PLEASE HELP! HYSTERECTOMY AND WEIGHT ????

bethmiller3377
bethmiller3377 Posts: 27 Member
edited September 30 in Motivation and Support
I have finally lost over 108pounds, so I DO NOT want to gain it back. (DUH lol)

However, I am having a hysterectomy (Medically necessary) next week.

My Dr. is warning me that I will probably gain weight....WHY???

Let me say this:
I teach aerobics at a gym, and I also do my own hour long cardio once a day.
SO, I work out 6 days a week, for 1-2 hours each time.
I lift weights with my trainer twice a week and he kicks my butt during these workouts.
I am LOVING the results that I"m seeing.
I'm finally down to 16% body fat, but I still have just 15 pounds to go to reach my goal!!!!
For the past month (almost 2!) my weight has gone up and down and up and down by 1-4 pounds.
I know muscle weighs more, etc, but that should be settling down now and the weight SHOULD be dropping.
Anyway... I have the surgery scheduled and my dr. says NO working out and NO lifting anything heavier than a gallon of milk, for at least 4-6 weeks. :-(
HELP!!!
I don't want to gain weight and lose the muscle that I have FINALLY started building.
Anyone out there have this surgery before?
By the way, it's being done by laprascopy, NOT a huge incision.
So...what can I do, other than continue eating healthy, to help ensure that i won't gain weight...or am I just destined to gain it due to hormones??
ANY help is appreciated y'all! :-) Thanks!!!

Replies

  • bethmiller3377
    bethmiller3377 Posts: 27 Member
    I forgot to say, she did say WALKING is ok...but that's about it....in fact, I know I should walk anyway, to avoid blood clots, but what about a good hard workout??? I really have to wait that long??? :-( Help please!
  • dimond1610
    dimond1610 Posts: 46
    well i will tell you that my friend, within the past week, had to have a hysterectomy too. the day of the surgery, all you can have is water and ice chips.(you wont be having any calories) then for the next few days my friend of course isn't in her best shape, meaning she cant eat very much of anything. if anything the weight you will gain will just be water retention and bloating from the surgery, but it shouldn't stick... at least for long. this surgery is a big ordeal and i think you should focus on your recovery and not about the weight. also eat as much protein as you can during your recovery, even if its just a little bit because it will help you heal faster. plus i am telling you, for at least the first week exercising hard will not be on your mind. with all the drugs running through your body you will be needing lots of SLEEP, don't push yourself.
  • kymarai
    kymarai Posts: 3,703 Member
    I didn't gain weight after mine. I do know that I was extremely limited in activities for about 4 weeks other than walking. That is to avoid any excessive scar tissue build up. Watch what you eat, drink lots of water and walk when you can. You probably aren't going to feel up to hard core exercising right away anyhow, but listen to the dr and your body. Mine was almost 20 years ago. You are in great shape now so should be okay. Thoughts, hugs and prayers!
  • melizerd
    melizerd Posts: 870 Member
    Are you keeping your ovaries? Keeping the ovaries means that you keep the hormones that you should have, so that you don't go into menopause (Not sure of your age but menopause makes it harder to lose weight, and can cause women to need to work harder to maintain weight).

    Be sure to follow the doctor's orders for healing and exercise, so that you don't pull stitches out, injure yourself etc.

    What I would do is set to maintenance with sedentary lifestyle for after the surgery. That will allow you to know what you can eat especially at the beginning when you can not exercise much.

    I am a nursing student, plus my best friend just had a hysterectomy in November. Her recovery time before she could exercise again was about 6-8 weeks, with only light walking allowed after the first week or so when she felt like being up and about.
  • leynak
    leynak Posts: 963 Member
    My mom had a hysterectomy not quite 20 years ago. She did gain weight, but she also doesn't watch what she eats & she doesn't exercise at all. She had a pretty high metabolism in her teens & 20s so she was always very skinny. I guess the surgery & middle age caught up with her.

    If I were you though I wouldn't worry too much since you are already healthy. Just take care of yourself & get back into your routine when the doc says ok. Good Luck :smile:
  • bethmiller3377
    bethmiller3377 Posts: 27 Member
    Thanks so much y'all!!! The info def helps me to feel better about it... Yes, I'm keeping my O's. haha And i'm 34. I have 3 children....so I had 4 pregnancies, 3 births. It's time to let the ol "U" go...I have adneonmyosis, so it's got to come out. :-(
    I appreciate all the advice and help...especially the part about changing my fitness pal to "sedentary" until I'm recovered. That is a great idea! Thanks for everything y'all! :-)
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