Hi everyone!  I have had my ostomy since June 2016 and have gained about 20 pounds since being home.  I think it is because FINALLY I am able to eat without getting sick and I can eat all kinds of good tasting things.   I also do my fair share of emotional eating and that adds a lot of wasted calories.  

I don't have great willpower but am trying to start by just eating less and adding exercise.  Anyone that has any helpful tips, I am willing to listen!!  Thanks.  

Send the pounds over to me . I would kill for 15 pounds . 

But really just cut down on sugar . No sweets no soda . You will se a huge difference. 

Be well , Bubbles 

Hi KamiH, I had been so sick and dealt with so much pain that I related it to eating. When the pain was gone and I was able to eat again, but I did start gaining close to 11 pounds a week. By the end of the month, I just about flipped. Because of finances we had not been buying the usual culprits, no ice cream, chips, candy sadly even chocolate.  Just all around good food. I had been eating small meals more frequently and fruits that contained lots of water...ie; melons, whenever possible. But I kept gaining. By week six I was devastated at what was happening and went to my doctor. He tested me for Thyroid problems and sure enough I had Hypothyroidism.  It was the cause of my weight gain. No matter what I did I could not loose the weight. Once on a thyroid pill the gain stopped in it tracks. I truly wish that someone had said to me after the first 20 to go see my doctor as it seems quick to gain that kind of weight.  The way I see it, our bodies go thru so much trauma with illness, surgery the like, it would be understandable  to expect the possibility of a thyroid issue. I am not diagnosing anything here, just giving you info I did not have. I hope things can change for you. If you feel hungry all the time, have you tried eating smaller greener meals. It is never too late. Feel encouraged. Watermelon is high in fluid and filling.  I hope things settle down for you.

Hi KamHi, It seems to be the case we go from under weight to normal weight to the case of I now seem to be 20 pounds over weight. As bubbles said cut out the unhealthy snacks.Make sure that fruit and veg are always handy. chop veg and have in the fridge keep a fruit bowl handy. When shopping don,t buy the unhealthy stuff, if it not in the house we cant eat it. How many short journeys do we use the car when we could walk. Plus not only will we be fitter but those extra pounds can cause problems when our tummy changes shape with the wafer.

Hello KamHi,

Like John says, this is a common problem. We are near starvation before we get this surgery ( at least for lots of us) and then we get healthy and very hungry again.  Same thing happened to me. Huge weight loss and now I have to watch it. Thats probably a good sign health wise.

I too eat very mindfully. Healthy stuff. No added sugar mostly plants. I also limit the times I eat to between around 7Am and 3PM/  This both helps maintain a good weight and keeps me from having to get up in the night to empty my bag. Lunch is my main meal of the day.

I drink lots of water right through the day. Sometimes I eat a small snack in late afternoon. Not eating dinner thing is a challenge socially. My family understands and I do make allowances for special occasions.

Posted by: Dona

Hello KamHi,

 

 

I drink lots of water right through the day. Sometimes I eat a small snack in late afternoon. Not eating dinner thing is a challenge socially. My family understands and I do make allowances for special occasions.

Now their is a really good point, "social eating" how many of us feel pressured into eating at the wrong time or just the wrong food. Family get-togethers are usually around food and I just take a small plateful and also my friends and family also understand.

....and there is always room for birthday cake!

and, like John says, very small servings. Looks like you are eating with people. Social stuff can be a real challenge.

After a day of fine dining...…..shall we say?????????? Be non social to yourself for a good 3-4 days.  It averages out.. You decide how much "fine dining" you did and equal it out.. Not a bad pattern--  I do this.  Even tho I could use much weight-- I hate the hips calories. !! .

I am losing weight with Weight Watchers . Lost 20 lbs since May. My goal is to get to 100 kilos or 220 lbs.

I started at 257 lbs.

I also recognized that I NEED to start walking. First week my goal was 1100 steps. I got out of breath too easily. I am keeping at it and averaging 3000 steps daily,  now. I  aim to get to 6000 steps by mid October. I am breathing better and have much more energy than the spring .

