Weight Loss After Ileostomy: Can I Regain It?

Hi. I have lost over 30 lbs since having an ileostomy. Is it true that you won't be able to gain weight because things go through you so quickly that the body doesn't have a chance to take any nutrients, etc...? I'll have it reversed in a couple of months, then can I start gaining weight? Peace

G-Day Mate,

There should be no reason that you lose weight. I have had my ileostomy for over 3 years now, and if I don't control my eating, I would put weight on. Are you eating enough and eating the right food? Talk to a dietitian and get some advice.

Regards, IGGIE

Ditto to what iggie says.

30 pounds is a lot to lose too soon. What does your diet consist of?

I would typically lose 15 kg after each op.

The two or three months after each one, I would eat everything that wasn't nailed down until it all came back. Good times 🤣

Hi all, from my first surgery 40 years ago to my last 7 years ago, I've lost 20-25 lbs. and never gained it back, but I've always been an active person.

Getting Support in the Ostomy Community with LeeAnne Hayden | Hollister

I have an ileostomy, but started with a colostomy. I had a big weight loss after a couple of bad blockages when they weren't feeding me for days at a time, once for nine days! When I got my ileostomy, I was only around 87 lbs, and it took time to start gaining it back, but I did. Now, if I'm not active and careful, I will gain weight. Sadly, the days I could eat as much as I like of anything are gone!

Terry

The Boat

Enjoy those loose-fitting clothes and eating anything you want… In time, you'll probably have to start watching those calories… Wishing you good healing and health.    jb

I'm having an ileostomy too and lose weight very easily. It's a struggle to put on weight. I just keep trying to eat more each day. Slow and steady.

Do you have trouble absorbing nutrients? I do and am sure that's part of it. I'm little, and before my ileostomy, I ate all the time but never put extra weight on. Even the B12 shots don't help as much as I'd hoped they would.

Maybe get that checked.

I'm the opposite; I have had my permanent ileostomy for 16 years and have absolutely no trouble keeping the weight on and then some. I can eat anything and everything, and it certainly shows!

I was severely underweight before the surgery due to Crohn's, so my surgeon's advice in the hospital was to "eat everything that isn't nailed down"! - and I did and still do to a certain extent. For me, being a bit of a heifer (not obese, just pleasantly plump😉) is healthier than being a stick insect. Put it this way: I NEVER have to see a doctor (I haven't been for about 8 years, and that was just a checkup, not for anything wrong with me) and feel well and have plenty of energy. "Fat and fit," I believe it's called.

Directly after surgery, it did take about 3 months before I started stacking it on. Go for the full-fat version of everything (it tastes better and is actually better for you in the long run), plenty of meat, poultry, eggs, and dairy. Don't eat too much sugar and enjoy the return of appetite as you "live to eat" (like me)! 😅😋😊

Exactly!

I'm reminded of a song . Very long time ago.

The artist was female. Her name I think was Melanie?

I must have been 5 or 7 yrs old my cousin played this song and she cracked me up doing a sing-a-long .

The titled name was " Animal Crackers".

A line went something like this: 

Once I went on diet... yadda yadda. But diet ain't right...

Cause u can't eat animal crackers sooooo I'm gunna stay a fatty the rest of life. Ha ha haha haa ha!" 

Anyone else recall it?  

"Animal Crackers in my Soup". Is that the one Warrior.

IGGE

Not sure .. never heard the word soup in the song.. your song is different.. my version here in the states is funny..she actually laughs .." hah ha hahaha hahaha ha!" In it.  Funny tune. 

Try this one Warrior.

Oh, eat your animal crackers
'Cause my mother told me so long ago,
"If you eat your animal crakers,
The children in Europe won't starve anymore".
Hahaha hahahaha hahaha.
Oh I love eating icecream,
Chocolate, vanilla and butter pecan,
But I best love animal crackers
'Cause I love helping my fellow man.
Yeah, I eat more crackers than anyone can
Hahaha haha.
Once I went on a diet
(that's the freudian part, is it, when I forget it)
Once I went on a diet
A carbohydrate diet ain't nice
'Cause you can't eat animal crackers.
So, I'm gonna stay a fatty for all of my life,
Hahaha hahaha.
But some people think that fatties are nice, yeah.
Did you ever hear of Alice's restaurant?
I eat at Alice's restaurant year after year.
She makes an animal cracker pizza, ha
And she gives animal crackers out free with the beer.
Oh, let's give Alice a great big cheer.
She knows the age...
Ah, animal crackers are in this year!
Ha ha hahaha.
Oh, lalalalala lala lala

