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[treehugger1]

Does anyone know if one's metabolism rate typically goes up (significantly) during recovery from major surgery?

I'm asking because I can now apparently eat all I want without gaining weight (and I'm not exercising)! I'm not too worried since my appetite is fine and I've stop losing. Still, I'm curious. Has this ever happened to anyone else? How long does it last, etc.?

(Please note: I'm not complaining :-) )

[evesadam]

According to this article, you need more calories than normal as your body heals. I'm assuming this is not an indefinite process:

http://www.hss.edu/conditions_14397.asp

[marlborough]

I have always had very slow metabolism and can't speak to the no weight gain, but I have been finding that here, in the weeks after major surgery, that I have insane cravings for umami foods--cheese, fried chicken, ice cream, etc. (most of which I almost never eat--lactose intolerant, mostly vegetarian, always watching slow metabolism). 

So it is like being in a daze and abruptly realizing that you are in the Dairy Queen parking lot.

[kryptonite]

Well, I hate to say it but I bet once you're healed you'll probably bounce right back to your old metabolism. Enjoy it while it lasts!

[treehugger1]

I have always had very slow metabolism and can't speak to the no weight gain, but I have been finding that here, in the weeks after major surgery, that I have insane cravings for umami foods--cheese, fried chicken, ice cream, etc. (most of which I almost never eat--lactose intolerant, mostly vegetarian, always watching slow metabolism). 

So it is like being in a daze and abruptly realizing that you are in the Dairy Queen parking lot.

Interesting. Last Wednesday, we went out to the most extravagent restaurant in our city (we splurged for our 20th anniversary). After 2 appetizers, 3 pieces of bread, a salad, main course (steak), I decided to order a cheese plate before continuing on to dessert (ice cream). That was the first time I've ordered a cheese course on this continent. Now, maybe I know why.

[johnstevenson]

I never heard of anything like that, but again enjoy it while you can :).

[inthelab]

Does anyone know if one's metabolism rate typically goes up (significantly) during recovery from major surgery?

I'm asking because I can now apparently eat all I want without gaining weight (and I'm not exercising)! I'm not too worried since my appetite is fine and I've stop losing. Still, I'm curious. Has this ever happened to anyone else? How long does it last, etc.?

(Please note: I'm not complaining :-) )

Yes.
(I used to study cancer cachexia, that is, wasting from cancer.)

[drspouse]

Unless you are the (very very common) kind of person who eats beyond the satisfied point, you may also have a smaller appetite while healing. I used to eat beyond satisfied at almost every meal but after a couple of operations found I lost a bit of appetite, temporarily, and it felt like I was eating everything I wanted and either losing or not gaining weight.

It used to be often thought that having a parasitic worm (sorry!) led to increased metabolism because the worm ate up a lot of extra nutrients (You must have a worm - you eat so much and you're so skinny!). I believe it is now thought that in fact individuals with intestinal worm infections just feel less like eating, so eat less and lose weight.