Weight Loss After Surgery

[Seabush]

Has anyone experienced weight loss after surgery? When did your appetite return? When should you be concerned about that weight loss?

Thanks


Crystal

[Nancy]

My husband Joe went from a robust and in shape 210 pounds to 175 and he also lost massive amount of muscle tone. He lost some of that weight prior to surgery (July 18), due to CHF which robbed him of his appetite, and some after surgery due to post-op "no appetite". I have been dilligently pumping him full of high protein meals and as much as he can eat. He's back up to about 182 now and his muscle tone is starting to return, because he is using his home gym and treadmill.

I think loss of appetite is par for the course and will improve with time.

But please remember that good nutrition is very much needed by the body to recuperate, because the body uses a lot of energy to rebuild. If the body doesn't get enough, then it starts to use it's own reserves.

Whatever it takes to get the patient to eat heathfully is the important thing.

[DickV]

I went from 194 to 177 after surgery but am now back at 194 but it did not all return in the same place. As I can no longer lift the heavy weights in the gym, I too have lost some muscle mass. I think I replaced them with some love handles.

My GP also had open heart surgery and called the house to check on me and said that during the healing process for surgery of this nature, your body burns about 5000 calories a day and we just don't eat that much, hence the weight loss.

I found that the healing process kept me hot so I just wanted to eat cold stuff. A friend brought over a large tub of fruit salad and I ate it all in about 3 days. Good stuff and really hit the spot.

[Kevin M]

I lost 24 pounds within 10 days, but gained 12 back by the time I hit three weeks post-op.

It's perfectly normal to experience some pretty bizarre fluctuations for the first month or so.

They worry if you suddenly gain several pounds over the course of a day or two within the first few days after surgery, but loss is normal.

I found I had to eat smaller meals for the first few weeks. Part of me was fooling myself because I thought "Hey, this is great, I'm full and I am only eating half of what I normally do. I am going to have the tight hard body of a 21 year old"...... sadly, it didn't work out that way ;)
Kev

[McCln]

I am in the situation of losing weight. I am slowly getting my appatite back. I still eat small meals, only three times a day. But I do nibble a little in between. But I am careful because I have to take it easy on the sodium intake and on two types od water pills. I have lost 15 pounds of water weight. I hope to never be 260 pounds ever again. I hope to go back to work soon. Had surgery 9-13-01 and doing quite well. You will be alright and get your appatite back soon. Just give it time. I can't stand a lot of salt right now and hope to keep it that way.

[Bill Hall]

Crystal,

So how is Lillian doing. I haven't seen any recent posts. Please say hi for me. I didn't lose any weight, but remember how bad food tasted. It seems my taste buds were bad for 2-3 weeks.

[Seabush]

My mother is doing okay. She tires easily and takes frequent naps. She has very little appetite. She's lost about 14 lbs since her surgery. Her breathing is still a problem. The doctor doesn't seem to be concerned about either as he says shortness of breath and loss of appetite are common in this type of surgery and lessen in time. She's a little overwhelmed with the aftereffects of surgery. She didn't anticipate having so many problems and questions having the procedure because she feels worse now than she did before. The doctors tell us she didn't get to this condition overnight and it will take time for her to recover from it. Stay tuned.

Crystal

[Peter Easton]

I lost about 10-12 pounds after surgery, and I'm no heavy weight to begin with. Like everyone else, I had little appetite, and it gradually is coming back. I read somewhere, moreover, (maybe here on vr.com!) that the body's healing process itself takes about 5000 calories a day, which we definitely don't consume in early weeks post-surgery, so it's little wonder that it takes a while to round the bend!

Peter

[Peter Easton]

Duh! I read the bit about 5000 calories right here above. :rolleyes: Three cheers for redundancy!

[sylviayasgur]

hi everyone!
thought i'd give you all a little laugh.... i knew joey was getting back to normal m=based on how his appetite was. joey is a thin man who can put away a tremendous amount of food. most people can't believe how much food this man can consume!
in any case, he is not quite back to his standard potions (he is now only eating portions twice the size of mine!). despite this fact, joey has been losing weight consistently. he has already lost about 13 lbs in just 3 1/2 weeks! musch of it was fluid weight, but i can see where the 5000 calorie thing fits in!

may you all keep doing well! God bless,
sylvia

[Seabush]

Originally posted by Peter Easton
Duh! I read the bit about 5000 calories right here above. :rolleyes: Three cheers for redundancy!