Please God,  I will continue to improve my health and well-being,  even as I age gracefully with my wife and family. I hope to continue to overcome obstacles like stomas and cancers as i have grown past liver and kidney transplants . God rescued my ancestors from Egypt,  Babylon, Greece and Rome. He takes good care of my people and me. I trust that he will take of my family and friends in the future. 

Keep moving forward! 

Z

Well done thou good and faithful.  You are making great strides and you are an example for all of us. I hope you will keep us posted on your progress it inspires us all. As for me I still struggle to stay standing, but a make a  couple more feet walking with a walker every day. Keep it up Z Zion lies ahead.

I gained and can't lose. Even right after surgery, I was told I would lose weight from the weight of the colon being gone and from the prep and lack of food, but I was heavier when I left the hospital, which makes no logical sense since I didn't eat for days. I immediately gained 30+ pounds in 2 months and haven't been able to take it off without drastic measures. I find it's a lot harder to gain muscle and I'm a lot less athletic. My body fat is a lot higher and my hormones are really messed up. None of this was an issue before my surgery and I cannot figure out how to fix it

I wonder if this is due to lack of gut flora which has been shown to support metabolism and synthesize nutrients for the thyroid, a cauterized hepatic portal vein (which dumps excess hormones and toxins into the colon, which I do not have and thus gets reabsorbed), and sibo, to name a few. Not sure though.

The weight gain has flared up my other health issues and it's been tough and discouraging. I also have 2 hernias, so the weight gain and bloating makes those hurt like the dickens. My stoma is huge too... I wear Coloplast and have to cut the flange all the way to the 43mm make and it's still often too small, since my stoma expands a lot during the day. Stomas are supposed to shrink after surgery, but mine more than doubled in diameter.

It affects my self esteem a lot. I used to be athletic and fit and now it's quite opposite. 😔 

Hello

This thread is old but I am hoping someone out there can still help me. 

Dec 2018 I fell into a coma, my blood pressure and breathing went way down and all my organs failed. I was taken by helicopter to Halifax hospital in Canada. we do not know the reason even today. The coma lasted 28 days and I was in hospital 6 months.  the medicine they gave me to save my life, killed most of my bowl.  I now have an ileostomy with very little bowel to sustain me.  I was a comfortable 150-160lbs and now I am having a hard time staying above 85 pounds!  I am quite poor money wise and my job when this happened was owner of delivery service.  I went back 1 year ago to doing deliveries and after almost a year I realize I am not physically capable of lifting all the food and going through snow storms to deliver.  this Monday I am starting a full time work from home job.  So I will be able to better afford food.  what I need from all of you is how can I gain back my weight?  I am uncomfortable all the time being so skinny.  sitting in a wooden chair is impossible as I do not have the padding needed lol.  I hate looking in a mirror and I used to be beautiful.  All my hair fell out and it was long and curly.  It is growing back now but it is thin hair and I look like a totally different person.  I barely leave my house.  can anyone advise me on a diet.  I take one a day and drink ensure once a day.  should be twice but it costs so much.  I also have magnesium and potassium supplements.  I would love get these from my food.  does anyone have a diet I can follow to get back to plump please.  thank you and God bless us all.  this is hard to live through.  So hard.  Dehydration is constant issue and some food comes out same as it goes in and its like water coming out.  I take Imodium everyday but I can't seem to find the sweet spot.  absorbing is a problem.  thanks for any help 

Dove Girl

Nova Scotia Canada 

Hello Dove Girl and welcome,

You have certainly had a very rough time of it . And  I am sorry that you are struggling to regain a good weight. With the shorter bowel thats left to you you have some different problems than I do, but there are people here who know lots more and can give better advice than mine, I'm sure.

For now I would just say that lots of small meals are better than larger ones. Also try a spoonful of peanut butter or something else thats concentrated with calories and won't do damage ( ice cream comes to mind ... but hey, even thats a caloric plus).

Just try to get more calories. I don't know how fiber affects you, but its something to take into account.

Also , do any of your doctors know about this weight loss? Is there a nutritionist you could talk to? 

