Abdominal pain and weight gain after appendectomy

[Jade14]

I had my appendix removed about two years ago at age 20. There were no complications. However, at the time of surgery I was obese for my height at 5'0 and 155 pounds. I have been overweight all my life, always carrying most of my excess fat around my lower belly, and the doctor mentioned my obesity while examining my abdomen before the operation. Though he said I wasn't large enough to affect the procedure and everything ended up going smoothly, the thought of my weight affecting my health finally got to me and encouraged me to change my lifestyle.

After a year of exercise and healthy eating, I lost 35 pounds and maintained my new, healthy weight. I still had a chubby tummy but figured that's just how I was built, since I wasn't having any pain or digestive problems.

However, things have changed recently. Although I'm still eating right and exercising, I've gotten almost all the way back to my old weight in the past three months, and it feels like I'm carrying even more of it in my belly than before. I've also started having the exact same kind of pain as I did before my appendectomy, in my lower right abdomen. I saw my usual doctor and was tested for pregnancy, which came back negative. He suggested I go visit a gastroenterologist, and I'm in the process of finding one and figuring out how much it will cost.

In the meantime, does anyone have any idea what could be wrong with me? This seems completely bizarre, and I'm depressed to be obese again after all my hard work.

[brooklynitelady]

I might have an answer that the medical community should really look into. The appendix has lymphoid tissue which I think might act like a lymph node. When a lymph node is taken out,let's say in breast cancer, the arm does get swollen resulting in secondary lymphedema. While that will not cause weight, the appendix might have something to do with digestion and good bacteria in the gut. I have read that sometimes C-diff can occur because of no appendix. The reason I am research weight gain and appendix is because my daughter had  appendicitis and the same thing happened to her. The reason I feel that the appendix works like a lymph node because I have primary lymphedema in my right leg and there is swelling. A lymph node in my leg might be damaged. I am also trying to research if there is something called abdominal lymphedema and that lymph nodes  in the stomach were damaged during the operation.