Nutritional for Rapid Weight Gain
Before undergoing surgery, I had lost a significant amount of weight. This weight loss was due to a partial obstruction in the lower part of my large bowel. The obstruction itself was thought to be caused by a benign non-cancerous condition called Diverticulitis. This resulted in abdominal distension and a loss of appetite. This made is necessary for me to eat small meals, and avoid bread, pizzas and other wheat products. The results of the haematological blood tests identified that the obstruction also resulted in malabsorption, intermittent diarrhoea and changes in my pancreatic function. Intermittently, I would have periods where I was unable to eat for two or three days, have abdominal pain and bouts of vomiting and nausea. During these periods, I took antibiotics but was only able to drink just water for several days. Collectively, this all resulted in me losing a significant amount of weight.
Weight loss with bowel obstruction
Generally, an unexplained loss of 5% of your weight would be considered significant and worthy of investigation by your General Practitioner. During the periods I was not able to eat for a few days, I would lose as much as 3 or 4 kg in one go. Over a period of a year, I lost 20kg or 20% of my body weight. I went from having a BMI of 32 to having a BMI of 25, over a year and from perhaps a BMI of 30 to 25 in three months! Overall, I became bony, cachectic and wasted. I lost my stocky, well-built and defined musculature from my sporting days and became an old man. I took regular multivitamins and iron but regardless of that, my haemoglobin blood count fell significantly. I also noticed that my nails would split and splinter repeatedly and easily, so I took additional calcium and Vitamin D tablets.
Gluten intolerance
Due to the nature of the symptoms with intolerance to bread, pizzas and wheat products, intermittent constipation, abdominal pain, bloating and diarrhoea, for a period I thought I might have gluten intolerance or Coeliac disease. This was supported by some but not all of the indicative haematological tests becoming positive. Eventually it was demonstrated that I did not have Coeliac disease as the symptoms totally disappeared once I had the obstruction and the section of diverticular disease affected bowel removed. It seem that due to the delayed transit time and sub-acute obstruction the emptying of my stomach would be delayed. Bread, pizza and wheat products would absorb water in my stomach, swell up and make my distension, bloating and abdominal pain worse. The lesson is therefore beware! The symptoms of gluten intolerance or Coeliac disease may be produced temporarily by a long term partial large bowel obstruction.
My surgeon and I then decided that a diet to build up body mass will be beneficial to gain back the weight I had lost. He suggested that because of my partial bowel obstruction, I should take dietary supplements alongside a low residue diet.
I have provided a list of the nutritional supplements I used and my low-residue build-up diet sheet.
Click link: my low-residue build-up diet sheet.
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