Try to figure out whats in Ensure, and try to replicate a cheeper and more nutritious version. And smoothies are good.. there are lots of recipes on line.

Good luck. Let us knowhow you are doing.

Hi Dove girl, Welcome to the forum, I totally agree with Dona, remember it’s not just fat you have lost but muscle.Getting to know food and it’s value is important for anyone. Don’t judge how you are in these early days you will soon bounce back keep that in mind cos the mind is the key to coping healing and wellbeing 👍

@dove-girl Wow, Dovegirl, you have sure been through a lot. I agree with the advice already given, but I would be asking your family doctor to help you find a good dietitian. Eric has some great information on this site about how to find one, and you should be able to find someone who will do a virtual consultation with you. This service would have a fee, however. You should be able to find a provincially covered dietitian service through the QE2 in Halifax, (or through your local hospital) but you may have to wait awhile to see someone. You will need your doctor to make that referral, so it’s best that you make an appointment whenever you can to discuss this problem with him/her. Here in Ontario, doctors have been seeing patients virtually or consulting by phone during Covid lockdown; that may be the case in Nova Scotia as well. I will ask my friend in NS if she has any specific advice for you that I might not know, being in a different province. 

In the meantime, I think finding high calorie food that isn’t too expensive is a good idea. Peanut butter is a good choice, as are healthy fats, like olive oil. Use your local food bank if you need to; there are lots of people who are using the food bank now for the first time. The last year has been particularly difficult for many people.

I’m not sure that Imodium is going to give you much benefit, since you have lost so much of your colon. Better check with your doctor on this, but  my understanding of what Imodium does (and I have been taking it for years) is slow down the action in your colon. Do you find that taking it makes a difference? If it really doesn’t make a difference, that would be money better spent on food.

Do you have an ostomy support group in your area? I’m sure there will be one in Halifax, if not closer to where you are. A support group will have ostomates with all different experiences, so you may find someone who has had to learn to cope with issues similar to yours. If you don’t know about support groups in your area, contact Ostomy Canada to ask where the nearest group is. You can find them at www.ostomycanada.ca  

You have come to the right place here, Dovegirl. Take good care, and let us know how you’re doing.

Laurie

Hi Dovegirl:

I am in NS.  There are indeed several nutritionists at the QEII in Halifax that will provide you free consultation.  Your situation is complex and requires expert attention and advice.

I just joined the Halifax Ostomy Support Group.  They are at www.OstomyHalifax.ca. Hope to see you there.

In addition you could try chia seeds, linseeds I suggest you grind them into power not whole seeds. look online for protein energy balls recipes, cheap and easy to make at home. 

Sprouting seeds are also a highly dense nutritious food high in protein, minerals and vitamins the highest of all natural foods. Psyllium husk, slipper elm and marshmallow all absorb water and slow transit time naturally start little and build up slowly.

Your body has been quite ravaged imodium  IMO is something to not to want to be relying on long term.

If you can do some exercise and get some good nutrition absorbed, the more muscle you can put on, will build your weight up (muscle weighs more than fat)

Chris

@dove-girl Thank you for joining the forum and sharing your story. I think that because you have so much going on, seeking professional guidance is something I would strongly suggest. 

I live in Ontario, so I don't know what specific supports might be available to you as far as funding, medical supply reimbursements, etc. That would be my starting point to help with your finances.

Let's move onto a few things at a time, and the other forum members have already suggested some things to try. 

Weight gain will be more of a challenge if you have a short bowel, and you may need to seek guidance on medication to help slow things down and improve nutrient absorption. There is a medication called Gattex that is specifically for short bowel. I know a few people who are on it because of nutritional deficiencies and it may help with weight gain. Speak to your doctor about this. 

As for weight gain itself, the other members are correct - it's more about just adding fat to your bones, but muscle as well. That said, you'll want to keep track of what you're eating in a food diary and track how many calories you are consuming. Just keep in mind that what you are consuming doesn't necessarily translate into what you are absorbing, so considering the numbers you get as very loose estimates. I personally use https://cronometer.com/ to track nutrient and caloric intake. 

