Gained 7 lbs Since Yesterday Following Gallbladder Surgery

Wow, I knew it would be big, but not that big. I weighed in yesterday morning at 197, had gallbladder surgery, spent the night at the hospital and weighed in tonight (back home again) at 204. Not worried about it, but feel it's my body reacting to surgery, IV, pain meds, and such. My stomach feels (and looks) huge. Has anyone else had gallbladder surgery? Pain isn't as bad tonight. Hoping for a quiet weekend and easier movement in the next few days.
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Replies

  • sandara
    sandara Posts: 830 Member
    and they probably pumped you full of fluids! Don't worry about it, if it came on that fast it has to be fluids. It's impossible to really gain 7 real lbs overnight. It will go back down soon.

    Hope your feeling better soon!
  • Jay_83
    Jay_83 Posts: 446
    Wishing you a speedy recovery!!:flowerforyou: :bigsmile:
  • Thinwithin2010
    Thinwithin2010 Posts: 166 Member
    I believe they do pump gas into the abdomen to help with the surgery.. Maybe that is the bloated feeling.. Also they have pumped you with fluid's, weigh yourself in a few days and see. Feel better and get well quick!!!
  • hello! I'm a newbie :smile:
    i had gallbladder surgery in Dec.2009.My doctor told me that the bloating was natural after the surgery if you had the gas pumped into you. t slowly went down and I proceeded to lose 30 pounds after having it removed.:happy:
  • nursee67
    nursee67 Posts: 503
    IV fluids do it everytime. Did you have a laparascopic procedure? If so, the gas buildup will give you the bloat for sure. Keep walking around...that will move it out. Hope you heal well!
  • rnroadrunner
    rnroadrunner Posts: 402 Member
    lke the one poster said it is fluids. sometimes i surgery your blood pressure drops and they use fluids to bring it back up. one bag is one Kg or 2.2 lbs. you should start to shift the fluids and pee it out. you didn't say if it was laproscopic or open. the recovery time is pretty quick if it wasn't open. take care and resume exercise when cleared by MD. and be very careful that your calorie count is good u ntil then. take care and a speedy recover to you, also congrats on the weight loss you already have good job.
  • KiriKiriKiri
    KiriKiriKiri Posts: 227 Member
    Yes! I am healthcare professional AND have had my gallbladder removed. You can even watch a lap chole done on youtube, if you are in to that sort of thing. IV fluids can cause weight gain, laying in bed for a period of time can cause weight gain due to where the fluid sits in your body (that will adjust after being up and about)... and they also pump your entire abd with gas so that they can manipulate the lap tools to remove the gallbladder without injury. Just focus on healing at this point and not the weight gain. :) It will drop off, don't worry. I sure hope you feel better soon and I wish you a speedy and healthy recovery!!!!
  • izybalizy
    izybalizy Posts: 19
    I have not had it, but my mom just went through the same thing in April. My moms doctor explained that when they do the surgery they pump your stomach full of air so that they can get in and move around without any problems, between that and IV fluids, pain meds you body is most likely retaining anything you put in it. Dont worry about it, within a few weeks my mom had lost 10lbs on top of her post surgery weight.
  • nikkieliivey
    nikkieliivey Posts: 76 Member
    i wi keep you in my prayers! i hope you have a quick and painless recovery!
  • jkstoysich
    jkstoysich Posts: 11 Member
    Yes, my procedure was laproscopic and I did watch watch the procedure on youtube (kinda gross, but I like to know what's going to happen). It's encouraging to hear from several who have lost weight following gall bladder surgery. I took a long walk the night before surgery, knowing I'd be down for a few days, but even today I am feeling so much better than yesterday, so I imagine it won't be long that me and my little dog will be out walking again. Thanks for all your replies!
  • tralalara
    tralalara Posts: 149
    I had gallbladder surgery 27 yrs ago the good ol' fashion open method. Be thankful, very thankful you had laproscopic. After giving birth naturally with no meds 3 times and several other abdominal surgeries (long stories) I can say that the gallbladder surgery was the most painful and longest recovery of ALL. But it was also the worst pain(the gall stones) so it figures.

