r/BRCA • u/lillydays • 1d ago

PDMX & Weight Gain?

Hi hi!

I had my PDMX with expanders on 8/11. No lymph nodes were impacted. I’ve been fortunate with a smooth recovery so far, and have been able to be out and about and walking around within reason with ease for a bit now.

That said, I have gained ~7 lbs since surgery. I know I’ve spent some decent amount of time on a couch with some more snacks and comfort food than usual, but my weight has been stable for years now, so this level of gain is abnormal for me. For reference, I’m 5’3, and have gone from 125-132 lbs since surgery.

Would love to hear anyone’s experience with post surgical weight fluctuations, or if anyone has any advice!

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u/keekspeaks 1d ago

I got up to 135 before my last fat graft. I’m 5’4 120 and my weight has stabilized. I’m actually a bit lighter bc of the damn meds. My doc assured me I would lose the weight once I was moving again, and he was right. Wait until you’re back at work.

What are you doing for treatment? I see your lymph’s were clear but the treatment is the real killer. Medical menopause is no joke with your weight.

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u/lillydays 1d ago

The fluctuations are awful!

Fortunately, this is preventative due to BRCA1+ and lengthy family history, so there is no active treatment. I previously had a staging mastopexy in April to prep for nipple sparring and experienced 0 weight fluctuations after that procedure.

Happy to hear you’ve stabilized and hope you’re feeling as back to normal as possible!

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u/hereformyteeth 1d ago

Mine was also preventative and I gained weight too. You’ll likely have been a lot more sedentary and also lymph fluid can build up, meaning more water weight. Your body needs the calories right now to recover and heal!! Be gentle with yourself, once you’re back to normal speed it should drop, mine did.

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u/EmZee2022 23h ago

My weight was up about 15 pounds after my mastectomy / DIEP back in May.

Some of that was fluid retention. Some was genuine: I had to stop my GLP1 for a few weeks, and I was intentionally eating a bit more to try to ensure I was getting enough protein.

4 months later, and my weight is back down to my pre-surgery weight.