Surgery

r0ck3rgirl
r0ck3rgirl Posts: 67 Member
in Health and Weight Loss
I just started making real progress and getting used to my diet. I have back surgery in a few days and the recovery is actually a long one. Any ideas on how to at least keep from gaining weight during recovery. I've put on so much weight because it hurts to move.
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Replies

  • barefootcassie
    barefootcassie Posts: 27 Member
    I'm having surgery on the 25th and I talked with my doctor about weightloss and healing. For me, he wants me to stick to my 1200 calorie goal but to up my protein intake for healing.
  • LivingtheLeanDream
    LivingtheLeanDream Posts: 13,342 Member
    edited October 2018
    All the best for your surgery and recovery. You wont gain if you eat at maintenance or at calorie deficit, log what you eat, that way you can keep a handle on what your weight does.
  • pinuplove
    pinuplove Posts: 12,871 Member
    cmriverside wrote: »
    Log everything you eat... I would say eat at maintenance while you are healing, your body will need the food to repair. Worry about losing when your medical teams clears you to do so.

    Everything up there! If you eat at maintenance you won't gain or lose, and your body will have the energy it needs to heal effectively. I hope the surgery is successful.
  • r0ck3rgirl
    r0ck3rgirl Posts: 67 Member
    My main concern is I don't be able to move around and I don't want to gain weight during the six weeks before physical therapy. Also do I log physical therapy?
  • Maxxitt
    Maxxitt Posts: 1,281 Member
    r0ck3rgirl wrote: »
    My main concern is I don't be able to move around and I don't want to gain weight during the six weeks before physical therapy. Also do I log physical therapy?

    I'd suggest not trying to log the PT as it's unlikely that the activity calories associated will amount to anything significant, especially in the first few weeks.
  • aokoye
    aokoye Posts: 3,495 Member
    r0ck3rgirl wrote: »
    My main concern is I don't be able to move around and I don't want to gain weight during the six weeks before physical therapy. Also do I log physical therapy?

    I don't log physical therapy. My PT only started getting vigorous enough to be worth logging six plus months after starting after my most recent surgery.
  • r0ck3rgirl
    r0ck3rgirl Posts: 67 Member
    My surgery is Monday. Should I just ask the orthopedic surgeon what my calorie intake should be while healing? I don't know if I want to let the app decide since it's n't health.
  • aokoye
    aokoye Posts: 3,495 Member
    r0ck3rgirl wrote: »
    My surgery is Monday. Should I just ask the orthopedic surgeon what my calorie intake should be while healing? I don't know if I want to let the app decide since it's n't health.

    Talk to your surgeon about it. It makes significantly more sense to ask them than us or relying on the app.
  • nicsflyingcircus
    nicsflyingcircus Posts: 2,855 Member
    r0ck3rgirl wrote: »
    My surgery is Monday. Should I just ask the orthopedic surgeon what my calorie intake should be while healing? I don't know if I want to let the app decide since it's n't health.

    May I ask what kind of back surgery you are having? I work outpatient surgery and see multiple back surgeries daily. The first thing we do (after verifying identity and vital signs) is get those patients up and walking. As much as they can tolerate. And the education we provide them on discharge has them walking short distances frequently, working up to longer distances. No lifting, but lots of walking. The worst thing our patients can do after their back surgeries is sit around inactive. Leads to poorer outcomes.
  • r0ck3rgirl
    r0ck3rgirl Posts: 67 Member
    A double laminectomy and discectomy I'm not sure I spelled either correctly
  • r0ck3rgirl
    r0ck3rgirl Posts: 67 Member
    It's inpatient surgery but they did say I would be able to get up after the first day and walk some. I'll be having surgery on my cervical spine in a few months to for fusion
  • nicsflyingcircus
    nicsflyingcircus Posts: 2,855 Member
    r0ck3rgirl wrote: »
    It's inpatient surgery but they did say I would be able to get up after the first day and walk some. I'll be having surgery on my cervical spine in a few months to for fusion

    Okay. The surgeries I see are lumbar laminectomies (1-3 levels) and anterior cervical discectomy fusions (1-2 levels). Generally anywhere from 2hr to 23hr stay (overnight) depending on a variety of factors. Any cervical surgery performed posteriorly goes to the floor (inpatient).
  • r0ck3rgirl
    r0ck3rgirl Posts: 67 Member
    It'll be awhile till I have the cervical surgery I am concerned about walking since difficulty walking is what prompted the doctor to say surgery. Do you mind if I ask if many patients saw improvement in mobility?
  • r0ck3rgirl
    r0ck3rgirl Posts: 67 Member
    The surgery is tomorrow and I have anxieties. Going to see if going to see venom is a good distraction then spend the day cleaning house. Anyone else have an idea how to distract from the anxiety?
  • nicsflyingcircus
    nicsflyingcircus Posts: 2,855 Member
    r0ck3rgirl wrote: »
    It'll be awhile till I have the cervical surgery I am concerned about walking since difficulty walking is what prompted the doctor to say surgery. Do you mind if I ask if many patients saw improvement in mobility?

