posted
Let me start off by saying that I am a 6' 32 yr old male that weighed 125-135lbs all through high school and most of college, then for a few years until last year I was at a steady 145lbs. I've always seemed to have a very high metabolism.
My wife and I went to a B&B up in the mountains of Ashville, NC. Did some trail walking every day and they had a chef on site that made really great dinners.
After that long weekend stay, I started gaining weight. I went from being able to eat whatever and not gaining a pound to no matter what I ate, I seemed to gain. I got up to 170, but it was all in my face and my gut. My wife was also pregnant after September of last year, so I don't know if I was gaining sympathy weight or not, since I ate whenever she did.
Now I know that 170lbs for 6' is not bad at all. But since our son was born, and I found out I have lyme (July) I have lost my gut completely, and I'm back down to the 140's.
I don't know whether it's due to stressing over lyme, my metabolism kicking back up, or the fact that I am eating so much healthier and not as often because of the lyme and abx.
I'm really hoping I don't end up back down into the 120s-130s. I was really enjoying that extra padding on my butt when I would sit down on a hard chair, but now it's gone.
I just needed to vent about that, and see if anyone else has weight fluctuation as well.
PS, we have donuts at work on Fridays and I want one soooo bad, but thanks to lyme and abx, I can't
Posts: 123 | From Georgia | Registered: Jul 2008
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Ocean
Frequent Contributor (1K+ posts)
Member # 3496
posted
Hi Design, Yes, I have the same problem. I actually gained weight when I first got sick (misdiagnosed with mono first, then Chronic Fatigue Syndrome). I relapsed in 2003 and have not been able to gain weight since. I'm not at an all time low right now, but look thin. I'm 5'5" and weigh 109 now, I tend to have more muscle mass than most girls (I used to be a gymnast and runner), so I look thinner than others at this weight. It's depressing because it scares me, I don't want to go down to 100 lbs again.
My husband has type one diabetes and is 5'11" and has always been in the 140's, but he doesn't have the broad shouldered wide chest of some guys, he's smaller framed. We don't believe he has lyme (tested neg with electrodermal testing, I tested positive, so I went to LLMD and tested Pos with WB through IGENEX), but his is due to blood sugar flucuations.
Anyhow, I feel your pain, I hope that you are at least able to maintain your weight. I think for me, part of it is my constant anxiety and adrenaline rushes, it contributes to burning up my calories.
Makes me wonder sometimes if my sudden shift in weight gain was when I got this stuff as well.
Posts: 123 | From Georgia | Registered: Jul 2008
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posted
I got bitten in 1984 but the real Lyme symptoms only came on in full force 4 years ago when I had a hyderectomy. I gained 50 pounds in 2 1/2 years.. and it was all put down to menopause. Going to Curves 4/5 times a week has stopped the gain but I have lost no pounds or inches. Now I am a Lymie I cant help but think the gain was not just meno. and that those "this just cant be happening' feelings were justified. I am fat and miserable.
Posts: 234 | From BC Canada | Registered: Aug 2008
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Ocean
Frequent Contributor (1K+ posts)
Member # 3496
posted
I'm sure it's entirely possible that then is when you got sick. For me, I vacationed in South Carolina for 10 days with my friend and her family (I was in highschool at the time) and got the 'flu'. Is there something about the Carolinas and Lyme?? It sure is pretty down there, maybe the ticks like the scenery?? I gained weight in my face as well in the first 2 years I was sick.
Hi Liz, sorry to hear that! My mom didn't have a hysterectomy, but is in menopause (in her 50's) and is about 5'7 and is still 130 lbs, so just because you go into menopause doesn't mean you'll gain, she's also a runner. Also, my mother in law who doesn't exercise is almost 60 and doesn't look like she's gained a thing!
