Re: anyone have a problem gaining weight?

[Guest guest]

Holly-

If thyroid tests are inadequate for finding low thyroid problems, could that be

true for high thyroid, too, I wonder? Have you ever seen an endocrinologist?

An old remedy for folks who could not gain was malt- the kind used for malted

milk.

Can you tolerate a high fat diet? That might help.Go light on protein and high

on carbs and fats.

I sure wish I had at least a measure of your problem. If I think of food, I

gain, it seems.

Adrienne

anyone have a problem gaining weight?

Hi,

I for the past several years have fluctuated up and down with my

weight. I never really gain. More than anything, I lose weight. I

have tests that come back every now and then showing signs of

hyperthyroidism, but not now and I am a twig. I can't stand it. On

top of that, I eat like a glutten and I am always cold. I know I

have malabsorbtion but right now my weight has seriously plummmeted.

The only things I can think is that I had a recent infection and was

on antibiotics.

PLEASe give some feedback!

Holly

[Guest guest]

hi holly , we in the minority of cfids /fm/me patients who are lean and

gaining weight is next to impossible for us.

i have had trouble gaining weight while eating enuf food(eat 4x day at least

once i am up!!).. that i should easily be double to triple my size with my

very limited physcial acitivity...i also need to eat every few hours due to

hypoglycemia sysptoms and my body feelling like it hits the empty on a gas

tank.... ..

I have been to at least four differnt gastroenterologists over the

years ...been tested for tropical sprue, non tropical sprue, had multiple

gastrectomys, colonoscopys years ago , h.pylori biopsy( need to do another one

in

the next month due to positive blood h.pylori levels now and conventinal md

thinks biopsy more reiliable( not sure agree with them but differernt opinons

on what the blood testing results mean for h.pylori : sigh) i have had

several great smokies comprehenseive digestive stool analyssi taken which all

showed alot pathological bacteria and dispite years of taking probitoics using

many recommeded brands from health professionals not much has changed ,

including

heavey dosing durning two years of antibiotics.

i now have about six differnt gastroentestional diagnosis but i no longer

take medication for any of them as i either had reactions to the medications ,

they worked opposite a healthy system( i.e taking anti acids , medications

reduce stomach acidity) or couldnt take a high enuf dose of medicatinns to make

my symtoms better..(note my weight range is the same off gastroentetijnal

medicatons as when i was on them.)......

i have tried an endless combintaitons of digestive enzymes, multiple brands,

single products over the counter stuff etc..none helped alot or enuf.

i did figure out that most of my stomach symtoms are in tandem with my

allergies, when my allergies are horrible, my stomach is horrible.( another

cifds/fm friend and i who live near each other get idientical stomach promblems

when

our alleriges flare up )...the altnerative people have told me i had a leaky

gut which is suppose to be ok now but not sure i believe that .

i have tried some reduction of dairy , wheat in my diet but not very good

about strict elimintion diets as it seem so difficult when u have to eat so

many meals in a day etc..( this might be something to check inot as

occaisonally i rmember reading people doing better when they were really good

about

watching their diets. and elimating major allergy reactive foods... i rarely use

sugar ..

i saw a " top " gastrenterologist about five years ago , who teaches at

the medical college ,who write a five page single space typed letter on his

consult of me and he reviewed all my x rays, lab test results etc.... found

nothing to account for my lack of abiltiy to gain weight but did conclude that

perhaps i had a psychosomatic illness...(too bad i cannot let him foot my

food bills nor trade gastroentestional tracts with him : sure change his

opinions fast .)

i have never been tested for parasite but been told by regular mds i dont

have the symtoms for it but altenative people think i might have it but the

only time i had a chance to take it in tests , i was on antibiotics which i

didnt want to stop so my body would be clean for a period of time from

antibioitcs for the test. THere is some parasite by an dr years ago they found

in

cfids patinets...dr k or dr l last name ( anyone remmeber their name)

i have had alternative people conclude that i have multiple

malabsorption issues which makes alot sense but not any help to correct them in

a large

way that i could see something .

having a lean parent and grand parent who ate anything they wanted

without gaining any weight speaks for my genetic predisositon...

