Topic: Update: Hungry all the time, gaining wt, need advice
sammy
Frequent Contributor (5K+ posts)
Member # 13952
posted
Please forgive me if this topic seems petty in light of most of the symptoms that we have to deal with on a daily basis.
I know it sounds crazy but i've really been struggling with hunger lately. I'm constantly thinking about food. And after I eat I still feel hungry. I even try to limit my portions because i've gained 10 lbs recently.
This is so hard to deal with since I am a health conscious person and i'm trying to follow the anti-candida diet. I really don't need to gain weight. I should actually try to lose what i've gained. I'm just so hungry I don't know what to do.
I am also on Malarone for Babesia so I do need to eat some healthy fats with my medicine so that is not the cause of my lack of satiety. Otherwise i'm trying to limit my fats to those meals.
Do you all have any advice, any tips? I've been dealing with this for a little over a month now. I just recently noticed my clothes fitting tighter, some being too small to wear. I really need some help here because I don't know what to do.
Thanks so much.
[ 06-22-2009, 09:45 PM: Message edited by: sammy ]
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sixgoofykids
Honored Contributor (10K+ posts)
Member # 11141
posted
Were you underweight before? If so, then it's going to be natural to gain some weight as you get healthier.
If not, then I'd be sure that you're getting all the nutrition you can so your body doesn't signal hunger because it's lacking a nutrient. Make your food choices count.
Be sure you're eating protein and a little fat at every meal so you don't have a blood sugar crash after eating a carb meal.
Can you get out an walk a bit? Exercise is hard for some, but maybe now that it's nice out you can at least go for a walk.
-------------------- sixgoofykids.blogspot.com Posts: 13449 | From Ohio | Registered: Feb 2007
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Jill E.
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Member # 9121
posted
What other medications are you on? Some are known to cause hunger in some people.
I'm weird, I get ravenously hungry on Doxycycline, although my LLMD had heard of it before.
Many antidepressants can cause hunger and weight gain.
My thyroid is completely off-kilter now and I gained weight from being underdosed when switching from Synthroid to Armour. So there can be hormonal or thyroid issues that can affect this.
Many people with Lyme Disease have gluten intolerance or celiac disease, or leaky gut, all of which can interfere with the body's ability to absorb nutrients. Like sixgoofykids said, sometimes it's the body's cry for nutrition and vitamins that are not getting absorbed.
Jill
-------------------- If laughter is the best medicine, why hasn't stand-up comedy cured me? Posts: 1773 | From San Diego | Registered: Apr 2006
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glm1111
Frequent Contributor (5K+ posts)
Member # 16556
posted
This can be a symptom of parasites. Check out the symptom list at
www.humaworm.com I used to have this symptom a lot and it went away with tx for parasites
Gael
-------------------- PARASITES/WORMS ARE NOW RECOGNIZED AS THE NUMBER 1 CO-INFECTION IN LYME DISEASE BY ILADS* Posts: 6418 | From philadelphia pa | Registered: Jul 2008
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Leelee
Frequent Contributor (1K+ posts)
Member # 19112
posted
I wonder if your blood sugar is out of order due to Lyme or your meds.
Would you be able to see a nutritionist?
A few years ago before I knew I had Lyme I experienced rapid weight gain of about 30 to 40 pounds. I was always hungry. It didn't make sense b/c I was an athlete and a dancer and always ate healthfully.
A nutritionist suspected hypoglycemia and a blood revealed just that. She gave me an eating plan that I follow to this day and all the weight came off. I do get hungry still, but it is manageable and nothing like it was.
I have since learned that hypoglycemia, like so many other things, can be triggered by Lyme.
-------------------- The ultimate measure of a man is not where he stands in moments of comfort and convenience, but where he stands at times of challenge and controversy. Martin Luther King,Jr Posts: 1573 | From Maryland | Registered: Feb 2009
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posted
Sammy, my son has developed this "hunger" after
starting zithromax. He eats and is still hungry
afterwards. It is beyond being hungry and
growth spurt. He is gaining a bit of weight. I
personally expect this to resolve on its own.
I don't have any advice, but wanted to let you
know my son is experiencing the same. C
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nenet
Frequent Contributor (1K+ posts)
Member # 13174
posted
quote:Originally posted by Leelee: I wonder if your blood sugar is out of order due to Lyme or your meds.
Would you be able to see a nutritionist?
A few years ago before I knew I had Lyme I experienced rapid weight gain of about 30 to 40 pounds. I was always hungry. It didn't make sense b/c I was an athlete and a dancer and always ate healthfully.
A nutritionist suspected hypoglycemia and a blood revealed just that. She gave me an eating plan that I follow to this day and all the weight came off. I do get hungry still, but it is manageable and nothing like it was.
I have since learned that hypoglycemia, like so many other things, can be triggered by Lyme.
LeeLee, I would love to know what your hypoglycemia diet is. I am hypoglycemic too, and didn't realize there could be a diet for it that could help me lose weight. My weight seems completely unaffected by caloric intake or exercise. It feels like it's all water, for the most part. Perhaps it is?