    Take care and have a quick recovery.
  • ccann
    ccann Posts: 2
    Okay, I had Gallbladder Surgery over a year ago, although I am remaining the same weight, I can't lose any weight. I had gallbladder surgery when my second child was 3 months old. So I have all the weight I gained during pregnancy. I am burning more callories then I consume, drinking my weight in water and running everyother day, with weight training... I should have lost 20 lbs by now at least.... anyone else experiencing the same thing???? I have done research on the internet and what I am experiencing sounds similar to the ones who gain 30lbs after surgery.. except, I am neither losing or gaining... and I need to lose.... I refuse to buy new clothes so I am always in a tee-shirt and althetic shorts/pants....and I have a family vacation in 6 weeks, that I have been trying to get in shape for for over 9months now.....
  • susiewusie
    susiewusie Posts: 432 Member
    Pleased you feeling better today :flowerforyou:
  • ccaruso219
    ccaruso219 Posts: 92
    Jackie,

    I had my gall bladder out 3 years ago. Remember that tehy pump you with air and the anesthia gives you bloat. Trust me you will be relieve your self of gas for a while. Also, word of caution, stay away from any fatty foods, you will expel them rapidly. I had an issue with tomatoes, cheese and espresso for 2 months after the surgery. I was back to work after 2 weeks, but it took a few months before I was 100%. Feel better, get alot of rest......
  • noneya2010
    noneya2010 Posts: 446 Member
    I had mine out a few years ago too and recovered quickly. Don't worry -- all that weight will come off. It's just lots and lots of fluid they pump you up with during/after surgery. Give it about a week and you'll be down plus some extra!
  • MadHatR5
    MadHatR5 Posts: 33 Member
    Are you sure that the doctor didn't maybe leave his 10 lb wallet in there?! ;)

    I had mine taken out last year and it's the best decision I ever made. The previous 2 years, everytime I had an attack, they (and I) thought the chest pain was my heart. But thanks to my new (and brilliant) doctor, she was able to figure out what it was.

    A little blurp about future eating habits after surgery to be aware of:
    "Experts at Intelihealth suggest that weight gain isn't caused by the function of the gallbladder, but because of the increased ability for people to eat fatty foods once again."

    Rest up, eat smart, and keep up your fluid intake.
  • Pastornc
    Pastornc Posts: 1
    Yesterday I also had gb surgery and weighed myself and exactly 7 pds heavier...found these posts and was relieved this is do to surgery...
  • sayfay
    sayfay Posts: 90 Member
    They pump your stomach full of air so they can work around those little organs. That's why you are feeling bloated and why your tummy feels bigger. I wouldn't even get on the scale for at least a week.

    I had mine out last year. My only advice is to take it slow! I tried to do way too much too soon and it only led to more discomfort and a longer recovery time.
  • Gerry_Lane
    Gerry_Lane Posts: 27
    You have no idea how much fluid you receive during and after surgery....it is not anything to worry about, but you body needed it for the stress it was under...you will be fine.

    Dr Gerry Lane
  • cm1458
    cm1458 Posts: 742 Member
    I had this done in April. I "gained" about 10lbs afterward. In about 2 weeks it went down though. a lot of it is fluid from the IVs, etc. Your stomach is so "puffed out" because of the air they pumped into it. mine still doesnt look normal, it is still slightly puffed out above my navel. I wouldnt worry about it, your weight should get back to normal pretty soon. I hope you are feeling better soon!!! :flowerforyou:
  • cari4jc1
    cari4jc1 Posts: 233
    Yeah, I had my gallbladder removed last year. I'm glad the pain isn't too bad for you. I was in horrrrrrible pain for about a week. They pump you full of gas to expand your abdomen so they can see everything and it takes a while for the gas to go away. It took about a week until I could even lay down without having the pressure on my lungs from the gas. Don't worry about the weight. It's all just lots of fluids and the gas. Remember you just had surgery you probably also have swelling too. It'll take a week or so, but you'll get back to normal. Hang in there!
  • Dudagarcia
    Dudagarcia Posts: 849 Member
    I have and wish u speedy recovery :)
  • Twilightsunflower
    Twilightsunflower Posts: 324 Member
    i had mine out 4 weeks ago now

    i was puffy and swollen for days... the iv fluids and such take a while to get out of your system..

