Struggling with Weight Gain Post - Ostomy Surgery

I cannot stop gaining weight after receiving my ostomy. I have tried different diets; my next resort is getting the sleeve before reversal. I am scared to have a reversal because of all the weight I have put on!

I did the same, although I was underweight when I went in for my ileostomy. Three months later, I was up 40 pounds (155 to 195).

Hmm, shows how different we all are… I was 123 and after surgery rapidly shrunk to 102. Now, after almost 4 years, I have started to gain weight again. It seems it has taken my body that long (4 years) to "get well or back to normal"…🤷‍♀️

Eating right was always a struggle to maintain a good weight - then I couldn't eat at all, then started eating whatever I wanted to gain weight again. The trouble now is, as I have proclaimed before, all these years we have been told that "money" is the root of all evil - I say sugar is the root of all evil and I am living proof!!! jb

I wouldn't worry too much about it, unless your surgeon says you need to lose weight for a better surgical outcome.

You and your body have been through a lot, and it's OK to let it all hang out for a while.

Take it easy and take it one step at a time, be patient and kind with yourself, and you'll begin to naturally look after yourself a little bit better, bit by bit!

After losing 66 pounds while sick, I changed my eating habits after surgery. No more soda, fried food. Sadly, no more nuts or popcorn (I did try them a few times, yikes 🥴). No more junk food. I walk 2 miles a day. I bike 20 miles, 3 days a week. Now 19 months post-op. Damn if I still gained most of that lost weight back. I think our bodies have a weight set point that's hard to overcome. Griping to my surgeon about it, he reminded me I would be 6 feet under if I was at a perfect weight when I got sick. Gotta have some gas in the tank for emergencies.

My Ostomy Journey: Bruce | Hollister

Sugar! Oh no! :(

Same here, JB, I lost 35 pounds after each surgery and took 3 to 6 months to get back to normal, and I'm naturally slim. That's the best part of surgery for me, eating myself senseless afterwards. But it's all about good choices, and yep, sugar is a shocker.

I think you are right on the set weight point idea. Mine every so often creeps up a pound or two, but the range stays close, as it has since I was in my late teens.

You can't help gaining weight when you can finally eat without pain. Eventually, things will level off. Being healthy is more important than being the lower weight you prefer. I was less than 100 forever. I had to adjust and buy all new clothes. It's hard to face the fact that you can no longer wear tight flat-front clothes. Eventually, you accept the reality and find nice alternatives.

Ditto. U/C Crohn's dropped me to 109 lbs, pre-op. Hard to put on weight at the nursing home. After getting back home, I jumped to 168 & felt lousy (takeout, home cooking & desserts). I adjusted my diet & hike 3 days a week. Steady at 156 & feel good. Wiloczlco didn't mention what type of ostomy she has. I grew up in NYC & too much fattening, delicious food, handy. I was 186 before I got sick. A reversal should not be affected by weight gain.

I lost weight initially with colon cancer, but soon I started gaining weight for the next 5 years no matter what I tried. 150 lbs to 194 lbs. I started the carnivore diet to kill the remaining cancers in June 2023, as chemo and radiation don't work for me. I started losing weight right away, and over a year later, I have leveled off at 150 lbs lol must be my default. Many, many other positive side effects as well. Look into a keto/carnivore or ketovore diet. Happily, cellulite eventually breaks down, leaving the skin and scars flat and taut with little effort. My son has lost 34 lbs but eats other things on the weekends, and it still works for him.

Best of luck in all things. Terri

Yes! I am scared to gain all my weight back as well. Before I went in the hospital, I was between 180 and 200 lbs. And now, because I had to have my entire colon removed due to a bowel obstruction, I have an ostomy bag. Not eating much after surgery, I am down to 150-something. I heard, researching about stomas and ostomy bags and stuff, that gaining a lot of weight may not be very good for the stoma and stuff. I can't really give you much advice, just some experiences I have had so far. I've been with my ostomy bag for 4 or 5 months now.

During my emergency surgery three years ago because of a ruptured large intestine, the lap banding that I had was also removed and, of course, I ended up with the ostomy bag. I have had the same struggle as you with weight. For me, the biggest challenge seems to be not being able to eat so many vegetables, lettuce, any fruit with seeds, etc., etc.

I really feel your pain—the only thing that seems to not cause digestive issues falls into the carb family. Not a winning weight loss Rx. The one thing I keep in my mind is when I complained about my weight gain to my internist, his reply was, "At least you are not dead." Puts it in perspective.