The weight I gained was at the beginning of the abrupt worsening of my Lyme symptoms, about 5 years ago now. I was prescribed Prednisone for 10 days for what I know now was Lyme meningitis inflammation, and that same month I gained about 30 pounds. No Doctors believed me that I hadn't changed my diet or activities at all. The difference between us symptom-wise seems to be you are hungry all the time, but my appetite did not increase - in fact I was eating less during that time, if anything.
So, I did some research and the best explanation I could come up with was that it was a worsening of the effects from Lyme spurred on by the Prednisone, etc. I know that Prednisone can cause problems in Hypoglycemics now, or bring it on, as well.
Have you taken any steroids at any point in the last year, sammy? Do you have any symptoms of hypoglycemia? Have you had your thyroid levels checked? Also, as others have mentioned, you might have developed a food sensitivity - have you tried an elimination diet?
Sorry for all the questions, just trying to brainstorm. I know how awful it feels to gain so much weight and so quickly, especially when it is not a normal fluctuation for you. It can put a lot of strain on the body.
sixgoofykids
Honored Contributor (10K+ posts)
Member # 11141
posted
Nenet, I am hypoglycemic. I eat protein with every meal or snack to avoid having a blood sugar crash later. I also avoid simple carbs, not entirely, but as much as possible. If I do eat them I am sure to eat protein and plan on a snack an hour or two later. I also eat every few hours at least.
I don't like eating in the morning, so drink smoothies with whey protein powder, frozen fruit, and water. Later I make a latte, but am sure to eat within an hour or so after that because of the lactose/sugar in the milk (I use whole milk).
-------------------- sixgoofykids.blogspot.com Posts: 13449 | From Ohio | Registered: Feb 2007
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Leelee
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Member # 19112
posted
Hi nenet,
I hope this information is helpful to you. I sympathize with your situation completely! It seems so unfair to struggle with weight issues when we are not doing anything to cause it.
My hypoglycemic eating plan is really basic, but it works and I am quite pleased. It took a few months, but I am back down to my usual weight and have been for years. I have strictly followed the plan and it is a way of life for me.
For breakfast, I have a protein (egg, cheese, or a high-protein cereal like Kashi). I have a small piece of fruit and a huge glass of water.
mid-morning I have a snack of a tablespoon of peanut butter with a piece of fruit or some nuts with fruit.
Lunch is lean protein such as chicken, tuna, fish, two tablespoons of peanut butter,or two slices of cheese. I eat a serving of vegetables and maybe a few low-fat wheat thins or a slice of bread.
mid-afternoon I have another snack much like the morning one.
For dinner, I again eat lean protein, a serving of veggies and a starch -- maybe a tiny baked potato or 1/3 cup of rice.
Two tablespoons of regular salad dressing per vegetable serving is okay. I don't like butter or margarine, so my nutritionist suggested that. We need a little "good" fat to help process food and maintain blood glucose levels.
In the evenings I eat nuts or sunflower seeds.
I don't feel deprived at all and it is all very healthy. If you would like more specifics send me a PM and I'll be happy to share anything else I can.
I've never had steroid treatment and my thyroid levels have been okay, so far. I was tested for food allergies and did not react to anything so I think Lyme is the basis of my hypoglycemia.
When I told my LLMD that I was hypoglycemic I got the impression he thought that was significant.
I was depressed and confused. I was training for the Marine Corp Marathon at the time I started gaining weight so I was running 20+ miles a week, eating well and putting on pounds.
It was crazy, but all is well now.
-------------------- The ultimate measure of a man is not where he stands in moments of comfort and convenience, but where he stands at times of challenge and controversy. Martin Luther King,Jr Posts: 1573 | From Maryland | Registered: Feb 2009
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posted
My weight had been creeping up over the years I went undiagnosed with Lyme. Then when I started treatment I gained 20 pounds in 2 months.
I know now most of that is water weight since my Lyme symptoms include massive water retention. Now that I am better, the water weight came off, but I still struggle with overweight.
I like the hypoglycemic diet described above. I know if I ate that way my weight will come off ... that and finally being through with Lyme flare-ups that always start with fluid in feet ankles and legs.
-------------------- Judy G. Posts: 122 | From Minnesota | Registered: Dec 2008
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nenet
Frequent Contributor (1K+ posts)
Member # 13174
posted
Thank you LeeLee for detailing your hypoglycemic diet, I really appreciate it. Hopefully this might be helpful for sammy or others reading this thread.
Unfortunately, I already eat very similarly to that, have good protein with every meal and snack (nuts and puffed wild rice, usually), only I take in fewer calories, eat lots of greens, and do not (cannot) eat dairy, gluten, most starches, peanut butter (hurts my stomach), or any nightshades like potatoes.
It seems that according to logic, I should be rail thin. I get the feeling most of my weight is likely water, since I gained it so quickly, and it won't come off with a very restricted diet. Maybe I need to get my thyroid levels checked again...
Do you exercise at all LeeLee? That is one thing I can't do, and haven't been able to for years. Way too sick for the time being.