Peter,

Your surgery was done a few weeks before my mother's. How are you doing?

Crystal

[Peter Easton]

Hi Crystal --

Hope your Mom is feeling stronger every day! I'm doing pretty doggone good, knock on wood. I've gone back to work part-time this week, was able to start driving again a few days ago and will be traveling a bit this weekend (by air, lol) to a short meeting in Baltimore and then to briefly visit my own Mother -- going on 93 post-heart surgery! -- north of Phillie.

Most of my symptoms have receded noticeably. My sternum is a bit sore (mostly with movement), as are portions of the scar. I seem alas to be forming a keloid scar, though to date only at the bottom of the incision, above the "exclamation point." My sleeping has gotten more regular, though it still is a bit erratic. I think I will move back to my bed and bedroom from the (wonderful) recliner that I have been occupying at night next week. My appetite is working its way up, but I haven't yet gained back much of the 10-12 pounds I lost -- and folks say I look a bit "gaunt" poundage-wise but healthy color-wise.

The periodic post-op depression seems likewise to be lifting. It will bear watching. Thankfully we are moving into a lovely season here in north Florida -- sunny and low humidity and cool, by our standards (daytime temperatures plunging into the upper 70s!). Have been benefiting to maintain a real walking schedule. I went by increments from a hundred yards or so of "shuffliing" up to (currently) about 2.5-3 miles a day at a decent pace.

Progression so far has been a sawtooth affair -- two steps forward, one back, and so forth -- and I imagine it will continue to be. But I am very thankful to have gotten to this point. I have been weighing the question of official cardiac rehab for myself and have pretty much decided against it, as it seems more targeted at bypass patients with heavier health concerns than I presently have and the cardios whom I have consulted feel I can accomplish the same thing through the kind of exercise I am undertaking. I will probably get into a routine at a Health Club where aspects of my recovery and condition can be monitored and coached, though, in another few weeks -- vamos a ver.

Hope this gives you some idea!

Peter

[RobThatsMe]

Hi Crystal,

I went from 174 to 151 within 2 days of surgery. I only had 7.8% body fat at the time, so I lost mostly muscle. I figure the body took what ever resources it had in order to maintain itself and survive. Although the pounds I lost were not the kind of pounds that I wanted to lose, It sure beats the alternative that I was facing.

I have gained all my weight back,(within 10 months), and now weigh 171 lbs. I must admit the percent body fat ratio has changed, but I attribute that to my doctors orders putting limits on my weight lifting.

Wishing you good health,

Rob

[hensylee]

Think we all lost weight. Mine came back and brought some friends.

Seabush, your mom will get better with time. According to the diary I kept for a month after surgery, there were naps, short walks, weight loss, tiredness, shortness of breath, weakness, pain, despair, odd sleeping patterns, discomfort in finding a comfortable position, med adjustments. All passed eventually and found a new life. She will, too - at least better than the one she had. Ask her to have patience - and then some more.

God bless

[Zazzy]

Amen Hensylee!

I've lost 60 lbs. since my surgery.... mostly fluid. I had no appetite at all after my heart surgery or after my mastecomy in May. After that one all I ate was watermelon for two weeks straight. All that watermelon + 160 mgs. of Lasix = You spend a lot of time in the bathroom!!! lol

Your mom will slowly get back to her old fightin' weight Seabrush... just give her time to heal.

Take care,
Zazzy

[Angelhnter]

Kevin has gone from 222 to 210 in 9 days post surgery. Of course, he is LOVING it. We were both trying to lose the " love handles" before the surgery was scheduled. He he! I'm still working on mine. I would rather lose it slower than have to experience what he did. Yikes! Oik!

Good Luck to you! :)

[Rain]

Did they give any of you guys 'hungry pills'?

As soon as I got out of ICU I started asking them what everything was that they put in my IV and pills they wanted me to swallow...... One of the pills was to make me hungry! I stopped taking it right away... but did force myself to eat. Who knew they had a pill to make you hungry??... Kinda freaked me out... but the nurse said it was ‘normal’ to give heart surgery patients.. ‘hungry pills’!

Rain

[Seabush]

Originally posted by Rain
Did they give any of you guys 'hungry pills'?