Regards IGGIE

This is the actual song 

https://www.google.com.au/search?q=melanie+animal+crackers+lyrics&sca_esv=4e21489e89a8a7cd&sxsrf=AHTn8zoqvuw83AVhfmNuD9nxOeNNbhyVhA%3A1743664286918&source=hp&ei=njTuZ8LTNa6Hvr0Ps6HiuAQ&iflsig=ACkRmUkAAAAAZ-5CrhAzs75q9uJprNfwHI4j59M15qnU&udm=7&oq=&gs_lp=Egdnd3Mtd2l6IgAqAggAMgoQIxjwBRgnGOoCMgcQIxgnGOoCMgcQIxgnGOoCMgcQIxgnGOoCMgcQIxgnGOoCMgcQIxgnGOoCMgcQIxgnGOoCMgcQIxgnGOoCMg0QIxjwBRgnGMkCGOoCMg0QIxjwBRgnGMkCGOoCSJ4LUABYAHABeACQAQCYAQCgAQCqAQC4AQHIAQCYAgGgAgeoAgqYAwfxBYZ4zvTG7o0KkgcBMaAHALIHALgHAA&sclient=gws-wiz#fpstate=ive&vld=cid:cc0c793d,vid:joblSKSV3Sc,st:0

Regards IGGIE

Thanks for the chuckle Iggie and Warrior, my first thought was the Shirley Temple song but this one is much more my cuppa tea! 😅🤭

This is the one I thought it was, sing along now.

https://www.google.com.au/search?q=animal+crackers+in+my+soup+lyrics&sca_esv=ba0413463e4e44e4&sxsrf=AHTn8zq2NK_wSpQhkOfATyZui797H0JRSw%3A1743669740812&source=hp&ei=7EnuZ7_PL8PR1e8Pv_b2oA4&iflsig=ACkRmUkAAAAAZ-5X_Ms6vemv-LPg8NCmM4XL9PdQ9Xz6&oq=animal+crackers+in+my+soup&gs_lp=Egdnd3Mtd2l6IhphbmltYWwgY3JhY2tlcnMgaW4gbXkgc291cCoCCAAyCxAAGIAEGJECGIoFMgoQLhiABBhDGIoFMgsQABiABBiRAhiKBTILEAAYgAQYkQIYigUyBRAuGIAEMgUQABiABDIFEAAYgAQyBRAAGIAEMgUQABiABDIFEAAYgARIkmVQwgpY-UZwAXgAkAEAmAGkAqAB3h-qAQYwLjIzLjO4AQHIAQD4AQGYAhugAowhqAIKwgIKECMY8AUYJxjqAsICBxAjGCcY6gLCAg0QIxjwBRgnGMkCGOoCwgIEECMYJ8ICChAjGIAEGCcYigXCAgoQLhiABBgnGIoFwgIKEAAYgAQYQxiKBcICFhAuGIAEGLEDGNEDGEMYgwEYxwEYigXCAgsQLhiABBixAxiDAcICExAuGIAEGLEDGEMYgwEY1AIYigXCAhAQLhiABBixAxhDGIMBGIoFwgINEAAYgAQYsQMYQxiKBcICCxAAGIAEGLEDGIMBmAMI8QXEOErYr3c2RJIHBjEuMjMuM6AH4MwCsgcGMC4yMy4zuAeEIQ&sclient=gws-wiz#fpstate=ive&vld=cid:e63e964b,vid:wNwFXLcrsbc,st:0

Regards IGGIE

Warrior and IGGIE……oh my …. 

I am missing Bills, hopefully temporary absence, providing poetry so I will “give it a go” (prolly a poor choice of words 🤔)

🎶Animal crackers in my soup

Makes me wish that I could poop

Just like the good ole days

Not like this present phase

In every bag I see

What is coming out of me

Since it ain’t coming  from my rear

An animal cracker I would fear🎶

Justbreathe is good and fun,

But wishes it came from her Bum

But as for me I am happy and glad

That mine is in the bag.

IGGIE

Iggie.. u nailed it. My bad. Love it when she laughs..