Bloating after surgery

I wonder if anyone here has insight on this. For the last three days, I've been told I was having surgery on my knee so I shouldn't eat anything. It was put off until yesterday. My calories have been in the 900 to 1000 area. It was the best I could do. I was in agony and immobile and too drugged up to eat more. After the surgery I am so boated I could barely put my rings on and I've got blubber coming out in rolls in front of me. I'm 5,5" 162 or so. I try to eat about 1500 a day with an attempt at varying the calorie amounts to attempt zigzagging.

Thanks so much for reading this!

During the surgery they probably loaded you up with a lot of fluids. There is also likely swelling and bruising at the site of the surgery.

Don't worry about it.  Remember that your body is healing, so extra calories for a few days or more is mot going to destory all your work.

So eat, rest, and let yourself heal.  I'm sure that the bloating will go down in a few days. 

Thanks for your response. I was wondering if the trauma is causing this. When I woke up from surgery I had a 106 fever which somehow the nurses brought down quickly. It's hard to imagine what is happening physiologically. It's just interesting how tubby I feel. I know I haven't gained but I feel 10 pounds heavier.

Your body is in a temporary state of panic - it will go away!

Think about it - you starved yourself, then were given massive painkillers / general anesthetic, then your body was cut open (VERY traumatizing on the nervous system, even if you're "asleep"), then they gave you more fluids, and you can barely eat at home (low calories while you're doing repairs.) Your body is confused and defensive; it will pass in a week or two, when everything starts to let go of this "state of emergency" reaction :)

I've had 8 procedures involving general anesthetic in the last 2 years. The bloated / crappy feeling afterward depends on how long they needed to keep you out, and on what level (dead to the world? Twilight sleep?.) Sometimes one is simply hungover from the medication.

If you continue to have a fever at home, call the doctor - you might have developed an infection. Did they give you antibiotics to prevent that? 

Hi Mel,

Your name sounds Portuguese. Are you (or Brazilian)? That's exactly what I was looking for and it sounds so right. My poor body! I feel bad for you for all those procedures. So stressful! They said they gave me antibiotics. I've been checking my temperature. It's been good so far thank goodness.

I got home put my rings on and was all "what's up"? I wasn't thin but I was feeling thinner and I loved it. I really do appreciate your input.

I need to force myself to rest. I like being active a lot.

Thanks again.

Nope, it's code for "Melissa" :)

Don't feel bad - I'm very grateful for modern medicine; imagine how we would suffer if we didn't have antibiotics, and anesthetic!

Get a good book and settle in for the week - the re-training will come soon enough. But I feel you, I like to be active, too. After my first surgery I got a scolding from the guys at the coffee shop three blocks away - I shuffled down there with baby steps to get an espresso and panini as soon as I got home from the hospital, because I couldn't sit still another minute ;)