Weight Gain After Hysterectomy

Hysterectomy is the surgical removal of the uterus. It is one of the most common gynecological surgeries. It is classified into the following three types:

• Total Hysterectomy: Removal of cervix and uterus.
• Subtotal Hysterectomy: Removal of only the uterus.
• Radical Hysterectomy: Removal of cervix, uterus, upper vagina and parametrium.

It is usually done when fibroids have developed in the uterus, or in case of endometriosis, uterine prolapse and a few other reasons.

Even though this surgery is comparatively uncomplicated, it has significant effects, which could prove to be very irritating for those who undergo this surgery. Weight gain after hysterectomy is the most common effect in women, and can be a cause of major stress. We'll find out the causes and ways to deal with weight gain after hysterectomy, in the following paragraphs.

Hysterectomy - Weight Gain and Ways to Deal With It

Those who have undergone a hysterectomy, can attest to feeling 'bloated' after the surgery or losing the vitality that they had earlier. Another effect of hysterectomy, is weight gain, which will be the main focus of this article. Let us first take a look at the causes of weight gain after hysterectomy.

Causes of Weight Gain
Weight gain after hysterectomy is mainly caused due to the reduction in the levels of estrogen, while the level of the male hormone, androgen, remains the same. While women have a tendency to put on weight in the hip or thigh regions, men tend to put on weight in their waist regions. Since the level of estrogen reduces, but the level of androgen remains the same, there is a tendency to put on weight (specially in the waist region), after hysterectomy.

Another cause of weight gain is the decreased metabolic rate. Decreased metabolic rate, mainly caused due to lack of activity after any major surgery, triggers weight gain in women, after hysterectomy. Usually, the waist is the problem area in most women, as mentioned above. Specific post-hysterectomy exercises will help in dealing with this problem, to a certain extent.

A major contributor to weight gain after hysterectomy, is the imbalance in the intake and usage of food. While all activities are stopped immediately after surgery, the intake of food will take time to reduce, and since all this food is not being used for any activity, it will be stored in the body to be used later. This causes build-up of fat.

Dealing with Weight Gain
Since the weight gain is caused by a sudden imbalance in the hormone levels in your body, consult with your doctor whether you are a suitable candidate for Hormone Replacement Therapy (HRT), before opting for it. If you are, you can go ahead with it, as this will reduce the weight from piling up exponentially.

Following a healthy diet and minimizing foods that are difficult to metabolize, or those which are laden with calories, will keep the weight gain to a minimum.

After the surgery, you will be advised to take complete rest for a few days. But as soon as you feel you can start moving around, start taking small walks around the house so that you are not completely sedentary. Light exercising like walking, will help in the long run.

Follow a strict diet program along with an exercise routine to lose weight after a hysterectomy. Only dieting will not help, and exercising too much will tire you out, which may cause further health issues. Balance the diet and exercise, and do both in moderation.

Other Side Effects of Hysterectomy

Basically what happens after a hysterectomy, is that the blood estrogen level falls, and this removes the protective shield of estrogen around the cardiovascular and skeletal systems. This increases the risk of cardiovascular diseases. According to a few studies, there is also a greater vulnerability to osteoporosis, after a hysterectomy. Testosterone levels dip in women post hysterectomy, and there may also be problems with bladder functioning. Hot flashes are also amongst the common side effects of this procedure. Mood swings and decreased muscle and mass strength, are other side effects of hysterectomy. Fatigue, depression, hair loss, anxiety and vulnerability to thyroid problems, are some other side effects of hysterectomy.

Hysterectomy and gaining weight go hand in hand, and there is no denying this fact. What is important, is how you deal with it, by eating right and by exercising adequately. All this apart, majority of the women who undergo this surgery experience a feeling of 'incompleteness'. They feel that they are lacking the essence of being a woman. This feeling should be addressed with utmost priority. There is much more to being a woman than just having a uterus, and bearing children! Try to keep yourself as cheerful as possible, and take care.