Weight gain after hyst

It's now over 3 months since I had my hyst. I started on HRT 5 days ago (livial) which so far isn't having any effect and my hot flushes actually seem to be getting worse :/ I have also put on another 3lbs. I had weight gain when I first got ill, gained more weight after surgery last november. I couldn't manage to get any off after the hyst (although it didn't go up) and desperately hoped the HRT would help, but I've only got bigger.

I know in the grand scheme of things its not the worst thing in the world, but it's really starting to get to me now. I feel like I've gone from being a slim young woman who had difficult periods to a flabby, overweight middle aged woman overnight. I don't drink alcohol. I've cut out chocolates and sweets. I'm more active than I was prior to surgery and I'm still gaining weight and don't know what to do. I've tried so hard to put a brave face on everything, pretending I didn't care when my hair started falling out last year, I don't care about the scarring, having 3 surgeries in 14 months was fine, being menopausal and infertile at 39 is fine, but this just feels so bloody unfair. I'm having to change my clothes 3-4 times a day at the moment because the sweating is so bad and usually I work from home but I have 3 days of face to face meetings next week and I don't know how I'm going to cope if the HRT isn't helping by then.

No point to this, just needed to say it somewhere as my husband can't cope if I stop pretending everything is fine and I don't really have anyone else to talk to.

[Jaas1]

I feel for you. I just posted a similar post yesterday about weight gain. I am getting married in a couple of weeks and I'm so put off being in a bikini right now! The lady who replied to my post gave me strength and suggested walking (brisk or slower depending on pain). I think you should look at it as maintaining your weight and not gaining anymore as I was out to just simply loose it all but I guess it's not that easy right now, but the day will come!

You don't have to cut out on nice snacks, just have it in proportion and keep in control of what is going inside your body by having more home-cooked foods. I'm very poor at writing motivational speeches, but take a look at my post on weight gain and read them and I hope they give you some strength also, but what I will suggest is that you don't bottle things inside of you because that's the worst thing you can do. What I have learnt from this forum is that there are many people out there who are actually worse off than me, so I consider myself lucky despite still going through the pain and stresses. We are all in it together, we can just lean on each other and advise the best we can. I hope you cheer up soon, but you are never alone just remember that x

[Hidden in reply to Jaas1]

I walk every day, I'm doing gentle weight training, I ride my bike several times a week. I don't eat any processed food as I like to cook, and I make absolutely everything including my own bread. I'm not eating between meals, I'm not drinking endless cups of tea with 2 sugars. I feel like I'm not eating enough to still be gaining weight and yet it's still going on I know there are people in a worse position - I have been in a worse position and the fact that I've had to have this hideous surgery gives some indication of how bad my endo was. It just feels like this is a final kick in the teeth. Sigh.

[Jaas1 in reply to Hidden]

I'm sorry to hear that, I can't comment as mine hasn't been as bad as yours but what I will say is that no matter how big you feel, I'm sure that your husband is still supporting you and sticking by you. Don't give up, you are an inspiration by what you have been through x

[JeanOsborne]

Hun I know exactly how you feel. I was put on livial three months after my hyst. I did absolutely nothing for me. My hot flushes were so bad that I would actually collapse. Believing all the endo had been removed I decided (after talking with GP) that I would try normal hrt. Within two days the hot flushes had completely gone. Would only happen if I was really stressed. Unfortunately all the pain came back but worse than before hyst.

Have recently seen a different specialist who told me to stop hrt for two months and if pain goes then it's endo. I know it's endo but have to prove it AGAIN .

As far as weight is concerned I'm the same. I've put on about 3 stone which no matter what I do I cannot shift. I'm starting to learn to like how I am now. But it's hard. I have a wedding to go to in August and all my lovely dresses are way too small which has really upset me . The only thing that helps is that I know my husband still thinks I'm beautiful and sexy. (Think he needs stronger glasses) haha!

Did read somewhere that after menopause your matabolism slows down which would explain it. Try and remember that you've been through a lot and it will take time , but hopefully we will get there.

Hope you're ok .

[Hidden in reply to JeanOsborne]

It sucks. The consultant did cheerily tell me when he gave me the livial that it probably wouldn't work and that oestrogen patches were better but that I had to start on the livial anyway. I just feel like I have run out of steam. After 13 weeks of post op with nothing, I need this to start working now :/

The weight gain is getting to me. It just won't come off. I feel this time is very much like the first year after you have a baby when you find yourself in this alien body and have to figure everything out again. I know I'll never go back to being 30 and being OK. But I'm surrounded by friends who are still having babies and are miles off the menopause and I'm finding that part of it quite painful. I feel very self-conscious and embarrassed by all of it. I don't regret the surgery, I didn't really have a choice, but everything is not magically fixed now and sometimes I feel like people think it is.

[JeanOsborne in reply to Hidden]

Hun I do know what you mean. As for what it's like after having a child I can't comment as I've never been blessed.

You could try menopace. I've been taking it and do feel like it helps.

I know it doesn't help much at the moment , but it really isn't that long since your op. Stay strong Hun.

There is no way I could have gone for a bike ride at 13 weeks post op, so you're doing well. Just have to believe in yourself and you will achieve anything you want.

Take care Hun.

[Webb22]

I feel your pain. I also have put on two and half stone in the last year and couldn't understand why. However not only suffering from endo for year and due to have a hysterectomy next Monday I have also been diagnosed with underactive thyroid which has also contributed to the weight gain. Please don't tell me after my op I am going to gain even more 😂 Looks like a change in lifestyle is very much needed when I become a new woman!

[Hidden]

wait gain is a horrible thing when you feel like you are doing nothing to increase weight, and trying little things to reduce weight or at least not put any on. Before my hyst I was gaining weight and have gained more since. I don't have scales in the house. I bought some comfortable but nice fitting larger clothes, so on a bad day I wear those, and hope that once I am back at work and fully recovered from the surgery that my weight might reduce but at the very least not go up. It is frustrating, but comforting that there are so many of us in the same postiion..... so we are not alone x