weight gain after colectomy

I have the same problem. I am also on paxil and ability so that is working against me also. I don't know what to do. I have tried everything.

I had surgery about 2 years ago and now have to wear a colostomy bag everyday and in the last 10 months I have gained 65 pounds!! I do not eat a lot. I actually not even eat very much ever and I have never been this big before. My doctor has no idea why I keep gaining weight. I hate it. I used to be pretty good looking and now I'm fat!! I have not had any complications either but the weight gain and I don't know what to do?

paxil made me gain 30 pounds and I was on it over ten years ago when I was 16

I have heard but DON"T know for sure that there is a hormone we produce in the large intestine that helps keep us feeling full and satisfied also that helps prevent fat storage that we no longer have because they removed our large intestine. Over exercising is about the only thing that seems to help most. I can do an hour cardio and it helps but I am totally exhausted after and not good for much. Walking at a steady and good pace seems to do a lot for me but finding the time and energy is hard. So tired as it seems to be a steady weight gain if I don't and type 2 diabetes runs in my family. It is freezing winter hear and no treadmill so I will be digging out the stretch pants I am sure. I wish I ate half of what I look like I eat. I might feel better. I can't eat multiple meals all day as I go to the bathroom after EVERY meal. I am also finding the longer it goes the more lactose intolerant I become so I drink a vitamin protein supplement at breakfast and supper and it cleans me out so I can do what ever I want and control my bowels. Dr. said to keep drinking them as I get nutrients and the lactose thing isn't hurting as I already have diarrhea but can control them with the shake. I eat or drink a lot of fruit or fruit shakes too.

I had a total coloectomy in 1993, so I have been experiencing the water weight gain for a long time and along with it, PAIN!!  Like the water weight gain, I believe the pain I am experiencing is connected to the disease.  As far as the water weight gain is concerned, I convinced my Doctor several years ago to give me a water-pill.  I found that the water pill, Spironolactone actually controlled the weight gain and kept me at my normal weight for a long time.  Unfortunately, I began suffering from low-blood pressure.  It eventually got so bad that the doctor reduced the dosage to once a day.  I suddenly gained quite a bit of weight in a day or two.  Because I don't like the way the water pill made me feel, I recently stopped taking it and swelled-up even more.  So  now it seems like the more I enjoy food, the more I gain weight.  I currently excercise, 45 minutes a day, 5-days a week and I watch what I eat and how much I eat and I still swell-up!!  I am also trying some Lavender supplements to see if it will help reduce some of the water weight.  So, this is my theory: the colon gets rid of waste water in your body.  Without the whole colon, the body is absorbing the waste water like a sponge thereby causing the swelling.  Now if anybody can come up with something for i.e., some sort of medication that can do the job our colons used to do without any dangerous side effects, we could rid ourselves of this extra weight.

 

Thank you ColaDream5. I don't know if mine is water weight or not, all I know is I have gained 20lbs and I barely consume 500 calories a day. I am not starving myself at all. After the surgery, dropped from my normal weight of 143 down to 130. The surgery was Sept. 26, 2013. I had a total colectomy. My surgeon connected my small intestines directly to the rectum. I don't have any problem going to the bathroom, but as of today, I have gained about 20-25 lbs. I am now hovering around 155 to 158 and it is all in my hips and stomach. I now look like I have a little inner tube and I hate it. I can control the stomach muscles pretty well, but I have gone from my size 6 and some 8's now up to 10's with elastic bands. IT SUCKS!!!!!!! I am not use to such weight. My daily intake consist of a yogurt and fruit for breakfast. A salad with salmon as a topping and fat fee dressing. I am in school after work until 10:30pm and home by 11:15 so I don't eat a meal obviously. So once again, I am not starving myself, I eat sensible because I do a lot a sitting from being at my desk from 8:30 to 5:00 and then night school from 6:00 to 10:30 four nights a week. I run about 2 to 3 miles on the weekend, because I don't have time on during the week. To some it may not seem like a big deal, but when you are use to a certain weight and then all of a sudden, it is difficult to carry around and the whole wardrobe thing is another issue. I can't support another wardrobe. Size 6-8 to now 10. I don't have 10's in my closet. I am planning to make an appointment with the surgeon that did the surgery and then go from there.
Sorry for venting, but I have needed an outlet especially to someone who has been where I am.

browneyez1810 I forgot to give my identity.