I also found till recently that when very sick i would lose as much as

a pound a day while it could take a whole month to gain it back and even when

very sick i have managed to eat a considerable amount of food though less than

normal.

* when i am not on enuf thyorid medicaton i find i start to lose weight till

i bring my doesage level up than regain the few pounds i may have lost....but

this thryoid dosing has been a very difficult thing for me as my doseage

needs adjusting every few months.... maybe even now i am still too low in it as

only my symtoms are indicating insuffienct levels... , while the blood work

like always is in the normal range...

u might also consider getting tested for growth hormone as i think dr

cheney had said without enuf growth hormone u cannot expect the gastroetntinal

tract to work properly(nor rest body).... I was told years ago based on history

that i had low growth hormone and i did gain a few pounds back with the help of

a growth hormone secretagog(not suppose to be as good as grwoth hormone) as i

didnt know any md who woudl test for it and /or prescribe if for me ..( but

now i found someone who did test me for it and i should be getting my

results in dec on it and if i am low and if i get placed on it i will let u know

if

i can gain weight with it.) i am praying i am low to get growth homrone ( i do

think most people who have alot of fm are low in it but not sure if that

applies as much to people who have more cfids than fm)

since i have been on the far infared heaters i no longer am losing

weight when very sick or if i do lose ,its a minmal amount which i quickly

regain and my weight has been in the same two pound range for the past three or

so months while on it but i am still at below a safe weight range for my

height /weight based on pre illness height/weight/body build .

holly i hope something in my ramblings may help u in some way...its more of

a health risk to be so underweight while it takes alot more extra weight

proprotionantly to become a health risk...

feel better and hang in there and good luck

...somish.

[Guest guest]

Hi Holly,

I first lost weight when I first got sick. Thank I started gaining weight.It

lasted for many years. Than my weight was stabilized and couple of years later I

started loosing weight. So,I believe this is part of the natural progression of

the illness related to endocrine imbalances. Right now I am like Peggy.

Continually underweight with lots of digestive problems,I would like to gain

weight but I can not. Thermal baths helped me.I did gain some weight there.I

would also advise not to worry about gaining weight. It is keeping the toxins

out of your brain anyway.

Thanks.

Nil

Re: anyone have a problem gaining weight?

hi holly , we in the minority of cfids /fm/me patients who are lean and

gaining weight is next to impossible for us.

i have had trouble gaining weight while eating enuf food(eat 4x day at least

once i am up!!).. that i should easily be double to triple my size with my

very limited physcial acitivity...i also need to eat every few hours due to

hypoglycemia sysptoms and my body feelling like it hits the empty on a gas

tank.... ..

I have been to at least four differnt gastroenterologists over the

years ...been tested for tropical sprue, non tropical sprue, had multiple

gastrectomys, colonoscopys years ago , h.pylori biopsy( need to do another one

in

the next month due to positive blood h.pylori levels now and conventinal md

thinks biopsy more reiliable( not sure agree with them but differernt opinons

on what the blood testing results mean for h.pylori : sigh) i have had

several great smokies comprehenseive digestive stool analyssi taken which all

showed alot pathological bacteria and dispite years of taking probitoics using

many recommeded brands from health professionals not much has changed ,

including

heavey dosing durning two years of antibiotics.

i now have about six differnt gastroentestional diagnosis but i no longer

take medication for any of them as i either had reactions to the medications

,

they worked opposite a healthy system( i.e taking anti acids , medications

reduce stomach acidity) or couldnt take a high enuf dose of medicatinns to

make

my symtoms better..(note my weight range is the same off gastroentetijnal

medicatons as when i was on them.)......

i have tried an endless combintaitons of digestive enzymes, multiple brands,

single products over the counter stuff etc..none helped alot or enuf.

