Question:
According to the scales at my dr office, I've lost 40 lbs in since surgery on 10/13.

When I left the hospital on 10/18 I was weighed 422.2, and yesterday when I went for my first dr. appointment I weighed in at 382.1. How much of this is water weight?    — Michelle J. (posted on October 30, 2003)

October 30, 2003
Michelle, it's nearly impossible to tell how much of your personal weight loss was "water". I suggest that you ask your Dr. Some people have edema issues, some don't. I do, and bad, but I was not retaining very bad when I had my surgery. Everyone is different when it comes to fluid retention.
   — M B.

October 30, 2003
Trust me, they pump you full of fluids in the hospital, I've seen people go up by 10-20 pounds after surgery, and if you have a tendency to swell, then forget it..it could be double that. Your starting weight is actually the weight before you went into the hospital (or the day that you went in)....your leaving weight is a lot of water. You can probably figure how much it is by subtracting your weight from the weight you left the hospital at. Make sense? Good luck!
   — Sungurl B.

October 31, 2003
What did you weigh pre-op? I wouldn't worry about how much of your loss is water. I lost 21 pounds (pre-op weight) after 2 weeks. I'm just happy for the loss. Keep up the good work. Jan
   — Jan O.