Surgery and Weight Loss

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roxdrop

Hello everyone! This is my first post, so I just want to say hello and thank everyone for what a supportive environment has been created here. What a wonderful bunch of people! I have really learned a lot just reading through the various forums.

Briefly, my story is that I am 24, diagnosed at birth with bicuspid aortic stenosis, recently mildly symptomatic with an increase in my gradient, and looking at tissue valve replacement in mid-to-late March.

My question is about post-op weight loss. From what I've found on this forum, the general consensus seems to be that the average person experiences some genuine weight loss (apart from fluid loss) and that it eventually returns. I need to lose weight to get into a healthier range, and if I do lose weight after surgery I would like to keep it off. However, my main priority is a healthy recovery and I don't want to compromise this. I am now following a balanced, reduced-calorie diet but it is hard to lose much because of exercise restrictions. If I were to continue this after surgery (if possible, I'm not sure if my body would demand more calories after such a beating!) would that be a healthy way to keep off the weight, or would you recommend just doing what my body tells me to regardless of whether or not I would gain back any lost weight? Your input is greatly appreciated. :)
 
I can only tell you my personal experience and opinion. I lost 10 lbs right after surgery just because of the fact that I had absolutely no appetite. However, losing weight that way and that fast is not a good way to keep weight off. When your appetite comes back you're pretty much guaranteed to gain the weight back, maybe not all of it but probably most of it.

You are encouraged to eat much healthier after surgery, which definately will help keep some weight off and you're also encouraged to walk which helps even more. I personally wouldn't worry about how many calories you're eating after surgery, just that you're eating the right things. That's just my opinion anyway.

Carista
 
roxdrop said:
Briefly, my story is that I am 24, diagnosed at birth with bicuspid aortic stenosis, recently mildly symptomatic with an increase in my gradient, and looking at tissue valve replacement in mid-to-late March.

Welcome roxdrop. I'm fairly new here myself, and will be having my AV replaced in May. I was just wondering what made you decide on a tissue valve?
 
Thank you for you input, Carista, it's sort of what I was thinking- losing that much weight in a short time is not healthy and isn't the way I want to go about it. I just know I want to take good care of myself and help my new valve last as long as possible!

Welcome to the forum, Rob! My decision to go with the tissue valve was a very simple one: I am a young woman and would like to have children one day, which as you probably know is not possible on Coumadin. If I was not interested in having kids I would have most likely chosen a mechanical valve to avoid another surgery. From what I understand being on blood thinners isn't as bad as it may seem at first. My next valve will be mechanical, for sure!
 
I was 6'2" and about 198lbs. before surgery, and am at about 183lbs. now. Unfortunately, I assume that is pretty much my pre-surgery muscle mass turning to flab. I'll let you know if the weight stays away, but I hope I can someday make the muscle return and I can again be at my "happy weight". :)
 
I lost about 20 lbs from surgery

I lost about 20 lbs from surgery

and the aftermath...no appetite, greater caloric need when healing, etc. and have lost about 10 more (Yeah me!). I guess I think that if you eat healthy and are not overly restrictive it would be okay. I'm very overweight but I had more than a few medical types tell me not to focus on weight loss while I was recovering, which I interpreted to mean, "nothing drastic" like medifast or highly restrictive dieting.

Kristi
mitral repair 11/30/05
 
I believe you have begun on the right path. Yes, we lose weight but it comes back, given time, as soon as we resume our 'previous' life unless we eat a healthier diet - which you have already begun. As long as you meet your dietary needs you will be ok. I agree wholeheartedly with Kristin - right on target, IMHO
 
I lost about 25 pounds

I lost about 25 pounds

Roxdrop:

Post-op, I lost roughly 25 pounds -- from 199 to about 174-76 in about 4-5 weeks. I had absolutely no sense of taste for awhile. Then, I put 8 of those pounds back on.
One year post-op, I decided to get back to a more sensible weight. I chose Weight Watchers because my niece & her husband were doing well with it. I can do that, I thought. In 6 months, I made lifetime member. I stay around 146-150 pounds now.

I have changed how I think about food, how I eat & even shop for groceries.

Yes, there are days when I crave former favorites -- like chicken-fried steak, cream sauces, a big bag of potato chips, etc. Keep me away from BBQ potato chips!!!!!!
What stops me is thinking about how far I've come, about the 14 bags (yes, 14!) of clothing I gave to Goodwill and about how much healthier I am. My BP & cholesterol levels are much lower, and I feel much better.
I can still enjoy pasta (I opt for whole-wheat now), an occasional margarita/martini/glass of wine, potato chips, cream puff, etc., but I limit portion sizes and frequency.

I tell friends that God gave me a second chance at life, and I am going to do all I can to help Him!
 
Weight Watchers

Weight Watchers

I've always been a little overweight myself..well ok a lot overweight. I am only 5'10 but I am pushing 250 lbs. This has always been a concern for my cardiologist of course.

I have been successful with weight watchers in the past, I lost about 35 lbs. with them once, but sadly put it back on. With 15 weeks to my OHS, I figure I need to get my body in the best possible shape it could be in to help with the ordeal of that operation, so back to WW I am going.

It's a 12 week program so I have a goal of losing that 35 lbs. again, and then if I lose some after surgery, that's just a bonus as far as I am concerned. That could put me close to 200 post-op, which is much more reasonable. With all that walking I will be doing I don't want to be hauling around those extra pounds!
 
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