i did figure out that most of my stomach symtoms are in tandem with my

allergies, when my allergies are horrible, my stomach is horrible.( another

cifds/fm friend and i who live near each other get idientical stomach

promblems when

our alleriges flare up )...the altnerative people have told me i had a leaky

gut which is suppose to be ok now but not sure i believe that .

i have tried some reduction of dairy , wheat in my diet but not very good

about strict elimintion diets as it seem so difficult when u have to eat so

many meals in a day etc..( this might be something to check inot as

occaisonally i rmember reading people doing better when they were really good

about

watching their diets. and elimating major allergy reactive foods... i rarely

use

sugar ..

i saw a " top " gastrenterologist about five years ago , who teaches at

the medical college ,who write a five page single space typed letter on his

consult of me and he reviewed all my x rays, lab test results etc.... found

nothing to account for my lack of abiltiy to gain weight but did conclude

that

perhaps i had a psychosomatic illness...(too bad i cannot let him foot my

food bills nor trade gastroentestional tracts with him : sure change his

opinions fast .)

i have never been tested for parasite but been told by regular mds i dont

have the symtoms for it but altenative people think i might have it but the

only time i had a chance to take it in tests , i was on antibiotics which i

didnt want to stop so my body would be clean for a period of time from

antibioitcs for the test. THere is some parasite by an dr years ago they

found in

cfids patinets...dr k or dr l last name ( anyone remmeber their name)

i have had alternative people conclude that i have multiple

malabsorption issues which makes alot sense but not any help to correct them

in a large

way that i could see something .

having a lean parent and grand parent who ate anything they wanted

without gaining any weight speaks for my genetic predisositon...

I also found till recently that when very sick i would lose as much as

a pound a day while it could take a whole month to gain it back and even when

very sick i have managed to eat a considerable amount of food though less than

normal.

* when i am not on enuf thyorid medicaton i find i start to lose weight till

i bring my doesage level up than regain the few pounds i may have lost....but

this thryoid dosing has been a very difficult thing for me as my doseage

needs adjusting every few months.... maybe even now i am still too low in it

as

only my symtoms are indicating insuffienct levels... , while the blood work

like always is in the normal range...

u might also consider getting tested for growth hormone as i think dr

cheney had said without enuf growth hormone u cannot expect the gastroetntinal

tract to work properly(nor rest body).... I was told years ago based on

history

that i had low growth hormone and i did gain a few pounds back with the help

of

a growth hormone secretagog(not suppose to be as good as grwoth hormone) as i

didnt know any md who woudl test for it and /or prescribe if for me ..( but

now i found someone who did test me for it and i should be getting my

results in dec on it and if i am low and if i get placed on it i will let u

know if

i can gain weight with it.) i am praying i am low to get growth homrone ( i do

think most people who have alot of fm are low in it but not sure if that

applies as much to people who have more cfids than fm)

since i have been on the far infared heaters i no longer am losing

weight when very sick or if i do lose ,its a minmal amount which i quickly

regain and my weight has been in the same two pound range for the past three

or

so months while on it but i am still at below a safe weight range for my

height /weight based on pre illness height/weight/body build .

holly i hope something in my ramblings may help u in some way...its more of

a health risk to be so underweight while it takes alot more extra weight

proprotionantly to become a health risk...

feel better and hang in there and good luck

..somish.

[Guest guest]

Hi

I know you are not alone, although I have the opposite problem.

Do you know about the Keep Hope Alive newsletters? They are written for and

about people with AIDS, but I remember seeing things in there often to help

people with problem keeping weight on. I was thinking some type of hot pepper

for example stimulated apetite. I will try to find the link.

Thanks,

Doris

----- Original Message -----

I for the past several years have fluctuated up and down with my

weight. I never really gain. More than anything, I lose weight.

[Guest guest]

I've been underweight my entire life. Not severely. Attractively. That is,

up until about five years ago. During my sickest, I was very underweight.

I'm 5'7, and my average weight has been 118 lbs through most of my

adulthood. But during my sickest I weighed as little as 94 lbs.

