Weight loss after hysterectomy

Primavera
Primavera Member Posts: 231 Member
in Uterine/Endometrial Cancer #1

Did anybody experience weight loss after your hysterectomy?

I had gained a lot of weight during the years and ended up at 157 lbs before the hysterectomy.

I wanted to lose the weight and go back to what I used to be long ago (about 130 lbs) but somehow I couldn't do it.

Then this cancer diagnosis became everything and had to concentrate on that.

I had a bland diet a week before the operation, and then another bland diet for two weeks after. I know I'm eating less bread, less sugar, less ice cream, etc. I am eating better, but I also don't have a big appetite anymore and I'm down to 142 lbs. a month and one week after the operation. I'm just afraid that it will keep on going down. I might not want to go down to 130 lbs anymore in case I need the lbs. later on. I always took being apparently healthy for granted and now I am afraid of all kinds of things coming my way.

Comments

  • MAbound
    MAbound Member Posts: 1,175 Member
    #2
    Anxiety

    I'm sorry to hear that this is causing you concern right now. It's certainly dieting-the-hard-way. Anxiety and the surgery is probably the culprit. I don't know if you are facing further treatment or not, but I wouldn't obsess about the weight right now. Go ahead and enjoy nearing a goal you had even if its under circumstances you didn't envision. Stop looking at the scale and your doctor will let you know if there is cause for concern about what you've lost so far or not. A lot of us lose substantial weight going through this. The main thing is that you know what your bad habits are and embrace the healthy ones within diets that are recommended for you to follow (such as the bland). It will make your diet-the-hard-way last longer.

  • Primavera
    Primavera Member Posts: 231 Member
    #3
    MAbound said:

    Anxiety

    I'm sorry to hear that this is causing you concern right now. It's certainly dieting-the-hard-way. Anxiety and the surgery is probably the culprit. I don't know if you are facing further treatment or not, but I wouldn't obsess about the weight right now. Go ahead and enjoy nearing a goal you had even if its under circumstances you didn't envision. Stop looking at the scale and your doctor will let you know if there is cause for concern about what you've lost so far or not. A lot of us lose substantial weight going through this. The main thing is that you know what your bad habits are and embrace the healthy ones within diets that are recommended for you to follow (such as the bland). It will make your diet-the-hard-way last longer.

    Thank you MAbound

    I have to get three intermediate brachytherapy sessions (adenocarcinoma stage 1a, type 3). Then I’m intent on getting the colonoscopy and I also have to get tested for Lynch Syndrome. I guess I read somewhere that rapid weight loss was a symptom of colon cancer and now I panic. Wish I had had that colonoscopy done ahead of the hysterectomy and ahead of brachytherapy. But you’re right. I should calm my anxiety. 

  • suzycruise76
    suzycruise76 Member Posts: 163 Member
    #4
    Primavera said:

    Thank you MAbound

    I have to get three intermediate brachytherapy sessions (adenocarcinoma stage 1a, type 3). Then I’m intent on getting the colonoscopy and I also have to get tested for Lynch Syndrome. I guess I read somewhere that rapid weight loss was a symptom of colon cancer and now I panic. Wish I had had that colonoscopy done ahead of the hysterectomy and ahead of brachytherapy. But you’re right. I should calm my anxiety. 

    Primavera,

    please don't panic regarding your weight loss. It is NOT a symptom of colon cancer; I do have colon cancer,having been through chemo and radiation without any weight loss. I asked one of my dr's team how come I had not lost any weight? She just laughed and told me to wait after the surgery,that I will lose weight for sure (I could use it!)

    Try not to be too anxious,and take it one step at the timeLaughing,

    Suzy

  • Denise66
    Denise66 Member Posts: 81 Member
    #5
    I lost about 8 pounds after

    I lost about 8 pounds after my surgery. I actually put it back on. I went through menopause as a result of my surgery. Don’t worry, it freaked me out too. But, I found it completely normal. 

    You’re going to be just fine.  You really are.

    Denise

     

  • Forherself
    Forherself Member Posts: 1,018 Member
    #6
    Primavera said:

    Thank you MAbound

    I have to get three intermediate brachytherapy sessions (adenocarcinoma stage 1a, type 3). Then I’m intent on getting the colonoscopy and I also have to get tested for Lynch Syndrome. I guess I read somewhere that rapid weight loss was a symptom of colon cancer and now I panic. Wish I had had that colonoscopy done ahead of the hysterectomy and ahead of brachytherapy. But you’re right. I should calm my anxiety. 

    I lost 20 lbs after surgery

    stress.  I am gaining it back now, and I don't want to.   Your prognosis is very good.  It is hard to see that after going through the frighteneing process of this diagnosis.  I don't know if you have read my previous posts, but PTSD can follow a life threatening diagnosis.   Mayo Clinic has a good article on PTSD.  I think I had it.  Many others think so too.  I couldn't sleep.  I obsessed about reading cancer articles.  It helps to know there is a reason why you might fell it too.   