As soon as I got out of ICU I started asking them what everything was that they put in my IV and pills they wanted me to swallow...... One of the pills was to make me hungry! I stopped taking it right away... but did force myself to eat. Who knew they had a pill to make you hungry??... Kinda freaked me out... but the nurse said it was ‘normal’ to give heart surgery patients.. ‘hungry pills’!

Rain

They never gave my mother anything like that.

Crystal

[Rain]

Crystal.... coulda just been me. I’m kind of a picky eater, I guess. I don’t like most meat.... and I wasn’t real impressed with the hospital bread and vegetables. Probably my sweetheart surgeons way of ‘force feeding’ me. Gotta watch those doctors. :) I really wasn't hungry at all after the surgery. It was at least a two or three weeks after the surgery, before I was eating because I wanted to.

Rain

[LUVMyBirman]

Rain....

That's a new one one me. Don't recall eating solids for at least 2-3 days after my MVR.

When I went back in with my complications.....was starving immediately upon waking. Had not eaten for 5 days with the tamponade. Could not keep anything down.

Since they had to put me under again....could not eat after surgery. My neighbor was my CICU nurse and they ordered streak sandwiches. Man, I felt like jumping out of bed and grabbing one, LOL.:D

[mimi314]

When I was diagnosed with aortic stenosis two years ago, I promptly became a couch potato for fear of overexerting...which led to a weight gain of 30 pounds! I'm looking forward to a little enforced weight loss! Heck of a way to do it, but whatever works!
I'm learning more and more on this forum. Every time I sign on, I learn something new. Thanks to you all! Barbara (Sam's Mimi) By the way, Sam (Samantha) is my beautiful, precious, brilliant 11 year old grandaughter. The light of my life, along with her mom, Sharon. They're looking forward to taking care of me after my surgery. Thank you, God.

[hensylee]

My first meal after surgery was, believe it or not, spaghetti and meatballs!!

Mimi, you WILL lose weight after surgery - we all do (well, most of us), but if you don't work to keep it off, it will come back. But you will become active again and your lifestyle sounds like you won't have to work much. You won't be a couch potato much longer. God bless

[Rain]

Okay Gina..... I didn’t mean to imply that they were trying to feed me solids the very first day. :) It was at least three days after the surgery. The first day I was in ICU.... I didn’t eat anything, the second day I think I might have had some jello.... it was probably the third or fourth day, I asked what this particular pill did for me and she said it was to help make me hungry. I had no appetite what so ever.

I wanted out of that place in a very big way..... I started making myself eat. Enough to make my surgeon dude happy anyway.

It was temporary... my appetite slowly returned to normal. The weight returned soon enough too. I’m back to about the same weight I was before the surgery, but it’s a lot more muscle now..... thanks to 45 mins arobics three days a week.

My brother-in-law had a heart attack last week and was flown to Denver. He's scheduled for bypass surgery Monday morning. I might have to drag him along to Vegas. :eek: He's a really funny guy.

Rain

[Nancy]

After all of Joe's surgeries, the nurses listened for "bowel" sounds, and if none were heard, they gave him pills to improve bowel motility. These were in addition to the colace that was given for softening, well, you know what.

The anesthesia stops the motion of the bowel and the motility pills help to start it again, I guess.

Maybe that's what they meant by hungry pills. Can't eat if you're too full. LOL

[gary47]

What kind of surgery did you have and what kind of limits(weightlifting) did your doctor put on you?

[Rain]

Hey Nancy,

That makes sense! The surgeon came in every morning, he always listened to my stomach. He said they were ‘waiting for my stomach to wake up from the anesthesia’. It was the nurse who told me the pills were ‘to make me hungry’ I don’t remember what they were called.

Hey Gary.... I’m not Robthatshim... but I do lift weights. I had MVR at age 39. I started cardiac rehab at four weeks post op. At approx. ten months post op I told the nurse I wanted to start lifting weights. It seemed like my arms were weak.... The nurse called my cardio.... and he said okay. Of course I started out with very light weights. They are still light weights. lol

I bet you could ask your cardio right now, at what point you could start lifting again and he would be able to give you at least some idea.

Rain

[joy]

I had the appetite like a PIG when I got out of the hospital. I just couldn't bring myself to eat that yukky hospital food! I weigh 110, I have actually gained weight! I used to weigh 89 pounds when i got married. Yup, I feel better too! Maybe It's because I learned how to cook?
Hmmmm.......:D

[gary47]

Keep it Rain eat lots of fish -chicken and veggies-and invest in a juicer!!!