What changed things was that I tried prescription antidepressants. It

totally screwed me up. I started having panic attacks, my fibrocystic breast

disease, which I had managed to get under control for several years with the

help of my naturopath, suddenly flared up, with huge quarter size cysts. (I

had never been able to feel cysts before) My IBS symptoms got worse. All my

symptoms, that I had fought so hard to reduce, got worse. And I began

gaining weight. Even after stopping the antidepressants, the weight gain

hasn't stopped. I'm currently 10 lbs. overweight, and I am struggling to try

to keep it at that. I have a lot of problems with inflammation and I know

that some of that weight is from the edema of the inflammation. But

diaretics only make my symptoms worse.

I had been checked for parasites a number of times, and none were ever

found, but I have had a lot of intestinal dysbiosis, and a lot of food

allergies. My appetite hasn't changed, and in fact, has significantly

decreased in the last year. I don't eat very much (800-1000 caleries per

day) but my weight doesn't drop. I used to eat several thousand calories a

day and stayed too skinny.

I have come to the conclusion that somehow the antidepressants changed my

thyroid somehow. I have always been borderline hyperthyroid, according to

TSH and T3 tests. (T4 has always been mid-range normal) But now my T4 is on

the very low end. TSH is still borderline hyperthyroid, and I am assuming

that it being so low is just the result of having an underactive

hypothalamus and pituitary. I was told years ago that many hyperthyroid

people's thyroids eventually burn themselves out, and they become

hypothyroid. I don't know if that's what has happened. Unfortunately, I

haven't been able to tolerate thyroid supplementation. And I know that it's

probably because I have weakened adrenal glands. I've been working on my

adrenal glands with my naturopath, and some on my thyroid with my BioSET

practitioner, but the course of my illness has changed directions lately,

and I've been having to fight infections, and there's only just so much I

can afford to do.

But a lot has happened since I've been sick, including blood coagulation

problems, lots of hormonal imbalance problems from female hormones to

adrenal glands to circadian rhythms, and I'm not surprised that my thyroid

eventually has become affected. But how the antidepressants did that I have

no idea.

lindaj@...

[Guest guest]

hi i think they recommed cayenne pepper in keep hope alive, for hiv, cfids

etc patients.... i tried it years ago but it was too hot for my stomach but

its a good web site mark knowle runs , he uses basic household foods and easy to

get suppliments often to help people....

i even bought his book but i dont have the energy to shop, cook and do most

of the stuff he suggest and the few things i tried didnt work but then most

stuff doesnt work on me either somish

[Guest guest]

I gain if I'm on high carbs!!!! So I'm on low carbs, fat (butter and

cold-pressed olive oil mostly), no grain, no rice, no potato...Lost

12 pounds...

Maarit....

> Holly-

> If thyroid tests are inadequate for finding low thyroid problems,

could that be true for high thyroid, too, I wonder? Have you ever

seen an endocrinologist?

>

> An old remedy for folks who could not gain was malt- the kind used

for malted milk.

> Can you tolerate a high fat diet? That might help.Go light on

protein and high on carbs and fats.

> I sure wish I had at least a measure of your problem. If I think of

food, I gain, it seems.

> Adrienne

> anyone have a problem gaining weight?

>

>

> Hi,

>

> I for the past several years have fluctuated up and down with my

> weight. I never really gain. More than anything, I lose

weight. I

> have tests that come back every now and then showing signs of

> hyperthyroidism, but not now and I am a twig. I can't stand it.

On

> top of that, I eat like a glutten and I am always cold. I know I

> have malabsorbtion but right now my weight has seriously

plummmeted.

> The only things I can think is that I had a recent infection and

was

> on antibiotics.

>

> PLEASe give some feedback!

>

> Holly

>

>

>

[Guest guest]

Seems like there has always been two subsets: weight gainers and

weight losers. Maybe there are 'tweeners' ;-), too.

IIRC, the brain stem and hypothalamus (actually a specific area within

the hypothalamus?) - which show reduced metabolism per PWC brain SPECT

scans - control hunger and appetite.