I was on paxil for 3 months and gained 30 pounds and now I can't seem to get rid of it!

Hi Browneyez1810, YOU'RE SINGING MY SONG!!! Everything you said, I have complained about over and over again for many years now. My butt, my stomach and now my "boobs" are all swollen-up. You never get used to it, I never had large bust and that never used to bother me. Now all of my shirts are taken-up by my busts!! There has to be an answer some where out there AND I REFUSE TO LIVE LIKE THIS!!!! but now I know that I am not alone, we're not alone in this, and we are not crazy!!:) Also, please, never apologize for venting and hopefully when you go to your surgeon you will find the answers that you and all of us are looking for. Thank you so much for your thoughts and validation:).

It's probably the meds' that are also contributing to the weight gain and I know, it is a difficult ordeal but since I have not taken those medications I am one who can not speak much on these but I actually know someone who had taken only the Abilify and they had expressed gaining a lot of weight, especially water weight and had to later discontinue the medicine, but I definitely feel your pain knowing what medications and unfortunately, "total colectomy's" can do to our bodies.

Your welcome Browneyez1810!!!:)
ColaDream5

I had a total colectomy with rehook 3 years ago.  I was 140 lbs and ended up in the hospital and found out I had UC.  They had me on steroids for almost a year and gained 50lbs.  Everyone says that will just come right off when you get off of them.  Well it hasn't disappeared and I am very depressed.  I still can't eat fruits and veggies.  Surgeon keeps stressing to eat bread to absorb so I don't have liquid stools.  My diet is bland and not much for calories.  I eat a english muffin in the morning with alittle cinnamon butter and for lunch I have a half a peanut butter sandwich and a yogurt and I've gotten so that I eat another english muffin for dinner or scrambled eggs and toast.  Those seem to settle the best and let me sleep about 6 hours.  I went from going 15 times a day to 5 and 6.  I check people in for Dr. appts so I have to be at the front desk and can't be in the restroom all day so the food I eat seems to work.  With the holidays I had a few days off so I tried a few things like salad and hamburger.  I have been just miserable and constantly in the restroom.  I seen a nutritionist but she doesn't get that fruits and veggies just don't work for me.  I try to walk every day and do some kind of exercise.  I can't loose weight for anything.  You would think with going to the bathroom as much as we do that the weight would come off.  I did loose almost 26 lbs after my 2nd surgery then when they rehooked me I gained that weight back in like a week.  Not joking. It was right back again.  My surgeon told me my body will find a weight it's happy at and stay there.  Well I think it's done that because for 3 years I don't gain or loose and I want to loose so badly but don't want to totally screw up my system I have to work and like to sleep at least 6 hours a day.  Fish, tuna, turkey, chicken non of them stay in me longer then 5 minutes.  

I find this encouraging. I was disagnosed with uc over 16 yrs ago. I know have icc and recently within year been diagnosed with colonic enertia. A colectomy has been recommended. I am nervous my quality of life now isn't good. I was told it could get worse and if I want to or not I still could have surgery. Glad to hear you spoke with nutritionist and are fighting the battle. It gives me hope. I will be armed for the day of battle. God bless.

I had a subtotal collectomy last year 20014 in april due to colon cancer and since thin I have gained over 40 lbs this is not normal I am hungry all the time I tru to follow docs orders eating fruits and veggies but I am still gaining weight. If someone could please help me this is getting out of control. 

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I just had my sigmoid colectomy surgery 4 days ago. I have nit left the hospital yet and I am terrified by your posts. I have been overweight for a while but have lost about 18 lbs over the past 2 and a half months. I had hoped that I could countinue to lose the weight after the surgery but from your posts it seems nearly impossible. I'm not sure when I'll get my appetite back but I want to have a good start to recovery. Any advice on what good habits I should adopt at this time. I work at a college and drive an hour and a half one way. I can't imagine having to stop several times on my route to go to the restroom. Or even having to leaving a meeting to rush to the nearest toilet. Please advise on any helpful tips or tricks to get through my day without any disasters.