Are you able to exercise sammy? I know Dr. B says exercise in contraindicated for those that can't tolerate it due to their level of illness, but if you can handle low levels that it can really help symptoms.
sammy
Frequent Contributor (5K+ posts)
Member # 13952
posted
Thank you all for taking the time to respond. I greatly appreciate your help!
I was not underweight before gaining the 10 lbs but thankfully I am still within the healthy range for my height. I'm close to being overweight though so I don't need to continue gaining.
When I first got sick I lost about 30 lbs within one month. I maintained that weight for over a year then gained 60 lbs in about a month an a half. Diet and exercise did not help and I was stuck at that weight for about 6mo. Gradually over the next year I was able to lose about 30 lbs. Then I got sicker and rapidly lost the rest of what I had gained. Around that time I was diagnosed with Lyme and Co. and secondary Addison's disease. So as you can see I have quite a history of ups and downs despite my best efforts to maintain a healthy baseline.
This past fall I was also diagnosed with hypoglycemia. Since then I have tried to follow the guidelines that my doctor gave me. Very similar to what Leelee outlined above.
The hardest thing for me has been including snacks to make sure that I eat something every 4hrs. My work is very busy and it is hard enough to grab a drink of water and nearly impossible to take a few minutes to grab a bite to eat. I usually bring a low carb yogurt smoothie for a mid morning snack because I can sip it.
Mid afternoon snack usually doesn't happen at work despite my best intentions. I need to figure out something there.
As for exercise, I try my best. I'm on my feet all day at work so i'm usually too exhausted to do anything more on those days. I use my days off to rest and recover. I usually try to take a walk or do Tai Chi when I can. I enjoy exercising but pay for it majorly. If I walk too long I tend to black out and become very weak. Afterwards I crash and literally sleep for several hours. It is impossible for me to stay awake after any exercise. But I keep trying to exercise because enjoy it and miss it and want to be able to do more.
I also took the time to look up all my meds today to check for interactions and read up on side effects. None of them have mention weight gain or increased appetite, most include anorexia and weight loss (which I don't want either but still talk about contradictory)!
I have been on a couple very short courses of topical and nasal steroids over the years. My doctor said that they should not affect me systemically. I have been trying to treat the secondary Addison's with supplements under the direction of my ND.
My thyroid has been normal when tested in the past. I have an order to retest when I get my labs done later this month. I'm also retesting the adrenals and if they are still low my LLMD is insisting on Cortef (which is a steroid and has the lovely side effect of weight gain!).
My doctor is not concerned about the weight gain but considering my history, I am very concerned. I've never experienced hunger like this before.
Over the next couple days i'll watch my diet more carefully. Maybe I am having fluctuations in blood sugar. I will also be more attentive to the timing of my meals to make sure i'm not going too long without eating. Hopefully I will find the cause and get rid of this constant nagging hunger.
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kelmo
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Member # 8797
posted
My daughter got that way on Seroquel.
She gained 90lbs in four months. She is now back down to 100lbs.
We went to a nutritionist who could not find fault in her diet.
But, one thing we did notice. During a herx, she can sometimes get that feeling of never begin satisfied.
I think it has something to do with a large nerve that gives a signal from the stomach to the brain that it's full.
She was helped by an anti-nausea drug called Meclizine. And, when she felt like that, she had a bit of protein, and ate small, nutritous food until it went away.
Does it hit mostly at night?
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sammy
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Member # 13952
posted
Update:
So, i've been ultra careful about my diet over this past month and have been taking 20min walks on my days off (i'm on my feet all day at work and basically feel like death after). Despite my best efforts I still gained 9lbs! AHH!!! Makes me want to scream!
I finally had my f/u with my doctor last week and found out that my thyroid is low and my cortisol is high. No wonder i'm getting fat! Literally, my clothes don't fit anymore. It's terrible. All this and my doctor is not concerned.
How long does it take before you start noticing a difference on Synthroid? I'm only on 25mcg right now but I'm really hoping that this will help lift the fatigue and taper off the weight gain eventually.
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METALLlC BLUE
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Member # 6628
posted
Sammy, It's not uncommon with patients to have these symptoms. I also have the same problem. I can't stop eating. When I try to be very "willful" it's just torture because the hunger never goes away and so I'm thinking constantly about when the next meal is.
The symptoms wax and wane like most of my symptoms. When my other symptoms get better from treatment, so do my hunger symptoms. It goes back and forth. One moment you're starving then you suddenly have either a normal or no appetite.
Lyme > Willpower
To get your cortisol levels down, you need to know what time of the day they're spiking. Most people with Lyme spike at night, but I spike in the morning and slowly it goes down towards normal in the afternoon and evening. I take two Seriphos capsules in the morning and 1 at noon. Where ever the biggest spike is, take 2. Then take one following it about 4 hours later.
I take armor thyroid 60mg per day for the Thyroid, but my level was within the normal range. Cortisol was high though, like I said. Even with controlling them my hunger level hasn't changed. It only changes when the antibiotics start working.
-------------------- I am not a physician, so do your own research to confirm any ideas given and then speak with a health care provider you trust.
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