Some Questions About Recovery

[MikeHeim]

I have yet another couple questions. I weighed myself today and got 189 lbs. Still better than my pre-op weight of 196lbs, but I've weighed almost exactly 183lbs for about three weeks. In fact, it was so consistent that I've forgotten to check it for a few days (I think I last weighed myself on Monday). In mine (and presumably everyone's) instructions from the doctor upon discharge, I'm supposed to call if I gain more than four pounds in one week. First question: How long are those instructions good for? I'm six weeks post-op, so I figured I was past the usual time frame for initial complications. Is this true? I assume the weight is most likely water retention, but how can I tell? I plan on testing myself tomorrow to see if I've gone down at all. I've eaten a little more salt over the past couple days than usual, and I know that can have an effect.

My other main question is about breathing. It feels like my lung capacity has dropped somewhat over the past few days. At one point, I could pretty much top out the Spirometer with almost every breath. For the past few days, I've been able to get pretty close to the top, but not quite. Is this a concern? Could the two issues be related?

As always, all feedback is greatly appreciated.

[geebee]

If your diet hasn't changed much (other than the additional salt intake you mentioned), you need to have the weight gain checked. Water retention can cause breathing problems so, given the fact that you seem to have both occuring right now, indicates a problem brewing.

Contact your doctor.

[MikeHeim]

Thanks for the quick reply! One addendum to my earlier e-mail:

I did a search on water retention and weight gain to see what people have talked about in earlier postings. Everyone seems to mention noticing it in their extremeties or abdomen. I know it's not collecting in my extremeties, and I'm pretty sure it's not in my abdomen as well. Where else could it be?

[geebee]

It can be an "all over" gain so that you wouldn't notice it other than breathing issues. I can always tell if I am retaining water because I get breathless doing things that shouldn't cause problems.

There is a chance the weight gain might not be water but it sound suspicious enough to check.

[MikeHeim]

Interesting development. I weighed myself right before bed, and I was already down to 187lbs. When I woke up in the morning, I weighed myself again and was down to 184lbs. This doesn't seem possible! I assume this means that the weight I gained was due to my somewhat inadvertant sodium binge. Can water weight really fluxuate this much?

I'm going to move forward under the assumption that nothing is out of the ordinary at this point. Certainly I will monitor my weight more closely.

[carista]

Yes, sodium in your diet can effect water weight that much! I always felt like I was going back and forth between 5 lbs and was pretty sure that it was water weight due to too much sodium in my diet. I just was never sure until it got to the point that I couldn't see my ankle...obviously then I knew it was water. Also with the shortness of breath, I could tell something was up when I would lay down and I could start to hear myself weezing. I seemed to get more shortness of breath when I had gained 10 lbs of water weight, but not as much as I thought.

You never know. I'm glad I got mine checked out, I feel 100 times better now.

[joanne6]

Since you are going up and down several pounds, I think you would be smart to start checking your morning weight. After you get up and go to the bathroom, weigh yourself and write it down. Rule of thumb, 2lbs in one day, 5 lbs in a week-call the doctor. Are you taking diuretics for fluid post op?
You may want to also cut down on the salt. Please let us know how you do.