Water weight fluctuation question-

I am used to the scale varying up to 5 pounds in a 24 hour period for my tall frame. This past week though my weight shot up by 11 pounds and held for a few days. I started to think that I had somehow actually put on a good chunk of that in legit weight gain. This morning though sure enough magically back down. Lots of fluid retention. I know if I eat jerky or a lot of salty food that sometimes can cause the 3-5 pound swing, or it being that monthly hormonal change. But this is a lot for me. No medication changes or anything I can think of other than the recovery from the breast implant reconstruction is swelled like none other... but that is only a bit worse than normal, and today it is still painfully swollen with the scale down. What are some of the causes that all of you attribute to this? I feel fine overall aside from the never-ending recovery from breast reconstruction. I have a doc appt coming up so I will mention it there, but wondering if anyone out there might have this large of a swing or some ideas of root causes.

How long ago was the surgery?...I know right after my most recent surgery 5/2 I was up 10lbs... then down. I am a month out and still get random swelling, and not just where I had surgery (arms and breasts) my legs and ankles have been getting swollen. (as well as having abdominal tightness-felt like I was going backwards from my LBL which was 3 month ago)  Saw Doc yesterday and he reminded me: Are you keeping up on your protein, and how is your calcium and magnesium? realized I had been doing some slacking...so back on track and hopefully things will turn around.

Last surgery was mid March. I have missed more than my normal forgetful vitamin regiment. I will be more diligent. Do you take a magnesium supplement?

I do take a magnesium supplement... I started pre-WLS to help my blood pressure. I had read many people are deficient and there really isn't an accurate blood test to tell... there is a blood test, but I forget now, why it is not really accurate. It took me a few tries to find one that I felt actually helped. After WLS even though I am no longer on BP meds... I figured, why stop? If I had a deficiency before it wasn't getting better after surgery. I buy at the Vitamin Shop the KAL brand of Magnesium Glycinate. 400mg.. Glycinate supposedly causes the least GI distress. Take one tab 2x a day... although right now I am upping it to 3 tabs a day to try and make a difference in the muscle tension...

Doc said to take my calcium and magnesium together, which I wasn't doing. So doing that now and separating it from my iron....

I will check into that-thanks for posting!

I am 5'3.5" and it isn't unusual for my weight to zip up by several pounds in just a couple of days.   

Our swelling issues are different but if my arm lymphedema is visible.  I see an extra couple of pounds on the scale.  And Lordy, any sort of sodium (esp if from crap carbs) makes me hold water. 

 My legs tend to retain water unless I wear compression socks.  If I am sore from exercise, the scale goes up (there is a thought that the muscle inflammation is causing water retention.) 

It can take several days for weight to work its way down with no changes in diet (except, of course, for less sodium)

You are a lot taller than me, if my weight can fluctuate by several pounds, I can imagine that yours might fluctuate by 11 lbs, esp with swelling from surgery still present.  Of course, talking to your doc is appropriate :)

Shel

I do think part of the fluid retention was in my ankles/feet. I did notice my shoes were tight and started switching to ones that would accomodate. At this point, I lost all of the weight jump plus 2 pounds more. Not from diet (caloric reduction) for sure. Nothing really changed there. The breast area is even more swollen today, so even that isn't where the extra weight was coming from. Gastro challenged though the last few days (after the gallbladder came out I can't digest fat at all). I am thinking now it was my digestive system freaking out over something I ate. 

For me it means I'm lacking in fluids, namely electrolytes. Last weekend after a 5mil training run, in which I thought I did a good job of hydrating well, my feet swelled like none other that night. I pounded some Gatorade, threw on compression sleeves, and felt a little more normal by am.

I've got a training run on Sat and a race on Sunday, so I plan on electrolyte loading starting tonight and continuing through the weekend.

I will try some Powerade Zero- can't hurt!

I will see 2 to 3 pounds in weight gain from eating extra carbs.  If I eat a desert or some humus and chips, or bread or wine, I can predict a 2 to 3 pound gain that will wear off in a few days.

When I eat carbs over an extended period, like when I go on a cruise, I will come back 10 to 12 pounds heavier.  I suspect it is all water because it comes off quickly when I get back on plan. 

Salty foods don't seem to make a difference for me.

I haven't ever seen a 10 pound shift in a day, but it may very well be swelling from your surgery.  That makes sense. 

I wish you a speedy recovery from your breast reconstruction.  I hope you will be well and back to normal soon.

best wishes,

Carol