weight gain after colectomy

I had a total colectomy in 2008. I feel the pain that many of you are experiencing. Prior to my surgery I ran 7 miles a day, was on a coed volleyball team, coed softball team, and exercise instructor. I had a spinal fusion with rods plates and screws in 2002, prior to that I had 10 surgeries in 3 1/2 years, six of them being cut hipbone to hipbone with a total hysterectomy at 24 years old. In 2008, I had to undergo a total colectomy because of multiple bowel obstructions which resulted in hospitalizations.  Due to my past surgeries, there was so much scar tissue that the doctor had to make a 12 inch vertical incision as well as a 12 inch horizontal incision. Supposedly that had never been done before. Between having my back muscles cut and my abdomen muscles cut in so many places, I have no core. Following surgery I vomited for two weeks straight and ended up with Ecoli which resulted in the doctor making a vertical emergency cut to drain the infection. It could not be stitched back up so I ended up having dry packings daily. My mother passed away one week after I got out of the hospital. I spent two weeks in the hospital and went to rehab after that. My abdomen did not heal and didn't close for three months. Initially I lost 25 pounds but since that time and I have gained 40 pounds. I eat healthy but I have severe hunger pains all the time. Three months prior to my colectomy I had 22 polyps removed from my stomach. I suffer with severe Gerd. Due to my back surgery, my multiple abdominal surgeries, and fibromyalgia, as well as multiple bulging discs, I continue to gain weight and feel miserable. I do not like taking any medication. I do take 12 vitamins and minerals every day which gives me the energy that I need. Since my colectomy I have intermittent constipation and diarrhea. No matter where I go, the first thing I do is find out where the restroom is. This is also in traveling. I am very frustrated. I also have to take Lasix because of the build up of water in my tissues throughout my body. I literally will lose 10 pounds of water into days but it comes right back on when I drink water. If anyone has any ideas, I would greatly appreciate hearing from you. Thank you.

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I'm so glad to hear your stories and know that I'm not alone in this battle. I had ulcerative Colitis some years ago, then the colectomy. I was always very skinny and would eat so much food expecially cola(so very unhealthy stuff) but still was very thin. When I got ulcerative colitis I gained weight because of the medication nad after the surgery I stopped taking any medication=My hope was to finally lose all the weight I gained and be ME again the THIN ME. But no...instead of losing weight I gained weight an struggling a lot with it( I weigh about 13kg more than I used to). I soon started to struggle with an eating disorder that destroyed my life(EDNOS=basically a mix of anorexia and bulimia and binge eating). Always thought that I was the problem, that I don't have enough discipline and overeat like a pig althouth I'm eating less than before the disease plus I don't drink cola and stuff like that anymore AND am a vegetarian. But maybe...the last 7years of strugling with an eating disorder and hating myself, being suicidal and depressed were wasted years...'cause maybe I was not able to lose weight in the first place BECAUSE of that colectomy surgery...if that's the case, it will be hard for me to realize that. We need to find an answer 'cause this is not normal and we should stop blaming ourselves to be overeaters. Also thanks to Jesus that I'm still alive. GOD bless you all!

I know this is an old post about weight after a colectomy but I would love to talk to someone who has the same problem. 

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me to, has anyone gor any answers

Amen on that! I hate this weight gain. I see friends easy junk food, drink, no exercise and the remain thin. I'm a salad and protein person and I gain weight looking at food since my colectomy! Why weren't we told this would happen?

porridge definitely helps me.

Check out B.C.I.R. surgery.Had colon completely removed,doing great BCIR done. Best I've vent in years.

Had colonic inertia my entire life . Had B.C.I.R. surgery April ,2015. Please ckeck it out , best decision I ever made.

I think our body's are storing more fat now since our colectomy. We don't digest food the same way now.

I had a total colectomy in 2012 due to MYH associated polyposis (a genetic predisposition to colon cancer). I was 34 and otherwise healthy. My surgery was done laparoscopically, and I recovered very quickly, returning to short 3 mile runs just 6 weeks after my 8 day stay in the hospital. My surgeon was incredible, and left me with minimal scarring. I have struggled a bit with nutrition and hydration, but I've found both manageable; however, I've gained about 20lbs since my surgery!
I've run regularly, and although I'm a food lover, I eat pretty well; few processed foods, little-to-no refined sugars, etc. I'm realizing that even after I've eaten a well rounded meal, my stomach is still sending hunger signs to my brain. I'm not sure if it's the way the acids are working in my stomach, or if it's my bodies way of telling me I haven't eaten enough of a certain nutrient, but I feel hunger pangs when I know I'm not hungry.
Because my weight gain recently became a concern of mine, and I don't see my doctor again until January, I won't ask him until then. Have any of you inquired with your docs? I think part of my weight gain is due to the weigh I'm absorbing nutrients, but part of it must be this post meal hunger.
Has anyone had a similar experience?

Where did you read that the colon produces the "feeling full" hormone? I've put on 20 lbs since my total colectomy three years ago (I'm a runner and eat pretty well), and I'm realizing that I experience hunger pangs even after a meal, as if my body doesn't realize it's full.

I agree. I've gained about 20 lbs post colectomy. I'm pretty active, running about 25 miles a week and trying to squeeze in two decent workouts otherwise; however, as I become more aware of my weight gain, and more aware of my diet, I'm realizing that even after a full meal, my stomach is still sending hunger messages to my brain. I can eat a well balanced meal and still FEEL hungry. It's a bit of a battle, but being conscious that my new mechanical system is releasing the wrong chemicals at the wrong times is necessary. Awareness doesn't make it easy though.

where is everyone from? Anyone near Akron / Canton Ohio? I would love to start a support group and get some doctors to come and talk

How much Glucommannan do you use and how do you use it? Do you mix it with food or do you mix it with water and drink it before meals?

I'm glad you said it cause I feel the same way . I have never had weight gain as a problem until now. I had the colectomy about eight months ago for rectal cancer, dealing with the stoma and bag has been an adjustment, but the weight gain has taken the cake. It was hard enough to find clothes to cover the bottom of the pouch . Now its hard to find clothes to cover my bottom . I feel so discussing , I have retreated to my home and stay there days on end . It isn't that I haven't tried as most have posted but the whole issue of dressing ,finding the right foods and having energy enough to excise really eats on me mentally. Hanging in here.