    One other thing.  YOu have to wait for your colonoscopy, but you can have a fecal occult blood done.  It is easy and inexpensive.  Your family doctor can prescribe it.   It will tell you if there is any blood in your stool.  Maybe that would ease your mind while waiting.  

  • janaes
    janaes Member Posts: 799 Member
    #7
    Hello i had this worry. On

    Hello i had this worry. On average im about 125 lb. Didnt think about it too much before i found i had cancer and really didnt notice. One person told me i looked thin. Any ways i had lost weight. I cant remember all the numbers but after my hysterectomy i believe i was under 110

     I was worried i would loose too much during chemo. It motivated me to eat what i could. I remember eating chicken and peanuts on my good days. I also drank carnation intant breakfast. Although i had days where i didnt eat good (Some days it was watermelon and two carnation instant breakfasts and thats it) i never went lover than after my hysterectomy.

    I wish you luck as you go forward.

  • Armywife
    Armywife Member Posts: 451 Member
    #8
    Don't Worry!

    I lost 15 pounds after surgery, and gained that same 15 back during chemo.  My doctor said almost everyone loses weight around a surgery.  I've gained even more since finishing chemo over a year ago, and really need to lose about 40 pounds - no self discipline here, and you'd think I'd muster some knowing that overweight is conducive to endometrial cancer....

  • Primavera
    Primavera Member Posts: 231 Member
    #9
    Thank you all for the advice.

    You have put my mind more at ease. I'll calm down a little.

  • zsazsa1
    zsazsa1 Member Posts: 568 Member
    edited May 2019 #10
    I lost about ten pounds

    I lost about ten pounds without really trying in the two to three months before I was diagnosed.  I lost a little bit more after surgery, then gained it back during chemo.

  • Primavera
    Primavera Member Posts: 231 Member
    #11
    Forherself said:

    I lost 20 lbs after surgery

    stress.  I am gaining it back now, and I don't want to.   Your prognosis is very good.  It is hard to see that after going through the frighteneing process of this diagnosis.  I don't know if you have read my previous posts, but PTSD can follow a life threatening diagnosis.   Mayo Clinic has a good article on PTSD.  I think I had it.  Many others think so too.  I couldn't sleep.  I obsessed about reading cancer articles.  It helps to know there is a reason why you might fell it too.   

    One other thing.  YOu have to wait for your colonoscopy, but you can have a fecal occult blood done.  It is easy and inexpensive.  Your family doctor can prescribe it.   It will tell you if there is any blood in your stool.  Maybe that would ease your mind while waiting.  

    PTSD

    Yes, I read your post about that article. I used to sleep OK, and lately, I wake up and think all kinds of things.

    I will probably feel better when I go back to my job and can be surrounded by all my friends.

  • Primavera
    Primavera Member Posts: 231 Member
    #12
    zsazsa1 said:

    I lost about ten pounds

    I lost about ten pounds without really trying in the two to three months before I was diagnosed.  I lost a little bit more after surgery, then gained it back during chemo.

    Thank you zsazsa1

    I guess it is more common than I realized. I'll relax. I don't want to gain the weight back, but I am trying not to lose anymore for now.

  • Feelingalone74
    Feelingalone74 Member Posts: 243
    #13
    These posts have helped put

    These posts have helped put my mind at ease with my weight lost. I'm down 11 pds. Since my hysterectomy.  I was getting worried though my doc didnt seem concerned.  I'm down to 121 so I hope not to lose anymore weight as my clothes are starting not to fit and I dont want to look too thin. I know the anxiety and lack of sleep isnt helping either. I wish the mind had an off switch!

    Is weight gain common with chemo? I'm concerned about that as I've worked so hard walking 3 miles a day prior to my hysterectomy that I hate to think I could gain.

    Hope you ladies are feeling well! 

    Michelle 

  • MAbound
    MAbound Member Posts: 1,175 Member
    #14
    Feelingalone74 said:

    These posts have helped put

    These posts have helped put my mind at ease with my weight lost. I'm down 11 pds. Since my hysterectomy.  I was getting worried though my doc didnt seem concerned.  I'm down to 121 so I hope not to lose anymore weight as my clothes are starting not to fit and I dont want to look too thin. I know the anxiety and lack of sleep isnt helping either. I wish the mind had an off switch!

    Is weight gain common with chemo? I'm concerned about that as I've worked so hard walking 3 miles a day prior to my hysterectomy that I hate to think I could gain.

    Hope you ladies are feeling well! 

    Michelle 

    Lost 30 lbs.

    I lost 30 lbs during chemo in addition to what I lost between diagnosis and and from the surgery. I think a lot of us tend to lose weight instead of gaining it, but there are those who gain. It probably depends on how the chemo impacts us and there's a lot of variation with that. I gained a lot back on when I was put on Megace after radiation, so you never know when losing weight first can come in handy. This is a take-one-step-at-a-time process, so focus more on just getting through treatment rather than obsessing about weight gains or losses. You can deal with that later when you aren't in the midst of what you are doing now.

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