    the huge ab is due to the air they pump into your body so they can actually do the surgery... walking helps it disapate faster and drinking lots of water will help flush out what they gave you...
  • EDesq
    EDesq Posts: 1,527 Member
    Wow, I knew it would be big, but not that big. I weighed in yesterday morning at 197, had gallbladder surgery, spent the night at the hospital and weighed in tonight (back home again) at 204. Not worried about it, but feel it's my body reacting to surgery, IV, pain meds, and such. My stomach feels (and looks) huge. Has anyone else had gallbladder surgery? Pain isn't as bad tonight. Hoping for a quiet weekend and easier movement in the next few days.


    I wish you well in your recovery. But, the day after major surgery you are weighing yourself and worrying about a few lbs wt gain? I'm kinda lost or maybe I have different priorities. At any rate,
    Be Well
  • INSANITY43
    INSANITY43 Posts: 142
    I had gall bladder surgery in march (laproscopic). I did not weigh myself after surgery but I did measure my waist the next day and I had gained just shy of 7 inches!!!! That is from all that gas they pump into the abdomen. Oh and as it disappates it will "move" around and may cause extreme pain in your shoulders... I could actually watch the bubble move from low to very high between my ribs....it took about a week to go away.
  • allisonmrn
    allisonmrn Posts: 721 Member
    Thats due to IV fluids and third spacing. Also, inflammation following surgery. Drink plenty of water and you will shed it no problem..;-) give it a week or so before weighin again.
  • rysgal123
    rysgal123 Posts: 27
    I had mine removed in November. It was the scariest month for me before surgery. SO much pain. I had lost 20lbs before my surgery in a month because i couldn't eat anything without have a stone attack. Once i had the surgery, from all the med and the air the fill ya with, i gain a few pounds, but like ccann stated, i gained all the weigh i had lost and have not been able to lose it since. I have been working hard and watching what i eat and should have been able to lose something by now, but i have been the same weight since January.
    The recovery time was really fast. I was off work for a wk, and was back to my regular household routine after a few days. I was back to working out after about 2 wks.
    Good luck and feel better soon!
  • This board is really helpful! I had gallbladder surgery yesterday. I weighed in at 164.6, left the hospital at 170.9 (!), and I am already back down to 168.6. I was a little nervous, but it seems that most posters were able to take that post-op weight off fairly quickly.
  • JennH1987
    JennH1987 Posts: 1 Member
    I just wanted to add my thanks to everyone for their responses. I had gallbladder surgery yesterday, and I am up 10 lbs and have barely eaten in 3 days. It was a relief to see that others have gone through the same thing. I'm looking forward to feeling less sore and getting back to the gym in about a week. I've been making myself get up and walk around the house, am I supposed to be doing more than that, walking-wise?
  • stormbornkraken
    stormbornkraken Posts: 302 Member
    I wish I had searched this thread last week. I had mine removed on the 5th. I was hospitalized five days prior due to a gallstone in my pancreas that caused pancreatitis. I couldn't figure out how I has gained 2 pounds after being on an an NSO IV strict diet for 4 days. After three days at home I lost 10 pounds and the shoulder pain was still incredible.
    One more week off of work but I am starting to feel slightly human again. Still can't do much and made the mistake of picking up one of my beagle pups. I was sorry.
    To all who have had it I hope a speedy recovery. So far my diet has not changed except peanut butter makes me very ill. I had to go back to chicken broth for the rest of the day after trying that.

    Cheers!