How long does it take to put the weight back on?

I just can't seem to put weight on. I am truly bones with skin. I try and eat well and I do pretty good, but the weight just does not happen for me. I am afraid to know just how much I do weigh. Maybe 95 pounds. I started out at 133 and I know I will never reach that, but I would like to weigh a bit more. I do have protein shakes almost every day and I feel I eat fairly well. BUT..................?? Eny ideas?

PLUS......... Wish me well. I have ny first Pet Scan this week and I am a bit worried. It is my first scan since my operation. I hope it is clear.

Payson

Georgi,

I wish you good luck on your PET scan and with all future scans!  

My husband had his surgery in March 2008 followed by chemo from April - July 2008.   The chemo was the worst and he went from 150 lbs. after surgery (he originally weighed about 160 lbs. ) to 123 lbs.  Today, he's about 140.  He reached 145 lbs. but he is very active and lost a few these past few weeks.   The chemo stayed with him for a long time and it has only been the last month or so that he can now eat about 95% of what he used to.   His Oncologist told him he may never be the weight he used to.  

I have no answer to your question but I think in time you will be able to but on weight -- it's been a slow process for my husband but he's alive and his scans have been clear so that's all that matters.   We joke about it and I tell him he can now borrow my jeans!

Maria

Hello Georgie,

I, too, wish you good luck with your scan. I know you are on pins and needles until you get the results.

I had the IL surgery in mid-2005. I never had chemo or radiation. I weighed about 190 before and 165 one month after. I thought I'd never gain my weight back and didn't want to gain it all back. I was also concerned that I would not be able to eat enough to cycle like I did before. I didn't need to worry. I now weigh 180, 5 pounds more than I want, and would be back to 190 if I didn't ride a lot.

You will get there too (No - not 190!!!). Just  make every bite count. I believe that exercise helps. You might think you can't really work out and keep your weight on, but I found out differently.

Be sure to let us know how the scan goes. 

Good  Luck, KEEP MOVING, and Laugh Much,

Steve 

Good luck with the scan. I had a come apart yesterday...husband's scan was supposed to be yesterday but was put off till next week due to Medicare rules about being off chemo 2 weeks before a scan in PA. I always get really stressed right before the scan...can't sleep, etc.

Weight can be very slow, but you are still so close to your surgery that your system probably hasn't totally figured out how to work yet. My husband weighed more than he did pre cancer when he started chemo again in March. Even now, he is till over the weight he was at diagnosis. It was very slow and steady. He also found he was able to eat more as time has gone on, which makes it easier to gain. He grazes through the day.

Payson,

 The best to you with your scan.  I hope you get good results.  Please update us.  As to your weight, my husband is just 4 weeks out of surgery and has finally gotten to a point where he's maintaining his weight.  He tries to have a shake everyday (ScandiShakes are good), sometimes he gets a shake from Steak and Shake.  Have you spoken with your doctor about feeding through a tube to supplement your regular eating?

Best,

Helene

Best wishes to you as you get your scan.  It took me 2 years to begin to put weight on.  My husband used to joke with me by saying "Barbara, you take 3 steps before your pants move."  I was a skeleton too.   Like you, I looked like bones with skin stretched over the top.   I reached the tipping point and now I am a little too heavy.  I went from a size 6 to a size 16.  At some point you will be able to tolerate all the fattening foods and the weight will just come on.  I love Ritz crackers and eat a box of crackers a week.  That is where I am gaining weight.  I'll be praying for your scan to be very good and also for you to begin to put a little flesh on the bones.

God bless you, Payson.

Payson: First I wish you all the best and I just know your scan will be find, but I also know how nervous one gets prior to it. Now for the weight, again everyone is different and progress is different for everyone. I had a hard time the first six months keeping or putting on any weight. I was over weight 183 lbs before all my problems started, then I lost weight rapidly. The third day after surgery I weighted 127lbs the lowest I've gone thus far. After about 6 months I gained 6lbs and hit 133, on May 13 when I saw the oncologist I was 145 and now I have dropped back to 137. I think it will always be up and down and now I figured why worry about it. In time you will eat more and the weight will come, I doubt, well for myself anyway, I will never be as big as I was cause I just can't eat enough, but as long as I stay between 125-140 I will be okay. For most it does get better as time goes and even 1 week can make a difference, so be patient and try not to worry to much, maybe ask your doctor for suggestions but I found I could not eat much and still don't but I try to eat high calorie foods, but I also watch my sugar as I am diabetic. It is tuff but you will get there with time.

Take Care and Be Positive

Evelyn

Hey Georgi!

I wish you all the best with your scan this week!  please be sure to keep us informed!

as far the weight thing goes...  i totally understand how you feel!  my dr. says i after a year i will probably reach my maximum stomach capacity.  i do my best to eat well and i often find myself overeating!  and yet, i still can't seem to break 100lbs.  i am a little more than 9 months post surgery right now.  before surgery i was up to 111 (from the 100-105 i was during treatments).  when i came out of the hospital i was down to 98..from there i went down to as low as 91lbs....i thought i looked terrible.....like you said...skin and bones!  no butt, no boobs, nuthin!!! it has gotten better though...i have stopped losing and gained.  i now, seem to be a steady 98lbs....there has been an occassion or 2 where i reached a 100lbs, but only to go back down the next day.....

aside from eating, the only other thing that helped was exercise...nothing too major....just walking.  i found i had lost a lot of muscle after my surgery because i just couldn't be as active as i used to be.  i just needed to get that back and i have!  although i am not the weight i would like to be right now, i can't complain because i have made progress and i am looking a lot healthier than i did a couple of months ago!

so, hang in there...it is gonna take time, but you will get it back....just look on the bright side.....chances are you will never have to worry about being over weight! ; )

best of luck, be well and God bless!

-Stacey