Hi I'm new. I was wondering whether anyone had gained weight from Lyme disease. Did you gain weight because you became more hungry and ate more than before? Or, did you gain weight despite sticking to a strict diet? Thanks.
Posted by kelmo (Member # 8797) on :
Do a search on here, there are lots of threads regarding extreme weight loss and gain.
My daughter gained. Could've been a combo of antidepressants, medications that caused her to feel hungry or...
the bacteria invade the adrenals and mess up the metabolism.
Ocassionally, my daughter will have a feeling like she is absolutely starved. It took us a few years, but I think we figured out this was neurological. Some signal wasn't getting from the stomach to the brain.
She would have some kind of oil, like the olive oil, lemon juice drink, or Siberian Pine Nut Oil in gatorade.
This always seemed to happen at night, for her.
She gained 80 lbs in 3-4 months, she has lost 60 of that over the past 10 months. She had very little control over gaining or losing.
Kelly
Posted by adamm (Member # 11910) on :
Since I got infected, it seems I've been able to eat considerably more than I previously used to be able to without gaining any weight. Don't know what bugs I have.
Posted by jsnyde2 (Member # 7888) on :
Hi Aqua, Welcome to the board.
Whoa weight gain - yes! Lyme affected my thyroid. I got Lyme under control after 6 months of ABX. But then I had to focus on my thyroid condition. I was diagnosed with Hashimoto's Thyroiditis which is an atuoimmune disease that my doc believes was brought on by Lyme.
Just recently, finally, have managed to get that under control. Armour Thyroid has helped. It feels so great to be not fat again!
And no I did not eat more. If anything I ate less. I gained 15 lbs like practically overnight - no joke. It happened so fast I didn't notice it was happening. I am 5'3 woman normal weight 120lbs, 130lbs I feel fat. I woke up one day and weighed 147lbs - this was when I was at my worse in the disease. I was so numb from the Lyme it barely even registered.
But Lyme fog is gone, weight is gone, I feel great - it can happen!
Oh a note on Armour Thyroid, it seems to help regulate your body temperature. After my initial infection when I had a fever, I always had low temp. Like 95, 96, 97. Now with the Armour it is back to 98.6 like it always was pre-Lyme. The fact that my temp has been brought up and I lost the weight makes me think Armour is helping my body fuel burn more efficiently that led to the better metabolism. Have you noticed your temp is lower? This is all my own speculation and experience I am so not a doctor. Julie
Posted by Aqua (Member # 13409) on :
Thank you all. I was asking this bc out of all my symptoms weight gain was the one that confused me the most. I have anorexia, so i haven't eaten real food in a long time. This is the weird part; while only eating 600 to 700 calories a day, I gained 30 lb in one month. In two months i had gained 40lb. It upsets me bc I'm starving myself yet gaining weight. (My thyroid is already being treated since '03 with synthroid). All my hormones were tested and no imbalances were found. It just doesn't make sense.
Posted by hostbody (Member # 12695) on :
I've gained another person..... Lyme has killed my metablulism (however it's spelt).
I have to eat with my meds. If I don't eat enough I get sick.
Then when I'm herxing - I don't care what I eat - I just want comfort food.
Obviously, the weight makes the pain in my knees and everywhere else worse.
erggghhh!
Posted by terri3boys (Member # 12993) on :
Something I've been experiencing recently is waking up around 4:00 in the morning from HUNGER! I wake up and my stomach is GROWLING........you can hear it!
I don't know if it has anything to do with the doxy I'm taking right now, because that's the only thing that's different.
All I want is COLD GRAPES........guess I'm craving sugar? I usually give in and eat a few, then toss and turn while trying to go back to sleep. I really shouldn't eat them because of my thyroid meds.
I have 2 thyroid meds I take first thing in the morning, and I'm supposed to take them on an empty stomach. I wait about 30 min. - 1 hour to take the rest of my meds.
I don't know what the deal is with the NOISY growling stomach, but it's very annoying and it sounds like an alien is in there!
