weight loss during flare-ups

[Guest guest]

I wrote that I'd lost 50 pounds in one week about three years ago.

That was suppose to be 50 pounds in a month.

I also lost about 40 pounds in less than a month, about two weeks,

when I was 26, also during a flare-up of Reiters Syndrome, now

known as Reactive Arthritis.

I've kept the weight off for the last three years. I'm at 190 now,

just ten pounds greater than my low weight of 180. My appetite has

obviously returned.

When I'm having a terrific flare-up I lose all desire to eat, but

keep working in my garden. The result is the weight loss. It's

also tied to having pain medications that do allow me to be

physically active. Prior to three years ago I was pretty nearly

staying in bed or on the sofa, even in a recliner when using the

computer. The pain meds have allowed me to keep the weight off by

allowing me to sustain phsyical activity.

I've got a couple of sets of clothing now. Pants with a waist size

of 44 from before three years ago, and pants with a waist size of

38 inches or less for now. When the newer pants get tight, I

concentrate on diet to lose the necessary weight to stay in the

smaller clothing. When I accidentally put on a pair of the pants

or a shirt from my high weight, I feel like I'm putting on a big

camping tent. I can't believe that I used to be that big.

So, if there is a silver lining in the cloud of ReA, it has been

the ability to lose weight without trying during a flare-up.

When I do lose my appetitie (I can't even stand the smell of

cooking food during such a flare-up) I drink frozen fruit slushes

by combining frozen strawberries, orange juice, and a bannana in

the food processor. I drink lots of water and ususually stop

drinking milk, or eating milk products, bread and meat.

Since I also have Sjogrens Syndrome, which leaves my mouth and eyes

very dry, the fresh fruits are wonderful. Otherwise I have to

drink water or something else just to swallow.

Ray