Weight Status

Kathy, I am having the small issue. I was going to post the same question this morning but read your post. While having UC I maintained my weight even with having 20+ BMs a day. When I had my 1st and 2nd surgery I lost about 6 lbs but gain it back by the 3rd week and was able to maintain my weight. Now with the 3rd surgery (takedown- June 30th) I am losing weight just about every day some days I may maintain for a day or two but than I lose a pound. I have currently lost 9lbs and still decreasing. When I contacted my surgeons office the



Kathy, when I contacted my surgeons office the nurse told me not to be concerned because people who have this surgery will lose between 15-20 lbs. I don't have 15-20 lbs to lose. Like you Kathy, I'm hoping to get some feedback

I lost 40 lb throughout the UC illness and surgery process and was at my lowest weight immediately after takedown (like you Kathy I ate a lot while I had my loop ileo but couldn't keep weight on).

I maintained that lowest weight for about three months after takedown. I didn't have much appetite, but I also found that my transit time was still pretty quick and it didn't seem like I was absorbing all the calories from the foods I ate.

In the fourth month after takedown, it was like a light switch flipped -- my appetite picked up and I started putting on weight. I also felt well enough to start exercising a lot more around this time, which increased my appetite too. I gained 3-4 lb/month starting then until I returned to roughly my pre-UC weight, which is where my weight is stable now.

I hope this helps -- I think the moral of the story is that it can take time after takedown for your body to adjust to its new setup and there's no reason to believe that you're going to be stuck at your low weight forever, even if you don't gain quickly after takedown.

Thanks Liz, that sounds encouraging.

Liz - I was just reading some of your blog posts. At 70 days post take down (which is where I am at now) you were having 6-7 BM's a day. Wow! That would be heaven to me. I have had some days like that but most days are still 12-15. But .... I am still hopeful.

I lost a lot of weight while sick with UC and then even more after the surgeries. About 6 months after take down I started to finally gain it back again. Then I gained an extra 10 pounds I didn't want! So now I exercise daily and try to eat right to keep my weight where I want it. I actually don't do well with carbs so much anymore so I have been eating more meats and veggies. I'm fairly sure you'll gain it back.

Hello.
Now I know you are all ladies talking about weight but I am having a problem gaining weight as a male.
I was 176 with UC and it was stable.
Never had much ups and downs with weight only once when I was diagnosed when I was losing weight and I did not know what it was from. I was 40. Of course I found out what it was and a simple pill put it in submission. A simple pill. Wow. I can't hardly believe that now.
But anyways I have weighed practically the same since high school. I know people say that all the time. But it's true. I am 58 now and only weight 146. Too skinny. I was putting on 1 to 2 pounds a month over the last 10 months since surgery. I lost 50 pounds in the two month ordeal of j pouch surgery. 50 pounds. Wow. I looked horrible. But I have only gained 16 back and I eat all the time. My output is normal. But I cannot put weight on. It has just stalled. Everytime I try protein drinks and such it just messes me up so I stop. Same with probiotics. I know that has nothing to do with weight gain but it throws me out of whack and I have to stop.
This is just my experience with the weight thing.
The guys at work would or say they would kill to lose weight and I laugh. No. You wouldn't. Maybe some but this just makes me feel miserable. I know it has a lot to do with the pain I have everyday. It's all muscular pain. I am not looking for answers. I am just hoping I can get my weight back. I know I would feel better. I was told to eat 6 meals a day. I can and do eat 5 meals a day with snacks in between. Well that was my two cents. Good luck to you all.
I hope you can meet your goals..
Richard.
P. S.
Marianne.
Send me that 10 you don't want.... I could use it. I would feel better at 156!

Hi everyone - I'm new here so be gentle

I am a little confused with weight issues when you have an ileostomy. I have lost approximately sixteen pounds since my surgery in March and it appears stable now. I was informed by my stoma nurse that it is really difficult to put weight back on (not that I am worried about that) but reading different sites I note that many people do have weight fluctuations.

I am worried about the second stage as I know I will lose more weight, I'm healthy now and a size 10 (UK) but the thought of losing more and not being able to gain weight is a bit scary!

Pufferfish

My journey is similar to Liz's. I was 92 pounds going into my first surgery, so sick from three immuno-suppressants and active UC. Once I healed from the surgery, I was famished - I ate every meal like it was an all-you-can-eat buffet and barely gained an ounce. Did the same after surgery number 2 with my loop ileo and weighed less than I did after number 1. After takedown, I became hesitant with food because it hurt when I ate. Once things settled after about a year, I slowly put weight on. Now I'm only 6 pounds short of what I weighed before I got sick. The weight gain was gradual for me. One day I looked in the mirror and I wasn't so bony. I also had trouble buttoning my pants, but it was a great feeling!

The weight issue with an ileostomy starts with the increased transit time. Food passes faster through your small intestine and exits before the energy (calories) is absorbed. What I don't understand is why there is such an increase in transit time. My logical brain tells me that there shouldn't be a change in what happens in the small intestine just because the colon is missing. Once the food waste travels to the end of the intestine, there is no colon to collect it and remove the excess water so that certainly explains the reason for increased frequency, looser stools and more acid to facilitate butt burn. But why the increased transit time to begin with? I have no idea. Maybe Jan, or someone else in the know can help us understand better.

Our situations are such an enigma! I have a challenge keeping my weight down! It seems that everything I eat sticks with me! I guess both situations are difficult to deal with. Best wishes!

I also have a problem with weight gain. I lost 30 lbs from uc Had the surgery J-pouch I can not gain a lb . I also try everything I guess that is the way it is. I was having protein drinks but I am starting to give up on that to because of the gas it causes. Good luck to everyone

I have the same problem with gaining weight and question if I just need to get used to the fact that I will always be underweight. I try to eat all the time even if I am not hungry. When I had my ileostomy bag I gained some good weight but ever since takedown I lost it all and just keep losing.