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Hello, in October 2008 I was well into menopause but had no real issues with belly fat or overall weight gain. Then I had my gallbladder removed due to painful attacks of my common bile duct, as well as gallstones. I am appalled at the weight I have gained since the surgical procedure. In fact it is so upsetting (none of my clothes fit) that I feel at times clinically depressed. I've never had to fight weight gain before. Now I have an "unsupportive spine" as well, and must take occasional bouts of oral steroids to control the inflammation. I also have had two spinal epidural steroid injections, and wonder if these injections could cause me to gain weight. Any comments would be most welcome. Thank you!
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Hi there, this is Beth, the person who wrote the original message about gallbladder removal and crazy weight gain. Thank you so much for sharing your story of woe. It mirrors my own. No doctor has believed me when I tell them I believe there is a link and correlation between gallbladder removal an weight gain. You and I share the same dilemma. My normal weight is 130 pounds. Today I saw a new doctor and I have ballooned to 293 pounds on a 5 foot 7 frame. I am beyond discouraged, I am demented with frustration and rage at docs who won't take this horrific weight gain seriously. I recently spent an entire month in the hospital with pancreatitis and kidney malfunction. I don't know where to turn. Thanks for reading this, and again, I extend my most sincere thanks for your post. I feel as if I've just met a twin sister. Let's support each other by checking in frequently. Very best wishes and a great big hug. Beth
September 25, 2014 - 5:18pmThis Comment
Beth, I also a having the same exact issues. I had my gallbladder removed last year, and since then I have gone from 160 to 240 pounds. I cannot recognize myself. I recently recovered from an eating disorder and was expected to gain some weight but NOT 80lbs. This has never happened before in my life. I have not changed ANY eating except eating LESS and working out MORE. NO ONE understands, including my doctors. I am so frustrated I have not much to say. :( hopeless
November 24, 2014 - 8:47pmThis Comment
Thanks Beth, I am Cheryl. .. I wasnt really that angry till that doctor told me I had hand to mouth syndrom.... In my area I do realize that so many are addicted to pain killers and go to these docs with fantasy symptoms to get more pills... but if they do not look into the complaints and just hand out pills.. then they are enabling those addicts... and in return.. those of us who have real complaints get shoved into taking meds.. out of the 10 meds they have given me.. not a one gives any result except for the anti inflammatory. ... the diuretic doesnt even take down my edema ..
September 25, 2014 - 6:14pmWe are stressed out, depressed, trying herbals, probiotics, diets, exercise.. then I read about adreanal gland exhaustion..lol.. and we have those symptoms too...I dont know about you.. but after living 48 years with no real major health issues other then some high blood sugar (and that was easily controlled compared to this).. I am feeling like I am becoming a nut about health..researching daily.. thinking someone somewhere seen a doctor that has some sort of answer..
The gallbladder weight gain issue is not the only thing that is getting the blow off.. Thyroid is the same....I couldnt get any of those doctors to give me the other more accurate test ..even when I offered my credit card to pay for it up front... yet stand there and tell me my t3 and 4 are a little low..,, are they afraid the patient might be correct slightly?,,, Like I told the docs... I know me... I know how i should feel... and what i feel now is NOT GOOD.. and want ANSWERS.. then i get a mumble about the darn internet.. when i never mentioned the internet!
Years ago a doctor put me on medicine for my thyroid.. obviously my numbers were low.. That three months on medication was the best three months of my life in how i felt.. slept great.. woke refreshed.. had normal energy.. and I could eat.. and feel good...I lost 85 lbs in three months... he says to me... that is too much too fast and removes me off the med. ..now.. telling him that i felt so good that I joined a gym .. and telling him that I was taking belly dance classes.. and taking walks , riding horses, gardening etc instead of sitting on my sofa.. and had changed my diet too for the better .. didnt matter... took me off the meds and back to being sluggish it was and has been since. .. showing the doctors my balding head.. my ridged dry fingernails..etc does no good either.
I just dont get it.
Today was a really good day over all.. spent 5 hours in the sun in the less clothes then currently comfortable in and what a difference in how i feel.. no depression, no aches , no stiffness.. and motivation was way up..and best of all... I could think and did not procrastinate and had energy!...strange.. now if i would have realized 5 hours would make that much difference.. I would have wasted 5 hours of every day in the sun, lol... would probably get skin cancer then.. ..
throws arms in the air..
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Beth again. That was meant to read 203 pounds, not 293!
