Weight Gain After Ileostomy Surgery - Anyone Else?

Hi everyone, I had an ileostomy in May 2010. Since the surgery, I have gained quite a lot of weight. Anyone else having this problem? xx

Hi Claire, the answer would be a resounding "YES"!

In my defense, though, I was a 90lb weakling before I had my ileo thanks to Crohn's disease, so I definitely needed to put on the weight (but perhaps not quite as much as I have stacked on now; I seem to be a little TOO healthy!).

Basically, before the op, I never ate, couldn't keep anything down (or in!), and had absolutely no interest in life.

Now (2 years on), I eat just about everything that isn't tied down, am never sick, and even though I no doubt fall into the overweight category, I have never felt so well or healthy or happy to be alive!

If you feel that the extra weight is making you unwell, fair enough, gradual weight loss is the way to go (easier said than done). But if you feel fit and healthy, it is possible (like me) to be a bit cuddly and still be in tip-top health.

Cheers and best wishes,

Jo xox

P.S. Perhaps wait until the new year; the holiday season isn't a good time to start a diet, hey!

Yep, I'm having major trouble trying to keep my weight down. I'm pretty active in that I go to the gym, cycle, and walk when time and weather allow. It seems to gather around my waist more than anywhere; perhaps it's just middle-age spread? It's difficult to eat healthy foods all the time, e.g., vegetables, fruit, salads, as the ileostomy doesn't always allow this, i.e., gurgling, wind, etc. So any tips would be very welcome. x

Stories of Living Life to the Fullest from Ostomy Advocates I Hollister

Hi there, I have also gained quite a bit of weight. With the colostomy and all of the chemo and steroids... I blew up. LOL. Hard to take off too.

You're not alone.
Weight is hard for me to accept.
But I'm trying to.

Dear Claire,
I had a colonoscopy in July 2010 and have also put on a lot of weight. I think it's lack of exercise, as I was boxing training 5 days a week previously. Haven't worked up to doing anything since! Just lost my will...
I feel bad carrying the extra kilos! I am going to physio now, so I hope she can get me motivated soon. Just have to find something that drives me like boxing did. Good luck with your plight, hunny. Hope we both find what we need soon. I'm sure the coming year will be a good one :)

I had my ileo in January 2010 and, for some reason, have been slowly losing weight. I was 225 going into the surgery and I left the hospital at 205. I am down to 191 now. I can eat whatever and I don't overdo anything, but I am slowly losing about a pound a month. I get lots of compliments from folks who are unaware of my condition and just say, "Portion control." What might be happening is that I lose tons of fluid.

I have welcomed my weight gain, voluptuous now and loving it. I'm naturally petite, small-boned, so during Crohn's battles my weight actually dropped down to 72 lbs. Now I eat what I want, when I want. I plan to start dancing again and working out as I did before I got really sick.