I guess this wasn't really "weight" related, but thought I'd add this!
Posted by hatpianka (Member # 12244) on :
I'm another Lymie weight gainer. I'm 5'2" and I have a very muscular build from years of gymnastics. Before Lyme I weighed about 145, now I'm up about 30 pounds.
It's very frustrating.
I find that the lack of movement/exercise, and wanting comfort out of food are the main reasons, although I'm sure my metabolism is pretty messed up, too.
Posted by Lymetoo (Member # 743) on :
quote:Originally posted by terri3boys:
I don't know what the deal is with the NOISY growling stomach, but it's very annoying and it sounds like an alien is in there!
You really need to watch out for yeast. It's going to overtake you if you're already craving sweets and eating grapes.
Also, Doxy is VERY hard on the stomach. Between those two things, it's no wonder your stomach is growling!
DIET, DIET, DIET is the key. Then, be sure to follow the 5 step plan outlined below. It was developed by my naturopath. It works.
"Successful control and elminiation of a Candida Albicans overgrowth requires a multifaceted program as described below. Failure to follow ALL the steps simultaneously will result in slow progress and will lengthen healing time significantly. The program should be tailored to the individual and must balance the need to eliminate the Candida and deprive it of its food source while insuring proper nutrition for the individual."
Five Steps to Candida Elimination:
1. You must starve it into submission by eliminating its food source.
2. You must kill it with anti-fungal herbs and supplements. [e.g....garlic, onion, caprylic acid, Pau D'Arco capsules or tea, clove, grapefruit seed extract, olive leaf extract, oil of oregano, tea tree oil, Echinacea, Goldenseal, black walnut, MSM, barberry root, uva ursi, neem leaf, biotin]
3. You must reestablish the proper balance and quantity of probiotic bacteria in the digestive tract. [...multi-strain lactobacillus acidophilus and bifidus capsules with FOS should be taken between meals to maximize repopulation of the digestive tract by beneficial bacteria.]
4. You must reestablish proper levels of all B vitamins (yeast free) and utilize other immune enhancing supplements to boost immune system function. [e.g ... B complex vitamins (yeast free), biotin, beta 1-3 glucan, colostrum, maitake mushroom, vitamins A, C, E, zinc and selenium]
5. You must cleanse and heal the digestive tract to promote proper elimination of toxins and Candida and assimilation of nutrients. [e.g...chlorophyll, MSM, omega 3 fatty acids found in flax seed and salmon oils, GLA found in borage, evening primrose and black currant oils. Pantothenic acid, digestive enzymes between meals] lyme disease in Europe is http://health.groups.yahoo.com/group/EuroLyme/ Posted by terri3boys (Member # 12993) on :
Thanks, Lymetoo. I figured something was definitely out of balance, especially after seeing my neuro-gastro doc a couple of days ago.
He wants me on this "Ph balance" diet from a book called "The Ph Miracle." He also disagrees with my other doctor's tx plan with the abx.
I'm trying to figure things out. I respect both of them, and I'm confused on what to do.
One thing I know for sure is that I've ALWAYS had a major sweet tooth. I probably do have yeast issues, and probably have for a long time.
I need to clean up my diet no matter what. I don't eat terribly bad foods, but I do give in to the carb/sweet/salty cravings. I just do.
This doxy IS hard on my stomach, and I'm only on 100mg 2x/day. That's not much for now. We're just buying some time while waiting on insurance answers for the IV.
Don't know which way to handle this. My GI doc wants me to take pomegranate oil along with all these other supplements.
He wants me to get my "positive" energy restored, too. There's another doctor I've been to who does the B.E.S.T. protocol to open up your chakras. Right now, I'm "negative" and blocked and everything "shocks" me, and my hands will smell like metal sometimes.
I'm definitely out of whack. But what's new????
Thanks for your diet advice. I'm going to print the info out.
terri3boys
Posted by savebabe (Member # 9847) on :
I have lost weight since being diagnosed with lyme and babesia. I think it is all the meds on my gut.