Let me say, I am SO HAPPY about the hysterectomy. I had a laproscopic total hysterectomy (uterus cervix fallopian tubes), ovaries stayed put.
So many positives. Would not go back and change it. Love not bleeding out, love the lack of cramps, love that my ferritin is finally going up.
However I will say - I have always been super duper athletic. I love working out, lifting weights, running, playing pickelball. I've always eaten fairly clean and limited sweets.
I'm 42, hysterectomy was November 26 2025. I went into the surgery weighing 180 pounds (I know that sounds like a lot but I'm tall). Felt good!
I weighed myself two months post op and weighed higher than I had ever weighed in my life - 198 (who cares about the number, no shame ... this is just to illustrate the 18 pound weight gain).
I thought, no problem ... obviously healing and not moving much. I did notice my body had changed - i had quite the middle for the first time, but again, surgery. All good.
Fast forward to today. From the moment I was cleared, I've steadily increased working out, weights, and now I'm running again! Eating clean, in a calorie deficit, feeling good...
But today I weigh exactly the same. 198.
But on top of that. This belly has not bugged and none of my clothes fit. Everything is VERY tight. Even across the shoulders and butt where there shouldn't be a change. So I've gained weight and gotten softer all over.
I've gone up one dress size.
And I'm totally just completely perplexed. I have never had difficulty getting the weight off when ive needed to. I've never had THIS level of activity and eating well and NOT seen the scale budge. Nor, like I said, have I ever weighed this much, or had a big scale jump like that.
GP ran all the relevant bloodwork and even tested hormones (i begged lol) and it was all normal. But I'm definitely in peri...experiencing mood swings, brain fog, hot flashes, all of which have gotten worse since the surgery. Vaginal dryness, but i was prescribed vaginal estrogen and wow, game changer! In love. I contacted my gyno and he said, since I kept my ovaries, there is no reason this should be happening and I should watch what I'm eating. 🙃 thanks doc.
So - love all the pictures on this subreddit of "before surgery and after" where you see how pressed out people's bellies were before and how flat they are after surgery ... but it also makes me insanely jealous. Appreciate you all but I also don't really need to hear in the comments how this isn't your reality and you lost weight, because I know that happens and I'm happy for you but it's not helpful in this situation. This is really tough and I'm struggling with my self esteem and a feeling of helplessness that this is out of my control, it seems.
So.... sisters this has happened to...what worked? What didn't? Did you find out why this was happening? Would love some thoughts and perspective.
Thank you.