lost a lot of weight. At least now he has the bag he seems to be able to eat alot more without pain, and keep the weight on

 

[littlefreebird]

yes, as someone already mentioned the weight gain is mainly due to the fact that you actually have a normal appetite after the surgery. personally i gained 2 stone after surgery- but i purposely stuffed my face lol.
if you watch your diet post- surgery you will be fine!
all the best, hannah.x

 

[giftedbyadoption]

:rof:Some of you answers and quotes made me smile I needed that...
I hear you about the under weight I have lost 30 pounds Cindy I am almost 5/8 my normal weight for about 10 years now has been 125 I now weigh 95 ON A GOOD DAY.....( I am 42 years old, this has all been since June when I got my worst and to the point where I could not eat because it takes anywhere from 20-40 days before I can go to the bathroom.
I was 92 and gained a little force feeding because I am so weak and need strength for surgery.... I would be happy back at 125 or a little more but when I say weight I mean these people were talking 100's of pounds and my RA would just die.

My husband thinks I should try the surgery with out the stoma 1st but I am not so sure the DR said 90% come back for it and I all ready cant eat so if I am in the bathroom 20 times a day HOW will this help me?? He said if he takes out and attaches me to my small bowel I will only have 6 inches left therefor I will poop at least 16-20 times a day WOW all though I now go once every other month gotta love the body ha...ha it either works one way or another but not the way it should.:ybatty:

yes, as someone already mentioned the weight gain is mainly due to the fact that you actually have a normal appetite after the surgery. personally i gained 2 stone after surgery- but i purposely stuffed my face lol.
if you watch your diet post- surgery you will be fine!
all the best, hannah.x

 

[kossy]

I've had a temp ostomy and then had it reversed. When they re-did my plumming I swear I lost a boat load of more weight. I did go abou 20-40 times a day. It was always just liquid poo. My rear end was always on FIRE!

 

[giftedbyadoption]

Kossy,
I cant afford to lose anymore weight I am so thin now. My 9 tear old is only 30 pounds lighter then me My Dobie weighs more so he can walk me lol... If I get one it would be permanent. Hopefully I will talk to my surgeon soon and see when the surgery is and what he thinks??

 

[lari]

After I had my colostomy I didn't gain any weight. During a crohns flare-up my bag just fills a little all day long and I don't notice it. Before it would be many trips to the bathroom all day long. That is the one great thing about having the bag.... you can have diarrhea all day long but it doesn't interfere with your day. My weight stayed the same as before. I go down during a flare and then up when I don't have everything going straight through me. Believe me... my life became sooo much better when my stoma was born. I would never get it reversed.

 

[Crohn'sGirl]

I just recently had an ileostomy and everyone is telling me how good I look. I am now 6 weeks post op. I gained weight pretty quickly after the surgery because I was eating everything in sight due to the fact I was on prednisone for a few days and also because food just tasted so good again. When you dont eat much for 2 years because of the constant pain and running to the bathroom, being able to eat pretty much whatever whenever was amazing. I have more energy than I have had in a long time and I have been getting compliments on my looks since the surgery. I was very much underweight before the surgery and I looked sickly thin not healthy. I decided I needed to put some healthy weight back on, but I have decided to keep an eye on it and not get above 140 lbs as I am only 5'6". Just keep a weight in your mind as to what will be good for you and just remember the food is actually being absorbed into your body now so you will have more energy but also more weight gain. Good luck.

 

[giftedbyadoption]

I just recently had an ileostomy and everyone is telling me how good I look. I am now 6 weeks post op. I gained weight pretty quickly after the surgery because I was eating everything in sight due to the fact I was on prednisone for a few days and also because food just tasted so good again. When you dont eat much for 2 years because of the constant pain and running to the bathroom, being able to eat pretty much whatever whenever was amazing. I have more energy than I have had in a long time and I have been getting compliments on my looks since the surgery. I was very much underweight before the surgery and I looked sickly thin not healthy. I decided I needed to put some healthy weight back on, but I have decided to keep an eye on it and not get above 140 lbs as I am only 5'6". Just keep a weight in your mind as to what will be good for you and just remember the food is actually being absorbed into your body now so you will have more energy but also more weight gain. Good luck.

Thanks so much...
See thats the thing thats different with me I dont go to the bathroom I am sickly and 96pds but I CANT go so you actually get sick that way to believe it or not keeping it in isnt good either Thats why the one surgeon said if I get the Jpouch he is very concerned because I will go to the bathroom 20 times a day and I am 5/8 and 96 pds I cant afford to lose any weight at all. I have to by childs 14-16 clothes the ones with the buttons on the inside just to stay up and I still have issues keeping them up.... I looked good and healthy before it got real BAD 8 months ago and started getting to the 20-30 days with out having a bowel movement so then I got to the once a day if that meal and very tiny meals so no nutrition and I also believe there is nasty infection when you cant empty your bowels for a month YUCK.... (
My normal weight is 125 and I was comfortable with that so I dont think I would want to go much higher but my Dr says for my height 145 is the norm and my age??

Thanks again
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