September 25, 2014 - 5:28pmThis Comment
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July 1, 2014 - 8:26amthis page: http://howtolosebellyfast.blogspot.com/
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Hello All,
June 16, 2014 - 9:26amA year and a half ago I had laparoscopic surgery to remove one ovary that had a 9cm fibroid attached to it. For the first three or four weeks I actually lost a few pounds from being on pain meds and from not having an appetite. Then I slowly started gaining weight to the point where I am feeling a lot of the emotions that have been described on this thread: depression, anger, hopelessness, etc. My weight was always around 167 at 5 ft. 7 inches, and I wanted to lose 20 pounds then! Now I would love to be 167 again! I got on the scales this morning and am heavier than I have ever been at 191! Going over 190 scares me because I feel I have no control over my weight. This prompted me to google weight gain after surgery, which is how I found this gallbladder thread. I am now wondering if it has something to do with surgery and an imbalance of something caused by the surgery as much as with the removal of the gallbladder/ovary, etc. I have two friends who had their gallbladder removed and they both have lost weight since then. I also have struggled with many of the symptoms on here of upset/painful stomach/bloating after eating certain foods, fat around my middle and arms and hips, uncontrollable weight gain--even though I am exercising and not eating dramatically different than I ever did. I also have struggled with constipation and diarrhea, to the point that my doctor scheduled a colonoscopy, which was fine. I was also diagnosed with anemia, so I take iron and B12 to help the iron absorb. This has helped my energy level tremendously! I would definitely recommend this if you feel tired. My doctor called to tell me my last iron test was better and I can quit taking them, but I don't plan on stopping! I need energy right now!
I can tell you that the weight I have gained is pure fat! It has cellulite and I feel like at times that I am bigger than when I was pregnant with my three kids--and I definitely weigh more! I can also relate to basically starving myself to the point that the bile in my stomach makes me feel sick. Also, I have to eat something to take my vitamins, or they upset my stomach, too. I am basically eating the same as pre-surgery, so what in the world is going on except a change in my body chemistry caused by the surgery? I bought some probiotics online a couple months ago, but I quit taking them when I couldn't tell if they were increasing the diarrhea. I will start those again and also take Vitamin D. I am 46, so I am perimenopausal. I feel very frustrated! Thank you to all of you for searching for answers and sharing them on this site.
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I'm in the Army, work out 5days a week and I still gained weight after my surgery...nothing had changed in my life outside of the surgery. I was still eating good, exercising etc. After I failed a tape test (basically the Army said my belly was, too fat...urrgghh) I started looking for anything and everything to change in my life so I could start losing again. I saw the Army dietician here on post, as well as our unit Physician Assistant and nothing I implemented, diet or exercise worked. I struggled at this for about 6 months after failing my tape test.
I tried a couple of fat burners with no luck and spent like $40 to $50 for a month supply for each of them. Plus they gave me an upset stomach which wasn't cool.
A buddy of mine referred me to http://bit.ly/1uNgb1Z After I looked into the company more and realized the products are all natural, non-gmo, chemical free etc. I decided to give it a try. I bought the FightFighter for $39 for a month supply. I take it daily after dinner, and a month and a half later I've lost an average of 2lbs per week. Now granted I'm still working out and eating healthy but I'm back to my normal diet/exercise pre surgery. This is the only thing I've found to help me. I have since signed up for the company's loyal customer program that they have so I can get the same bottle for only $23.00. For me, to keep my job in the Army, and to end my weight loss frustration it's worth that small $23/mo price lol!! I'd be interested to know if anyone else is having luck on this stuff. Oh and it hasn't given me any negative side effects which is cool.
June 9, 2014 - 3:27pmThis Comment
I am. 24 years old and had my gallbladder removed in 2011, I was 57 kg prior to surgery . Since than I put on 25kg! I eat vegan diet because any sort of meat or fat even natural make me so sick and the pain is like before I had it out if I eat the 'wrong ' foods, I exercise 5 days a week... Nothing worked ... I went to my doctor and he prescribed duromine and othoplex repairase. I'm now back at 64 kg. hope this helps.
May 23, 2014 - 8:47pmThis Comment
I'm dealing with the same problem!:( I gained 15 lbs in 2 months. Did you go to your gastro doctor? I'm getting married in 3 months and this is totally unacceptable. Help!
August 2, 2014 - 7:35pmThis Comment
2003 I was rushed to the emergency room with stabbing back pain and gladly had my gall bladder removed and never had that pain again. Surgeon said my Gall Bladder was atrophied. I have gained 75 lbs. Ten years of peri menopause, an attack of pancreatitus, feel no help from doctors. Truly wonder if i just stopped eating all together if i'd feel better? Has fasting worked for anyone? It's 5am and i woke with acid indigestion and constipation. My belief system is hopeless.
May 17, 2014 - 4:34amThis Comment