Question:
Is it normal to gain weight right after surgery

I had my lap RNY on Monday and came home from the hospital yesterday. i stepped on my scale this morning and have gained about 12 pounts. is this normal? if so i haven't read anything about this. it was a shocker.    — Carol B. (posted on June 26, 2003)

June 26, 2003
From what I've read (I'm a nursing student) after any kind of surgery it is normal to gain some weight, because you are swollen with excess fluid. 12 lbs. sounds like kind of a lot, but everyone's different. I hope this helps.
   — Amanda W.

June 26, 2003
I imagine that it's from the IV fluids. I puffed up like a pumpkin while in the hospital, but within a couple of days, it was gone. :)
   — Cheryl M.

June 26, 2003
It's not unusual at all to show a weight gain after surgery due to fluids. Most folks don't experience this, but some do, and I was warned about this possibility before surgery (and have seen numerous posters ask this question when it happened to them). Temporary fluid gain is just that, and won't affect your ability to lose in the long run. Give it time and try to stay off the scale as much as you can stand it in the early weeks and months.
   — Suzy C.

June 26, 2003
I gained 17 pounds after surgery--all due to the IV's. It all came off within 10 days
   — barbara A.

June 26, 2003
Yep, I came home with more pounds - IV fluids they kept pumping in because my output was low! I felt like my skin was 2 sizes too small. It went away within about a week.
   — koogy

June 26, 2003
Yes! I, too, gained weight while in the hospital (6 pounds). It is normal due to the push of IV fluids, swelling and fluid retention post op. One profile I read the woman gained 32 pounds! Of course she lost it quickly. :)
   — adeas

June 26, 2003
I gained 10 pounds while in the hospital. The scale and I fought for several days, until it finally conceded, and the extra lbs went away!
   — Dragon G.

June 26, 2003
YES. MY MOTHER GAINED A WHOPPING 25 POUNDS DURING HER HOSPITAL STAY. THEY SAID IT WAS DUE TO IV FLUIDS, BUT IT TOOK HER LIKE A MONTH JUST TO GET BACK TO HER PRE OP STARTING WEIGHT.
   — christina K.

June 29, 2003
I gained 30# from the iv fluids. It took me about 1 week to loose it.
   — ChristineB

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