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Beachlady228
Beachlady228 Posts: 58 Member
edited December 2024 in Social Groups
I gained 3 pounds out of town for a week. Understandable. Get right back on the keto wagon, but start having stomach pain. Don't remember having so much trouble starting keto 7 months ago but decide I just need to tough it out. End up in the ER and after waiting 6 hours in excruciating pain, I have an emergency appendectomy. Go home the next day, having had nothing to eat for 48 hours. Weigh myself the next morning and I have gained 6 pounds. I think this can't be possible. But 3 days later I still have this extra 6 pounds. Logically I know this must be inflammation and water, but I am depressed. Starting strick keto this morning. I need to trust the process, but I am struggling.

Replies

  • dancing_daisy
    dancing_daisy Posts: 162 Member
    Don't give up! You can do this! x
  • Shadowmf023
    Shadowmf023 Posts: 812 Member
    Appendectomy is...a fear for me. I am INSANELY scared of it. (Not the operation itself, more my appendix bursting or something, not that I've had trouble before, but still.)

    Good luck and be strong, you can and have done this :smiley:
  • KnitOrMiss
    KnitOrMiss Posts: 10,103 Member
    edited July 2016
    My friend is recovering from back surgery. She gained 18 pounds in the hospital from the surgery and fluids. Once she got her electrolytes balanced again (which took well over a week and she's not low carb, but lower carb, mostly), it dropped almost all overnight. Focus on the electrolytes and healing - and your body will let go when it's ready, but it sounds like you need to do some journaling or meditation, etc. 6 pounds or even 9-10 pounds should not add this much mental stress to your load...there are more underlying issues here causing this anxiety and depression for you. I can gain or lose that much in a heavy exercise/hydration day...
  • anglyn1
    anglyn1 Posts: 1,802 Member
    That's totally normal after surgery and it will go down. You will have a lot of inflammation as your body works on healing. Just hang in there! I hope you feel better soon!
  • bametels
    bametels Posts: 950 Member
    So sorry to hear this. I TOTALLY understand your concerns because I had an emergency appendectomy on Mother's Day. Your story is pretty much identical to my experience except that I came home 12 pounds heavier! Don't worry about the weight gain; it is fluids and inflammation. It took several weeks for the fluid weight to come off. Be patient, get rest. Best wishes for a speedy recovery. Feel free to contact me if you have any questions. I'll send you a friend request.
  • karebear5891
    karebear5891 Posts: 141 Member
    It takes a long time for inflammation to go down. Let your body do its job and help it along with the healthy diet. Recovery from surgery is never easy, so remind yourself that your body is healing and helping it along will make that go even faster!
  • nvmomketo
    nvmomketo Posts: 12,019 Member
    Ditto the others. You know it is not fat. You weren't eating on an IV, plus that's a lot of trauma. You'll get back to where you were soon. Just remind yourself that it isn't fat and give yourself time.

    I hope you have a fast recovery. :)
  • authorwriter
    authorwriter Posts: 323 Member
    When you have surgery they pump you full of fluids. It's not like drinking fluids you just pee out. It can take several weeks for your body to offload those fluids. So keep yourself hydrated, drink electrolytes, follow the programs. You are inflamed because you have a surgical injury to your body. Give yourself time to recover. These weight gains means nothing.
  • deksgrl
    deksgrl Posts: 7,237 Member
    When you have surgery they pump you full of fluids. It's not like drinking fluids you just pee out. It can take several weeks for your body to offload those fluids. So keep yourself hydrated, drink electrolytes, follow the programs. You are inflamed because you have a surgical injury to your body. Give yourself time to recover. These weight gains means nothing.

    ^^ This.
  • noclady1995
    noclady1995 Posts: 452 Member
    Yes, ditto to all the above. I was hospitalized early this year for a kidney infection and sepsis and came home 10 lbs heavier, even though I probably ate 1000 calories the 4 days I was at the hospital. I'd say it took a good 3 weeks for all that fluid to go away. I did go back to a flexible diet when I got home and jumped back on the keto wagon when I felt close to 100%. But that's what worked for me. :) still not perfect but baby steps!
  • Beachlady228
    Beachlady228 Posts: 58 Member
    Thanks, I needed to hear that it is normal. I knew it couldn't be fat, but thought it would drop off as fast as it came on. And it was such a shock, thought for sure I would come home having lost a few pounds! I am feeling pretty good. Thanks for the support.
  • Sunny_Bunny_
    Sunny_Bunny_ Posts: 7,140 Member
    The body will hold onto or add weight for healing.
  • Gallowmere1984
    Gallowmere1984 Posts: 6,626 Member
    edited July 2016
    The body will hold onto or add weight for healing.

    Pretty much this. It's the same principle as what causes the temporary weight gain after demanding lifting. I have a feeling that it's heavily amplified when it's dealing with internal organs, as opposed to skeletal muscles as well.
  • kimmydear
    kimmydear Posts: 298 Member
    Sorry to hear that! I went thru an appendectomy several weeks ago and had the same experience with the weight gain. I didn't step on the scale for almost two weeks because I knew it be frustrating, but by week 3, I was back to where I was before surgery.
  • Gallowmere1984
    Gallowmere1984 Posts: 6,626 Member
    I feel for anyone who has to have an appendectomy as an adult. I had mine removed when I was ten, and it was miserable then. I've heard the whole thing only gets worse as you age.
  • Majcolorado
    Majcolorado Posts: 138 Member
    I had mine out at age 42. It broke off when they touched it do they had to pull the laproscope and cut me open, leaving a lovely scar and at the heaviest weight of my life.

    You have my sympathy and my empathy!
  • kpk54
    kpk54 Posts: 4,474 Member
    edited July 2016
    I feel for anyone who has to have an appendectomy as an adult. I had mine removed when I was ten, and it was miserable then. I've heard the whole thing only gets worse as you age.

    I had mine out at age 50 something. Went to ER at 4 pm. Was operated on at 5 AM. Was released at 6PM. No problems. Mine didn't burst though and I've heard a burst appendix is pure misery. The only misery i had was the period between 4PM and 3 AM. They wouldn't remove the appendix until they confirmed the problem via CT Scan. I was incredibly nauseous and threw up that lemony chalky drink twice. I was able to keep it down the 3rd round so got the scan at 3AM and they removed the appendix laparoscopically at 5.

    ETA: I gained 8 pounds but it was gone in a few days.
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