Immediate Weight Regain after RNY

I had gastric bypass last Monday and had a little bit of a difficult post-op period, requiring a short stay at a rehab facility before coming home this past Monday night. Since coming home, I've actually gained five pounds according to my scale and I can't figure out why. While I was in the hospital, I had Carnation Instant Breakfast several times, but in the rehab facility, they didn't have anything I was able to drink/eat, so I just stayed on clear liquids (water and flat diet ginger ale) for several days. When I got home, my nutritionist advanced me to Stage Four, so I've had some fat-free chili and fish in addition to regular Stage Three foods (yogurt, protein shakes, etc), but I've been adhering to all my nutrition guidelines, including vitamins and water. 

I anticipated that after surgery, I would have difficulty getting in all my protein and fluids, but it's been extremely easy. I'm never hungry, but I also never feel full. I feel like I could drink water, shakes, and have soft foods all day.I still require so much willpower to stop eating from boredom right now, and I thought that at twelve days out, I would be struggling to eat and drink as much as I am. I have absolutely no issues with getting at least 64 oz of water and Crystal Light, 80 grams of protein, around 800 calories, etc. 

I'm happy I did this surgery (in my case, I did it to resolve problems with constant nausea and dry heaving as well as to lose weight and maintain weight loss) and from the moment I woke up, my nausea was gone, but I can't figure out why it's so easy for me to swallow and why I don't feel full. I'm also having issues with diarrhea right now, but my GI reassures me that it's temporary and will most likely go away once my body gets used to its new "plumbing." 

My surgical program's scale has me at a total of 17 pounds lost since surgery, but I'm dreading going back there on Thursday to see the behavioral psychologist and finding out that I've gained weight since then. I feel as if I'm doing everything right. When I mentioned my ease in eating and drinking to my surgeon's PA and the nutritionist at my post-op visit on Wednesday, they told me that everyone is different and some people have an easier time than others.The fact that I've gained weight, however, seems unheard of. I know that some people gain weight immediately after surgery from bloating/fluids, but how could I have lost weight and then started gaining after I began consuming the protein and calories that were recommended?

My surgeon's PA looked at my operative note, and it looks like everything was fine and nothing was out of the ordinary. I'm more than willing to work at this and I know my bypass wasn't a magic cure, but  I just thought that the first few months after surgery would be easier in terms of limiting the amount of food I could eat. I'm scared I won't be able to lose the amount of weight I want to lose or maintain that weight. I've lost and then regained over 100 pounds three times in my life, and I'm only 25. I thought that this would help me in finally being able to lose and maintain weight loss, and I'm so nervous and scared right now that I won't be able to lose weight, much less maintain a loss. I'm so jealous when I read of post-ops having such a hard time getting their fluids and protein in. Why do I barely feel as if I've had surgery in terms of eating? Any experiences, tips, or advice would be very much appreciated. 

Thanks!

~Jen

When I got home from the hospital, I had put on TEN pounds. It's internal fluids. It will disappear fairly quickly, in a few more days or so. My friend who had an RNY gained several pounds as well.

I think it's fairly common. My tummy had so much fluid in it that I could see it distended.

d

It's normal.

The fluids used in the hospital are designed to hold fluids.  As an example, women who give birth sometimes come home weighing more after they have the baby than before due to the IV fluids  despite losing the baby weight, the fluids in the delivery, etc.

Honest, give it a few more days, drink plently of clear fluids to flush the sodium from your system, and it will go away.

Hi friend! Yes what you are experiencing is normal. I gained 6 pounds when I was in the hospital for 3 days when I had rny. I was ...ticked! But then about a week after coming home, it came off.  I think our bodies are in shock. I had also lost weight before surgery.
And...like you, I wanted to eat and eat after surgery. Keep in mind that is head hunger. If you ask yourself, "am i really hungry?" the answer will probably be no. I was used to eating when I was bored, happy, sad, upset, depressed. Just about any and every emotion you can think of.  We have to retrain our brains. I was upset that I don't dump either. But thats something else I have to work on mentally.
You are going through an adjustment period in body and mind. It does get better.
Hang in there! 

Thanks so much for your replies and your reassurance! I knew about weight gain from fluids at the hospital, but I just don't think I expected to lose weight and then regain. I was 303 the day of my surgery and when I came home a week later, I was 285 on my home scale. I've since gone up to 290 on my home scale --- I just didn't expect to be bouncing around like that.

As easy as it is for me to eat and drink after surgery, the bottom line is that I'm not hungry (and that's a GREAT thing), so I really appreciate that important reminder about how I have to start now to do that mental work. 

Thanks!

~Jen

I got weighed at the hospital before my surgery.  I was not weighed as I was leaving, and I wondered why.  When I got home I knew.  Because I'd gained 8# of fluid and bloat from the IV fluids they pumped into me at the hospital.  Give yourself a few more days to get rid of it via elimination.  Then you'll start seeing some real losses and feel great about your decision.  Good luck.

 Wow, am I glad I read this!  I go in for RNY this coming Tuesday.  Now, if I gain weight while in the hospital, I'll know not to freak out.

 Yep, you are full of IV fluids and your tissues engorge themselves from surgery trauma...I gained 6lbs in the hospital in one night! It works itself out. Don't worry, you will start to lose again. Also, remember that nerves have been cut so you may not feel a hunger or full sensation. That is why it is so important to measure your food, but it sounds like you are doing that.

I still remember when I had my son, a day in labor, no eating, then C-section, then clear fluids for 2 more days. On the 4th day I got on the scale and I had lost 1 lb (my baby weighed 7lbs, what the heck!!). The nurse chased me off the scale and told me not to step on one again for 2 weeks. She said that between the IV fluids and everything else your body has been through, you retain fluids for awhile.

Just remember that your doctors scale and your scale are different... You will be fine don't stress!

(((HUGS)))

Congratulations! You are normal. The nurse told me some folks gain up to 15 and even more pounds afterward. I gained 6. It comes off in a couple of weeks. Remember, you are full of fluids and also will be pretty sedentary for about a month. I was and I needed every resting moment. Relax and sip liquids and follow instructions and trust in the many years of medical knowledge these good doctors and researchers have had in this life saving and life extending surgery. We are blessed to have this option available to us. Be patient and let it work for you gradually.