So in about six weeks in April and May I gained 10 lbs. I was on the anti-candida diet, and not eating too terribly, and while that seemed excessive, it is definitely possible some of the gain was because I can't exercise as much as usual.
However, since then, I have been trying to lose weight. But it seems like no matter what I do I cannot lose any weight.
I have to admit- I even went 2 weeks eating less than I probably should (I have had stomach issues recently, so I am never hungry, and eating sometimes makes me feel awful) and I lost no weight.
When I make an effort to eat a healthy amount, I gain weight. Even if I exercise.
I am torn because I can't listen to hunger signals since my stomach is so screwed up, but I don't want to eat too little because that won't help me get better, and could screw my metabolism up.
At the same time I am gaining weight NO MATTER WHAT and my clothes are starting to not fit and this is seriously frustrating!
I know it isn't the most important concern, but the truth is, it is extremely frustrating and disheartening! Especially because my skin has broken out horribly recently
I have had my thyroid tested multiple times. It come up hypothyroid once, but the rest of the times (4? or 5) it has been normal. None of my doctors seem to think thyroid is an issue.
I literally saw my doctor 4 days ago, but I was so distracted with sorting out my treatment plan and trying to figure out my stomach issues that I didn't mention this.
It's now a month until my next appointment, and this is driving me crazy already. Has anyone else had problems like this? Did you figure out what it was?
(as a side note: The fact that I have bad stomach issues means that I often do not digest food properly...which seems like it should make me LOSE weight!)
Posted by TerryK (Member # 8552) on :
There are many posts about this in the archives. It is a common issue in lyme patients. Those who don't have the problem typically think it is about food and activity level. Those who have the problem know better.
Leptin is increased by biotoxins. Borrelia creates biotoxins. This could be part of the issue. Allergies and inflammation could also be partly to blame.
Frankly, even when I first got diabetes and was having trouble getting my blood glucose levels down I did not lose weight. Others would lose weight easily in thos circumstances because calories are dumped out of the body but not me.
Personally, the only thing that has ever caused me to lose weight is diflucan. Nothing else including massive antifungals and candida diets and programs has made any difference. My doctor once told me that some think that diflucan might be a cyst buster. I can't get doctors to prescribe diflucan because it is hard on the liver.
Despite the fact that I've tried numerous strategies and looked at many possible issues diflucan is the ONLY thing that has any affect on weight for me.
That said, I know others with lyme disease who gain a lot of weight but are able to lose it after treatment. I hope you are one of those.
Terry
Posted by glm1111 (Member # 16556) on :
Parasites/worms can cause weight gain. Parasites are often an overlooked co-infection of lyme disease. Check the symptom list at Humaworm and do a search on parasites.
Gael
Posted by glm1111 (Member # 16556) on :
P.S.
I lost over 20 lbs with the use of antiparasitics. You can have as much as 12lbs of parasites sitting in the G.I. track.
Gael
Posted by Nicole_Denise (Member # 20620) on :
I just got an in depth stool test done. No parasites and no yeast (yay). My doc thought my stomach problems were either Of those two too. I was actually hoping it was, because we'd know what it was and could fix it.
Thanks for the advice though- my doctor initially agreed with you.
Posted by birdie67 (Member # 35994) on :
Sometimes the tests don't pick everything up.
I had a complete stool profile done by Metametrix and it came back negative for parasites, then saw worms in my stool after test was done.
I have had a hard time loosing weight too. Sometimes the tests are not always accurate.
Posted by TerryK (Member # 8552) on :
Yes, the tests are not reliable. Anti-parasitics might help some ppl. Some worms actually cause weight loss. I've been on some very hefty anti-parasitics for 2+ years. Unfortunately no weight loss.
Posted by TerryK (Member # 8552) on :
I had forgotten that I had these saved. Maybe you will find them interesting.
I am in the Sammmmme boat. I count every calorie, work out every day, low carb, no gluten, no grains, no everything and it is a constant struggle for me.
i've treated parasites, worked on hormones, and have no idea why I keep gaining!
Posted by glm1111 (Member # 16556) on :
Treating parasites is ongoing until symptom free, and not for just 1 or 2 mos.
Gael
Posted by Nicole_Denise (Member # 20620) on :
Before the test came back my doctor put me on Wormwood as an anti parasitic just in case. I have been on it for 2-3 months, and while it may be helping an untreated babesia confection I have, it is not yet helping my weight or stomach.
It is just frustrating and nerve wracking because it doesn't seem to be one of the common things. And I would live to make it stop but I dont know how.
I will try to read through those Links tomorrow. Thanks for posting them.
Posted by jupiter76 (Member # 37697) on :
babesia causes weight gain I think.
