Weight Loss after Whipple: What strategies helped you?

Has anyone figured out how to gain weight consistently after their Whipple surgery? I lost nearly 50lbs after the surgery and am struggling mightily in regaining the weight.

@montyd, along with the helpful advice you've already received, you might also find some additional tips in this related discussion:
- Weight Loss after Whipple: What strategies helped you?
https://connect.mayoclinic.org/discussion/weight-loss-after-whipple-performed-on-2242022/

I don't have a comprehensive answer for that, but sometimes diabetes sneaks up on you along with pancreatic cancer. It's worth getting checked for if you don't already know your status. It takes a fine balance of enzymes and insulin for your body to get proper nutrition out of the foods you eat. I lost about 15 pounds (from 175 to 160) after Whipple, but that's where I wanted to be anyway.

While on Folfirinox, I regained the 30 pounds I had lost prior to diagnosis, so I had pounds to spare at that point. Since losing the 15 pounds post-Whipple, I've been stable as a rock at 160. I'm eating a LOT of calories every day, which would probably be fattening me up a good bit more if I had a full, functioning pancreas.

Creon seems permanent with me. The CT scans have shown atrophic pancreas, I believe this means the cells with not grow back to make the enzymes I need for digestion. I ate by the clock after surgery, not going more than three hours and not waiting until I got hungry. I was 103 after the hospital, 110 now, 6 months later. I seem to be holding. The dietician doesn't want me to be obsessing about calories and the oncologist wants me to count calories more. I am looking for a middle way as I want to get my life back. Nut butters have been helpful 200 calories a scoop. One of the best suggestions the dietician made. She also advised about increasing my Creon. I am tired of peanut butter but cashew butter and almond butter are high in calories. They have fats that I seem to digest just fine. Macadamia nut butter caused a lot of intestinal distress. I liked walnut butter, haven't been eating lately. Nutella (hazel nuts, chocolate and sugar) also seems to be agreeable to me.

Has anyone figured out how to gain weight consistently after their Whipple surgery? I lost nearly 50lbs after the surgery and am struggling mightily in regaining the weight.

I am also 4’11” and find it hard to put the weight back on! Got down to 98 lbs and felt awful. High protein and frequent mini-meals seem to help. I supplement with protein shakes but avoid excess sugar also. Make sure you choose nutrient dense foods, if possible.
I was diagnosed with Stage 4 PanCan mid-July of 2022, had Whipple surgery within three weeks, did a full (12) course of chemo (Fulfirinox ?) with most doses reduced by 80%, had 6 glorious months without chemo, now halfway through Abraxane/Gem.. My bloodwork shows high levels of toxicity now. C19-9 marker shows improvement and PET scan will be repeated soon. It’s always a race to see what will get me, the chemo or the cancer? I took a two week break over the holidays to be with my family and I got the chemo scheduled every two weeks instead of weekly. I’ll try that.
Please remember that YOU are in charge and will make the important decisions in connection with your doctors. They will advise but we can stop treatment or change it at any time. I clean out my things, make final plans, research Hospice care, etc. Now while I can! I view 18 months after a Stage 4 diagnosis as a gift each day!!

I am also 4’11” and find it hard to put the weight back on! Got down to 98 lbs and felt awful. High protein and frequent mini-meals seem to help. I supplement with protein shakes but avoid excess sugar also. Make sure you choose nutrient dense foods, if possible.
I was diagnosed with Stage 4 PanCan mid-July of 2022, had Whipple surgery within three weeks, did a full (12) course of chemo (Fulfirinox ?) with most doses reduced by 80%, had 6 glorious months without chemo, now halfway through Abraxane/Gem.. My bloodwork shows high levels of toxicity now. C19-9 marker shows improvement and PET scan will be repeated soon. It’s always a race to see what will get me, the chemo or the cancer? I took a two week break over the holidays to be with my family and I got the chemo scheduled every two weeks instead of weekly. I’ll try that.
Please remember that YOU are in charge and will make the important decisions in connection with your doctors. They will advise but we can stop treatment or change it at any time. I clean out my things, make final plans, research Hospice care, etc. Now while I can! I view 18 months after a Stage 4 diagnosis as a gift each day!!