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J-Pouch, Weight Gain, & Chronic Fatigue

ShortaNdDeterminedShortaNdDeterminedMember
Greetings,

I'll start out by stating that I'll try to keep this message sensitive, but will be totally honest. Weight is hard for anyone to talk about, but with our diseases, it appears that there isn't a happy medium - we're either trying to gain or lose weight. I've had a J-Pouch that has been functional since 2010. I gained a lot of weight between surgeries (3) but was able to lose it all - and then some more (which was good, since I was a little bit overweight to begin with. Unfortunately, I have developed Pouchitis 6-7 times since then, forced to quit my full-time job, and put weight back on during these times, due to necessary dietary change. In 6 months, I gained 35 lbs - it may not sound like a lot, but I'm only 4'11". I was working-out regularly and even had been seeing a licensed nutritionist for months. She couldn't figure it out either.

I'm wondering if anyone else has had these problems and what worked for you? I'm at my wit's end. I haven't been healthy enough to work full-time in about a year, feel awful about my appearance (and the weight that won't come off), and even worse - isolated. I live in a rural state where there aren't support groups in my area. My Fiance and I have even postponed our wedding because of my health issues (chronic fatigue).

Any advice or testimonials would be greatly appreciated.

Sending out good vibes,
Ray
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LesandiegoLesandiegoMember
Just curious.... what was your necessary diet change that caused you to gain weight?

I eat anything I want (diarrhea be damned), but do so in moderation... or basically like I did before I lost my colon. I also exercise moderately and my work is very sedentary. I enjoy yard work and fixing things up around my house, and many other things that keep me busy.

I am 5'5 and weight 122, however my belly looks like I am 6-7 months pregnant. Hopefully, this will go away after my hernia operation. It does not matter if I eat a big meal or a light meal, I always get back on the scale and it has said the same weight for at least the past 4 months. Eating a big meal, just makes me sick and painful, but not gain weight.

Mostly, I think my weight is attributed to genetics. Nobody in my family has a "weight" problem and quite a few members are extremely sedentary and eat nothing but junk food. My Mom thinks exercise is a four letter word... "walk, jump, hike, bike, etc." (all four letter words).
Jan DollarJan DollarModerator, RN, retired
I was overweight (fat) before my surgery. I lost maybe 30 pounds in the immediate post op period, but gained it back, along with another 40 pounds. I tried exercise, cutting fat, "eating healthy," but was only able to lose about 10 pounds that way. Ideveloped fatty liver disease and diabetes. My husband had gained a lot of weight too.

We got fed up and entered a medical weight loss program together. We each lost over 60 pounds. That was 3 years ago. We did gain back about half the weight, so it still is a struggle. Yeah, I'm still fat, but not as much.

The main thing I learned is hat we don't need to eat half of what we think we need. Calories count. Exercise only serves to keep your metabolism up so you CAN lose weight, not for actual weight loss. Sad but true.

Jan Smiler
skn69skn69Member
I agree with Jan,
If you use portion control (think: airplane meal sized portions) and watch the fats & sugars you might be able to 'level out' but you may not lose all the you want to...if you up your exercise and decrese your intake then you will lose a bit more...but for serious, long-term weight loss you need help from someone who can guide and watch over you (very few of us have the absolute willpower to do it on our own...then again, there are some rather strong willed souls out there who I admire greatly!)

For me, if there is no thyroid problem (have you had your thyroid checked recently?) and there is no cortisone in the picture then you should be able to do something to plateau out...(our bodies are put through the hoops with our diseases, fasting, feasting, pouchitis etc and our metabolisms do not know where to set the thermostate...At what rate they should be stocking or burning calories.
You need to be steady on your intake and output for at least 3 months for your body to straiten things out...then you can up the output, lower the intake and see some steady loss...I hope.
Don't neglect the suppliment when you go on a low calorie diet...you don't want to get depleted.
Sharon
G grandmaof1Member
I finally am somewhat happy with my weight. A year ago during the year long struggle to recover I weighed 105# at 4'10" and a half. I got to have that half. Sucks being so short. I have lost since my first surgery over 45lbs. I am now at 115. I don't want to gain anymore and I doubt I will. I still have issues trying to eat. I don't get it. I am always going to the bathroom. I want to stay where I am at. I finally look great. That is what keeps me going. I hate eating. But ya know you have to.

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