IV fluid weight gain

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Replies

  • mothermarypoppins
    mothermarypoppins Posts: 1 Member
    Was in the hospital and had 3-4 liters in the 4 hours I was there. Up 8 pounds 2 days later and keeping to my diet and home water in take. Glad to see I'm not the only one feeling frustrated. Hoping in the next few days to see it going back down. I've been working so hard to get back on track. I'm also on low dose steroids so that is probably playing into it. But really don't want to be almost back to where i was 1 month ago
  • Mavrick_RN
    Mavrick_RN Posts: 439 Member
    edited July 2016
    Can anyone seriously believe the weight gain is anything other than water????

    In three days you think you can manufacture seven pounds of what? Fat? Muscle? Blood cells?

    It's not real body tissue. It's just a number. If you can't stop obsessing over a number on a scale you have more health problems than you think.
  • azulvioleta6
    azulvioleta6 Posts: 4,195 Member
    Maybe a good rule of thumb is to not get on the scale for a week after you are out of the hospital. It's not just IV fluids, it's swelling, drugs and any number of other issues. You may have had tissue removed, metal implanted--your body has been disturbed in a significant way. If you've been allowed to eat at all, it's likely been nasty hospital food. It's traumatic, and the body does strange things in such situations.

    Unless you NEED to weight for medical reasons (kidney transplant, for example) just resist the urge. I don't say this lightly--I've had brain surgery twice as well as many other less drastic surgeries. Be kind to yourself and don't do it.
  • LokiGrrl
    LokiGrrl Posts: 156 Member
    A pint's a pound, the world 'round...

    IV fluids will puff you up sometimes and so will several illnesses. Best thing to do is not stress over it, and maybe drink a little more than usual, unless you have some kind of water restriction. I know it's worrying (I am well acquainted with the sausage fingers), but it will go away as long as you keep well hydrated and well nourished. If it doesn't, call the doc.

    I hope you're feeling a lot better!
  • gilcat2
    gilcat2 Posts: 1 Member
    Can't tell you how glad I was to find these posts. I was just released from the hospital after emergency surgery a few hours ago, and after five days of npo (no water, no food) and one day of clear liquids...I'd gained 19 pounds. I won't be back on my treadmill for a week or so, but I will weigh myself every day. Haters, FYI it's a joy to see the numbers go down, even a few ounces. Progress is progress. Don't judge.
  • iceskater247
    iceskater247 Posts: 1 Member
    I'm so glad I found this. I just got out of the hospital today after 3 days 2 nights and I get on.the scale and I've gained 20 lbs. I almost lost it. I only had Jello and popsicles, I was so sick. I figured it was water weight but I wasn't sure how long it was goimg to take to get rid of it.
  • jo_pederick
    jo_pederick Posts: 1 Member
    Hi everyone,
    I'm glad I found this post too, so helpful :) I had an iron infusion and IV drip, in the hospital only for an afternoon and was up 2 pounds overnight! I had a feeling it would be water weight but reading everyone's experiences makes me feel better. My main concern is my health as I have been feeling like death for a long time now. But I totally get when you've been slogging your guts out and see sudden fluctuations in weight! I hope everyone who commented is now back to good health x
  • yogeshvaraom
    yogeshvaraom Posts: 45 Member
    edited November 2020
    Odd thing this. After 5 days of IV fluids in the hospital I had a late afternoon weight of 167 when released. Next morning it was 162. The next morning 157, the next 152, which was my weight before my hospital stay. It kept going down more slowly till I hit 147. So what looked like a big gain was actually a 5 pound loss, due to losing my appetite. Since then it has gotten better and better and I'm staying between 147 and 150 which is a perfect weight for me.
  • poodiebeer
    poodiebeer Posts: 51 Member
    These posts are very helpful. I just got out of the hospital from two days, nothing but IV s and medicine. The 8 pounds I gained actually scared me as I didn't know this could happen and was googling what could be wrong when I came across these posts. For me it brought peace of mind and I very much appreciate everyone who shared.
  • AnnPT77
    AnnPT77 Posts: 34,622 Member
    poodiebeer wrote: »
    These posts are very helpful. I just got out of the hospital from two days, nothing but IV s and medicine. The 8 pounds I gained actually scared me as I didn't know this could happen and was googling what could be wrong when I came across these posts. For me it brought peace of mind and I very much appreciate everyone who shared.

    Yes, give it time! Depending on what put you in the hospital, I'd generally encourage you not to go for a big calorie deficit (weight loss) while you're still recovering/healing. Adequate calories (close to maintenance) and good nutrition are helpers to recovery. Ask your doctor for guidance.

    If you have weight loss goals, those can pick up again once the acute phase of healing/recovery is passing. I didn't do that - instead kept losing - after a pretty minor surgery (laparoscopic gallbladder removal). I didn't have a major disaster, thankfully, but the impact on my energy level and strength was negative.
  • Jforeman2
    Jforeman2 Posts: 1 Member
    I want to think this group so much. Of course I’m happy to be home and on the mend after a emergency surgery for the lower intestine. I found myself in the hospital for six days and On IV for six days I literally ate nothing except for a couple of crackers and a few slices of peaches and water. I came home and got on my scale and was 12 pounds heavier I can’t believe it I was really just devastated as I take care of myself And I’ve had several previous surgeries that had drains and I did not have this situation just so glad to hear I’m not alone!
  • musicfan68
    musicfan68 Posts: 1,143 Member
    When you have major surgery, not only do you gain weight from IV fluids, but your body sends extra fluids to the traumatized area that you had surgery on, which also adds water weight. I had a 16 lb ovarian cyst removed, and only lost 10lbs from before surgery to immediately after surgery. The doctor told me I would continue to lose weight for several weeks after surgery. It is completely normal so you body will heal.
  • musicmommy4
    musicmommy4 Posts: 1 Member
    This thread was helpful to me too. I get weekly IVs for my POTS. That makes the scale do strange things.

    Because my IVs are so frequent, I was wondering how that impacted the number on the scale.

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