Hysterectomy Weight Horror

iVillage Member
Registered: 09-09-2004
Hysterectomy Weight Horror
8
Thu, 09-09-2004 - 2:36pm
Ok guys, I'm new here, but I need some real HELP and FAST!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

I had a hysterectomy March 2003. At that time I weighed approx. 135 pounds. I fit comfortably in a size 8 and was very happy with myself and my looks. Now here it is Sept. and I weigh 175, can barely fit in a 12 and am very unhappy with my looks. Now before you say well excercise, eat right, drink water. I do that everyday of my life. The only place that I have gained (pretty much) is my stomach. I have tried every diet, weight loss pill and fad there is out there and nothing is working. I'm on a hormone patch and I also take a thyroid pill everyday. I don't eat much at all. What can I do? Does anyone out there have this problem? Has anyone out there conquered this problem? Please help!!!!!!!!!!!!! I'm at the end of my rope. I'm going through a very very very simple and painless divorce (believe it or not) and I have a gorgeous boyfriend that says he loves me just the way I am, but I don't. He's tall and slender and he fell in love with me when I was slender. I want that person back. Any help would be greatly appreciated.

Kell

iVillage Member
Registered: 08-31-2004
Thu, 09-09-2004 - 2:45pm
Hi there Kell :) Do you log your food into a journal everyday? If not, that might help you see how many calories/food etc you are eating each day. And have you talked to your doctor yet?
iVillage Member
Registered: 09-09-2004
Thu, 09-09-2004 - 3:02pm
I really haven't thought about keeping a journal. It just didn't seem that important since I don't eat any more or any differently than I always have. I go for a physical on the 17th of this month and I'm definitely going to talk with her about it. Thanks for responding. Have you had this problem? (The hysterectomy part I mean)

Kell

iVillage Member
Registered: 08-31-2004
Thu, 09-09-2004 - 3:34pm
Im sorry I havent. Im guessing that the hysterectomy has slowed down your metabolism if you are gaining and still not eating any different. Which means you will have to make some kind of change in your eating and/or exercise to get the gaining to stop and reverse it into weight loss. You could do it a few different ways but I cant guarantee which would work. You can just cut back on snacks, sweets, fatty foods and portions or actually count your calories. Talk to your doc though and see what they think.....they might have some advice on what is the best way to do this :)
iVillage Member
Registered: 04-16-2003
Thu, 09-09-2004 - 7:13pm
Hi, Kell. Sorry to hear about your troubles. Can you give me some more information about your thyroid condition? And what kind of pill do you take for your thyroid? I'm guessing that if anything, that's the reason you're having problems with weight loss. Have you always had problems with your thyroid? The hysterectomy probably made your stomach muscles weaker, so that will be a hard place to tone up, unfortunately. Also, the hormone patch might have something to do with it. Are you on that because you had a total hysterectomy? Did they take your ovaries, too? ~Sabrina
iVillage Member
Registered: 07-20-2004
Thu, 09-09-2004 - 7:19pm
Hi Kell,

I had a hysterectomy a little over a year now, but I really can't attribute any weight gain to it. I have always struggled with my weight. And, I do weigh about 20 pounds less now than I did before my hysterectomy. One website that I found lots of information and support at is called hystersisters.com. It is a support system for women who have had hysterectomies, are considering having it, or are looking for alternatives. At this website, I'm sure you will find answers to most, if not, all of your questions (including diet and fitness...they even discuss something called swelly belly - a term used by women at this site for stomachs that appear bloated or swollen). Hope this is helpful to you. ***Hugs***

Keeyah

iVillage Member
Registered: 09-09-2004
Fri, 09-10-2004 - 11:51am
Thank you so much for replying. I take Synthroid for my thyroid condition. I've been on it for several years and at the time I was diagnosed it was very borderline, so I'm on a very low dosage. I'm hoping that maybe that it the problem and all she'll have to do is increase the dosage and I'll get back to my normal size. I can't remember if I have overactive or underactive thryoid, but it's not the one with the bulging eyes. I know that sounds stupid to say I don't know which one I have, but I do get them confused. Anyway thanks for the support and the reply. I appreciate it.

Kell

iVillage Member
Registered: 09-09-2004
Fri, 09-10-2004 - 11:54am
Hi Keeyah,

Thanks for the reply and the info. I'll check out that website. I'm going to the Dr. next week and I hope she'll have some answers. Someone posted a reply and said that it was probably my thyroid that was causing it. I hope so, because then I will probably just have to have s larger dose of the Synthroid. Thanks again.

Kell

iVillage Member
Registered: 09-03-2004
Sat, 09-11-2004 - 1:08pm
Hey Kell...

I take Synthroid as well. It means you're hypothyroid, which just means that your thyroid is not producing enough of the hormones your body needs. If you haven't had your thyroid levels tested since you started taking your medication, chances are that they have decreased again...and that would make you gain weight. And it makes you gain weight quickly! Some other things to look for would be mood swings, weakness, dry skin, or muscle pain. There are a bunch of other symptoms, those just happened to be the lucky few I had to tolerate. If it is your thyroid, once they increase your Synthroid, you'll probably feel a lot better, but you're going to still have to work to get the weight off. I was unfortunate enough to be overweight before I was diagnosed, so now I have to work double time. I hope this helps. Just talk to your doc and see what she/he says.

Take Care...

Critter