Posted by Razzle (Member # 30398) on :
Lyme can damage the pituitary, which is the gland that drives the production of thyroid stimulating hormone and also ACTH (which makes the adrenal glands produce cortisol).
Unfortunately, MD's rely too much on the TSH test and not enough on free T3 & free T4 to diagnose thyroid issues.
Too little thyroid hormones or too much cortisol can cause increase in weight gain with difficulty losing the weight.
A savvy endocrinologist may be able to figure this out for you...
Posted by faithful777 (Member # 22872) on :
Insulin resistance is common with Lyme disease too. Dr. Buhner talks about that in his book and recommends some supplements to help with that. His new book is out now too.
I have stayed on the blood type diet over a year and that has helped a lot. Dr.K references this as one of the diets to use on his website.
Posted by Marnie (Member # 773) on :
There are many reasons why the cells become "insulin resistant" and won't allow glucose in (insulin normally carries glucose into the cells).
IMO...while Bb needs glucose, it appears "he" needs/wants amino acids moreso (for his RNA/DNA cell walls and cell membrane).
Hence it is a good idea (from "his" perspective!) to trigger our response to NOT allow glucose into the cells.
Cancer cells operate the same. They do NOT use glucose, they have *mutated*/adapted to using amino acids for energy.
If we have all this circulating glucose which continues to go up (and it is not allowed into the cells) the extra is put into storage for future use as glycogen in more than one location.
Under conditions of ***sustained hyperglycemia*** (high blood glucose levels),
***glycogen accumulates in pancreatic islets,***
but not so in acinar pancreatic cells.
(The pancreatic islets - islets of Langerhans - are where we secrete insulin and glucagon.)
Metabolic syndrome + hypothyroid linked to atherosclerosis (plaque in arteries) and up goes C reactive protein (inflammation is happening - marker).
Atherosclerosis (plaque in arteries...narrowing them -> up goes BP) has just been linked to a ***missing component*** in macrophages (our "pac men" that are supposed to help break up a pathogens proteins).
The "missing component" in macrophages is linked in my atherosclerosis post.
Posted by WhitneyS (Member # 25666) on :
Hey-- just re-reading this...
Do you have more thorough thyroid results?? A 4 or 5 for TSH is actually high... my tsh needs to be around a 1. You should have free T3, and T4 tested to actually get useful results.
Posted by sixgoofykids (Member # 11141) on :
I'd look at the thyroid results again, too. Mine was barely in range at 3.8. My doctor said it was in range, but not the ideal part of range. He wanted to see it closer to 1.
You could possibly supplement Lugol's Iodine. I've been using it, now my thyroid is starting to get into the hyper range, so I'll be able to reduce my thryoid meds. My goal is to get off them. I was on iodine for several months before it made it so I could reduce my meds.
Iodine is also anti-bacterial, anti-fungal, anti-parasitical, etc. It's a necessary nutriend many of us are deficient in. It's not like you need a lot, I only take ONE DROP.
Posted by Marnie (Member # 773) on :
Iodine can also be applied to the skin and will dry fast and be absorbed (vanishes) within 24 hours.
Apply about a quarter size anywhere.
Careful not to spill it...stains.
Which comes first Syndrome X (metabolic syndrome) then hypothyroid or the other way around?
Looks like researchers don't know for sure.
Posted by discariot (Member # 27067) on :
It my own experience, I started using Cholestyramine to help eliminate toxins and lost about 30 pounds over a couple of months. Depending on the ultimate cause of the weight gain, this may be helpful to you. Good luck!
Posted by Nicole_Denise (Member # 20620) on :
Yeah my thyroid was at the high end of the range ( but within once) and quite high another time (6) and the other times I have been tested I was never told the results ( just old it was normal)
The problem is that because the test after the one time my thyroid was 6 came back somewhere within normal, my doc (gp not llmd) decided it isn't thyroid. I sometimes wonder if it is off enough I would benefit from treatment but if my gp won't treat it the problem is moot- my Lyme doc is an ND and can't treat it.
Posted by sixgoofykids (Member # 11141) on :
For years my doc wouldn't treat thyroid so I took Solaray Thyroid Caps because it has dessicated thyroid in it. Armour, a prescription, is dessicated thyroid. I took my temperatures in the morning to be sure I was keeping them in range. Someone with low thyroid will have waking temperatures below 97.8-98.2.
It was not ideal, but that's how I handled it.
Knowing what I know today, I would have tried Lugol's Iodine first, watched my temperatures, then after a couple months added the Solaray if I needed it.
I'm doing it backward ..... now that I've been on Iodine, I'm reducing my thryoid meds. Your LLMD being an ND could oversee trying to get the thryoid in ideal range naturally with iodine.