    Most of the patients I see have improvement in mobility. Their pre-op symptoms usually include pain down one or more legs and numbness and tingling in the foot/lower leg in the affected side as well. Most (but not not all) report symptom improvements and even occasionally complete alleviation in the post-op period. If not immediately, there is generally gradual improvement.

    I don't know what your specific surgery is but I will say that, from working with neuro and ortho spine surgeons, they do these surgeries specifically to alleviate pain and improve mobility and quality of life. You may never see complete return to pre-condition functioning, but you should definitely see an improvement.
  • r0ck3rgirl
    r0ck3rgirl Posts: 67 Member
    Thank you for replying. It's good tp know other people have had improved mobility. I get drop foot and my left leg is all pins and needles which has ended up with me needing a walker to keep from falling
  • kami3006
    kami3006 Posts: 4,979 Member
    I hope you're doing well. My husband just had spinal surgery for two bulging discs on Thursday and so far so good. The pain down both legs is gone but still has the numbness in his feet. That should subside over time.

    Best of luck with your recovery!
  • r0ck3rgirl
    r0ck3rgirl Posts: 67 Member
    edited October 2018
    kami3006 wrote: »
    I hope you're doing well. My husband just had spinal surgery for two bulging discs on Thursday and so far so good. The pain down both legs is gone but still has the numbness in his feet. That should subside over time.

    Best of luck with your recovery!

    Thank you for sharing. I feel crushed by anxiety today so this is genuinely helpful.
  • nutmegoreo
    nutmegoreo Posts: 15,532 Member
    r0ck3rgirl wrote: »
    The surgery is tomorrow and I have anxieties. Going to see if going to see venom is a good distraction then spend the day cleaning house. Anyone else have an idea how to distract from the anxiety?

    Yoga, meditation, deep breathing exercises, any spiritual practices (if you have any), and putting your faith in your surgeon.

    Sometimes your symptoms (or new ones) will persist in the days after surgery. There is typically a bit of swelling that may cause this. As the swelling goes down, the symptoms should resolve.

    All the best tomorrow. Will you be spending a few days in the hospital?
  • r0ck3rgirl
    r0ck3rgirl Posts: 67 Member
    nutmegoreo wrote: »
    r0ck3rgirl wrote: »
    The surgery is tomorrow and I have anxieties. Going to see if going to see venom is a good distraction then spend the day cleaning house. Anyone else have an idea how to distract from the anxiety?

    Yoga, meditation, deep breathing exercises, any spiritual practices (if you have any), and putting your faith in your surgeon.

    Sometimes your symptoms (or new ones) will persist in the days after surgery. There is typically a bit of swelling that may cause this. As the swelling goes down, the symptoms should resolve.

    All the best tomorrow. Will you be spending a few days in the hospital?

    I should be home by Tuesday afternoon as long as everything goes smooth.
  • nutmegoreo
    nutmegoreo Posts: 15,532 Member
    r0ck3rgirl wrote: »
    nutmegoreo wrote: »
    r0ck3rgirl wrote: »
    The surgery is tomorrow and I have anxieties. Going to see if going to see venom is a good distraction then spend the day cleaning house. Anyone else have an idea how to distract from the anxiety?

    Yoga, meditation, deep breathing exercises, any spiritual practices (if you have any), and putting your faith in your surgeon.

    Sometimes your symptoms (or new ones) will persist in the days after surgery. There is typically a bit of swelling that may cause this. As the swelling goes down, the symptoms should resolve.

    All the best tomorrow. Will you be spending a few days in the hospital?

    I should be home by Tuesday afternoon as long as everything goes smooth.

    Sounds about right. You might want to spend some time meal prepping today. That way if you have a few days where you don't feel like cooking, you have some grab and go stuff. Would also keep you busy.
  • r0ck3rgirl
    r0ck3rgirl Posts: 67 Member
    Ive got some stuff prepared and also my husband is talking time off the first 3 days because the doctor said I might have difficulty getting up by myself to do the walking.

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