Foods that should help to slow things down and give you more opportunity to gain weight will be carbs: rice, pasta, potatoes, etc. Stick with healthier versions, if possible. So instead of frozen fries, go with homefries or baked potatoes. I understand that you might have some limitations, so honestly make what you can. 

You can try adding more fat to your diet, but keep in mind that this might cause your gallbladder to produce more bile, and that can sabotage your efforts.  Take it slow. I wouldn't eliminate fats, since they are still a high source of calories. Include fats in meals rather than as the meal.

There are so many possibilities to help, but I do think that a professional consultation with someone can help to set goals and create a personal plan to achieve them. 

Feel free to start a new topic with your progress and/or other questions. Best of luck! 

@dove-girl 

Wow - you are really having a tough go at it! Its amazing how quick out bodies become ravaged, but also amazing what we can survive and come back from. 

A couple thoughts... 

With your delivery service work, you may have been burning calories as fast or faster than you could absorb them by hauling stuff around. Working from home may help in that regard, although its still important to stay active and slowly build your muscles back up. 

My weight loss challenge has been much briefer than yours, but I was still shocked to drop from slender/muscular 121 lbs pre-surgeries to 103 with skin sagging off my bones in just 3 weeks in hospital. I'm a bit more than 2 months out from hospital now and am finally edging up towards 108-109 lbs and feeling pretty strong. Some foods that have helped me are yogurt, which builds up the probiotics in your intestine to help body absorb calories better. (I make plain yogurt from whole milk w/cream added but store bought is fine, just go for the whole milk rather than low fat and try for ones w/less sugar) Peanut or almond butter cups are another good calorie source and a good quick pick-me-up. Oatmeal cookies stick with me better than other deserts - I just have to be sure to chew them really well. If you can find a good protein powder to make your own drinks, its often a more economical better product than Ensure. I've been using Bob's Red Mill Chocolate protein powder. Its the only pea protein powder I've found that doesn't taste gritty and upset my tummy, plus it has probiotics and chia in it, and isn't overly sweet (monkfruit is the sweetener). Our local wholesale grocery carries it so its not so pricey, but I see it online too (in vanilla as well, but I haven't tried that yet). I make the smoothies with frozen banana & blueberry, yogurt, ice, and some kind of nut or rice milk, or just shaken up with nut milk and chilled.

Hope you can get it sorted out and some of the suggestions posted earlier also help you find your way back to better health. You must be pretty tough already to have made it through the rough road you been on. 

Best wishes!

@dove-girl....hello again...! Because I've dealt with severe malnutrition twice now and  because my response to you was very long, I opted to  PM you about several things that worked for me.  On reading this thread and all the other suggestions, I agree with Eric, "slow and steady wins the race"! Tackle one or two issues at a time here. They are all very good suggestions! 

I had to eat almost constantly to gain weight back on what I lost,  but I did so using the creamed soups, yogurts, cheese, butter not margarine which is mostly made with oils,  and so forth. My cholesterol has been nonexistant & still is, but as Eric said there can be issues with a high fat diet. Gallbladders can bring a whole whack of other stuff to deal with. 

Your body has gone thru, and pardon the expression, he'll and back.  Make sure as I suggested to get blood work on vitamins,  thyroid anemia.... & never be afraid to ask your doctor for testing for things you think are going on.  The worst he can say is no.  Request to see a good Gastroenterologist not gastro- surgeon, & see them regularly so your referral never runs out.  A GI will go the mile for your situation.  Survival is key here.  Patience, lots of rest. You can slowly build muscle but right now your body needs every single calorie it can store for a while.  I did a lot of " muscle isolation " exercises.  I found this strengthened my muscles better then anything after being so weak, no exaggeration here,  I couldn't operate a hand held can opener If my life depended on it.  lol!  You don't need to burn calories which is what will happen thru exercise. If your anemic iron infusions should be free if your GP or GI finds an Iron they can give you through special approvals and 8nfuse at the day care unit at your hospital. Be up front about your financial situation.  They can give you samples for medication & if they don't offer, request them .  

Any more questions just ask,.  All the best & yes, please stay in touch so we can encourage you on this journey.