For those of us eating less than 1,000 cal/day - was it Cheney that

also stated something wrt to reduced basal metabolism?

I've lost +40 lbs - was lean pre-CFS - but have not been able to

maintain even anaerobic exercise, similar to those sometimes

recommended for recovering cardiac patients - to maintain a modicum of

muscle mass. It's a tough cycle to deal with

Rgds,

Lance

[Guest guest]

Yes, I forgot sugar...no sugar...Low carbs, and I do eat something I

should not: Bananas...like in a salad...

Maarit.....

> > Holly-

> > If thyroid tests are inadequate for finding low thyroid

problems,

> could that be true for high thyroid, too, I wonder? Have you ever

> seen an endocrinologist?

> >

> > An old remedy for folks who could not gain was malt- the kind

used

> for malted milk.

> > Can you tolerate a high fat diet? That might help.Go light on

> protein and high on carbs and fats.

> > I sure wish I had at least a measure of your problem. If I

think of

> food, I gain, it seems.

> > Adrienne

> > anyone have a problem gaining

weight?

> >

> >

> > Hi,

> >

> > I for the past several years have fluctuated up and down with

my

> > weight. I never really gain. More than anything, I lose

> weight. I

> > have tests that come back every now and then showing signs of

> > hyperthyroidism, but not now and I am a twig. I can't stand

it.

> On

> > top of that, I eat like a glutten and I am always cold. I

know I

> > have malabsorbtion but right now my weight has seriously

> plummmeted.

> > The only things I can think is that I had a recent infection

and

> was

> > on antibiotics.

> >

> > PLEASe give some feedback!

> >

> > Holly

> >

> >

> >

[Guest guest]

Holly, I have the same problem. I have lost 40 lbs., I am 5' 9 "

and weigh 117 pounds. My thyroid tests are always normal. I dropped

to 113 once, then I started using heavy whipping cream in coffee,

on cereal, with whey, etc. and that has helped some. I had all of

my suits altered and they are still too big. It has to be some

kind of malabsorption problem as you stated. What I need is a high

calorie drink that I can digest that doesn't contain refined sugar.

Refined sugar causes relapses for me. Am open to ideas.

Mike C.

> Hi,

>

> I for the past several years have fluctuated up and down with my

> weight. I never really gain. More than anything, I lose weight.

I

> have tests that come back every now and then showing signs of

> hyperthyroidism, but not now and I am a twig. I can't stand it.

On

> top of that, I eat like a glutten and I am always cold. I know I

> have malabsorbtion but right now my weight has seriously

plummmeted.

> The only things I can think is that I had a recent infection and

was

> on antibiotics.

>

> PLEASe give some feedback!

>

> Holly

[Guest guest]

Nil, I have lost almost all of my fat cells so I am not worried about

brain toxins. What concerns me is the loss of muscle. As someone

said (I think Somish), growth hormone may be the answer. Heck, I

have a cousin who is a doc and he takes growth hormone injections

and he isn't even sick. I would like to hear from some people who

are underweight who try low dose growth hormone. I also have terrible

stomach/intestinal problems on a daily basis.

Mike C.

In , " Nil " <ng2113@s...> wrote:

> Hi Holly,

>

> I first lost weight when I first got sick. Thank I started gaining

weight.It lasted for many years. Than my weight was stabilized and

couple of years later I started loosing weight. So,I believe this is

part of the natural progression of the illness related to endocrine

imbalances. Right now I am like Peggy. Continually underweight with

lots of digestive problems,I would like to gain weight but I can not.

Thermal baths helped me.I did gain some weight there.I would also

advise not to worry about gaining weight. It is keeping the toxins

out of your brain anyway.

> Thanks.

> Nil

>]

[Guest guest]

Whats the digestive enzyme that you use?

Thanks,

Gayathri

--- In , " Adrienne Gomez " >

> I also use a wonderful digestive enzyme that has made all the

difference in the world- and I don't even have to use it at each

meal to get the benefit.

>

> Adrienne