[Sam Scholz]

I weigh in at around 180-175, depending on what I have been eating, and was hoping I would loose some pounds with this surgery. I did with the previous ones, boy I packed em on. I was hoping to knock back all that recuperative Ice Cream and just have it all melt away. No such luck for me... I have now battled back down to 175, and could lose a few more. Turkey Day looms though, so maybe I'll wait to til new years.

Sam


AVR, (St. Judes) Mitral repair. 2/2000

[mimi314]

Hello everyone!
I've struggled for the last two years with the weight thing...since I became such a couch potato for fear of overworking my heart. Tried every diet known to mankind. Hit upon the tried and true Weight Watchers' program and succeded in losing 14 pounds...but it took 3 months to do it!
Just the other day, my brain said..."Hey girl...you're fixin' to have heart surgery! You may not even survive that so have a ball and eat what you want!"

And I have, for the past 2 weeks. I've gained about 2 pounds, but it's been worth it. When(if) I come out of this surgery alive, down the road I'll be able to walk those extra calories off and it'll be wonderful again!

I'm so looking forward to feeling normal again, and rejoining my health club, walking around the neighborhood, and playing fetch with my dog!

Y'all are all so great and supportive. I don't always chime in on posts, mainly because I'm such a new-comer and don't have much to offer yet.

I can't tell you how much I've gotten out of this wonderful group of people. You are all so inspiring...I'm not used to being able to reach out and find such support. Thank you all, and please pray for me this Thursday!

I'm petrified! Mostly I'm dealing with it OK. I'm not afraid of dying...it's the pain if I live through it that has me scared. But, Hey! If y'all can do it... I can do it!!!

I may have my sister post about my condition, if y'all are interested. She'll need something to keep her busy while baby-sitting me.

Later..Barbara (mimi314)

[DickV]

Best of luck Barbara. The pain is controlled by great drugs. Enjoy the ride. Welcome to the club.

[Nancy]

Janie-

Your post brought something to mind that I forgot to mention regarding showering.

I bought a fold-up plastic chair which was waterproof and relatively small, but strudy enough for adult use. Joe used after surgery in the shower to have something to hold on to, and to be there if he wanted to sit down.

Also there is a waterless shampoo available, probably in the surgical supply type of pharmacies. It's works reasonably well for the time in the hospital. Just wet you head down with it rub it in and towel it off. Helps with freshening up.

[maxximom]

Hey Barbara!! Listen up Girl!!:o
NO_ONE could be more scared than I was..I am 70, Diabetic, Obese and was haveing both Triple bypass, Avr and possibly MVR (thank goodness that didn't happen) I wasn't so much afraid of pain..I was just plain scared of dying..I figured if I felt pain..then I would know I made it and was alive!! I am no hero when it comes to pain..in fact I'm chicken to go to the dentist!! I did have my last child "natural childbirth" so maybe I'm braver than I though..LOL! Let me tell Y'all..while the surgery is no peice of cake by any means and there were a few moments..for the most part it was pain free!! I certainly was uncomfortable..but rarely did I have "pain" They give you plenty of "good stuff" to keep you comfortable. I had a lung collaspe on the 2nd day post op..and they had to insert a chest tube..they gave me som of the "good stuff" and I never felt a thing. So eat up and enjoy!! I have ;ost 20 pounds in the last 41/2 weeks..The damm meds make everything taste awfful for me..I have forgotten the wonderful taste of food. I'm afraid it is only temporary..can you imagine a brownie or ice cream tasting bad? I never thought that could happen!! I hope I lose a lot more before it all comes back!!
I also became a couch potato before surgery for about 11/2 years as I became more and more symptomatic and walking became a big time problem..so I will start rehab in about 10 days and it will take me some time to get into shape..but whatever shape I become..I'm sure it will be better than before surgery:o So be assured..you WILL do fine..if I could do it..anyone can
:o
Joan

[McCln]

You have most certainly have come a long way. Way to go!. Inspirational to the rest. You are my hero with a triple bypass. You are doing great and keep it up. I just went back to work last week. My chest still gets stiff and have to get up and slowly stretch to make it feel better. You keep hanging in there. I have only lost 15 pounds so far. I will keep on trying. Thanks and keep up the good work.

Caroline
Aortic valve replacement
09-13-01
St. Jude's vavle