Weight gain with Lyme is common, I hated it when it happened to me, but now that I can't gain, it scares me more than when I was heavier (I weighed about 145 I think). I think some of my hormones are out of whack too, I hear Lyme does all sorts of things to the endocrine system!
posted
Thanks Ocean. I am tired of people looking at my body and judging... some saying I look 'healthy' and some suggesting I eat too much and should cut down. And if I am exercising hard on a regular basis when will I start to see results... The rapid weight gain made me feel like I was loosing my marbles and I have 'ditched' some friends who were continually rude about my size. And surely, if I am so ill with Lyme, shouldnt I be thin??? Feeling sorry for myself today as you can probably tell. Liz
Posts: 234 | From BC Canada | Registered: Aug 2008
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Ocean
Frequent Contributor (1K+ posts)
Member # 3496
posted
Aww.... I think it's harder for women to gain weight because women are SO judgemental! I know my mom was telling me that she was surprised how much I'd weighed, my physical the year before I was 125 lbs, and I gained 20 lbs in a year, and I was still trying to exercise (hard when you have chronic fatigue!). I had others tell me that I needed to exercise (fortunately not my real friends), if they only knew the hell I was going through mentally and physically with this undiganosed disease!
No, I don't think it means you should be thin, it all depends on where the lyme is hitting you at the time I think! When I was 19, my doc tested me for Lyme, and thyroid and several things (hepatitis maybe? although I'd never had a blood transfusion, was a virgin and never used drugs). Lyme and Hep came back neg (that dumb Elisa! I wish he'd known and done the western blot, although not sure if they had it back in 1997??).
BUT... my thyroid tests came back low, but he quickly said, "but not low enough to really do anything." This was a regular DO. I was 19 years old!! My thyroid levels should have been normal. I was sick and I trusted him, because he was a doctor. I have been burned by so many doctors, I am very selective in whom I put my trust in!
Have they checked thyroid levels? Lyme messes with so many things!!
Good luck to you, and again, please don't feel bad, I've been there, but it is not your fault. Please don't kill yourself with exercise, it's good to stimulate and drain lymphs, but you need to rest too so you can heal!
Keebler
Honored Contributor (25K+ posts)
Member # 12673
posted
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Regardless of if one is loosing or gaining - or is high or low on the scale - this book is vital to the understanding of what stress and infection do to the endocrine system. Sspecifically - the author talks about lyme and Cpn, among other chronic stealth infections.
posted
Ocean - yesterday was a 'dark' day but your comments helped lift my spirits a little. I am on zith and mepron, going into my 4th week. YOu gave me some food for thought, thanks.. I am working a busy demanding job, exercising, etc etc but never sitting back to relax and have some healing time. For some reason I feel on a mission to do as much as possible even tho I am exhausted and hurting. I am going to take a step back and regroup... Thanks again... thank God for fellow lymies who know and understand. Liz
Posts: 234 | From BC Canada | Registered: Aug 2008
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Ocean
Frequent Contributor (1K+ posts)
Member # 3496
posted
Keebler, thanks for the book referral, looks like a really neat book!
Hi Liz, Sorry you had a crappy day! I kinda did too, started worrying that this was going to kill me and leave my 2, 5 and 7 year old motherless. Ugh...those darn emotions! I'm still alive, I think because I had the stomach flu (complete with headache and fever too!) I just feel extra tired and run down.
You definitely need to rest! For the first year I was sick, I just kept going. I didn't know any differently. Then before my last relapse, I was working night shift 7 pm-7 am as a nurse with a 4 and 2 year old and my husband was also working full time. I am POSITIVE that this contributed to it, plus eating too much sugar (after all I got pregnant again and had cravings!!).
I don't even exercise anymore, and that used to be a really fun thing for me, I should probably start some type of walking regimen, but I always worry about my heart because of the panic attacks (due to the Lyme I hear now) and heart palps.
I know easier said than done, but don't listen to other people about the whole weight thing. Everything will even out. We are sick, we may not look it, but it's inside of our bodies. People have died from Lyme Disease, and most people don't take it to be a serious disease.
Also, let me know if you get the hormones checked. Also, I do know that progesterone I think can be off with menopause/hysterectomy, my cousin is a midwife and knows all sorts of stuff about hormones. My sister's mother in law just had one and my cousin was giving her advice, said most women are estrogen dominant and the chemicals in our air, water and plastics and what not can make us that way!
Well dear, I'd better get moving, I usually have more energy in the evening and I need to finish up what I started.
posted
I was infected in 1999 was ill for 8 years. Days i could do things but most days in bed. Im over weight anyway due to thyroid for years. I had lost 65 lbs before lyme then gained 100 lbs. Then for 6 years i was feeling good enought to go and do more than i did before.
I have relapsed and am loosing weight i have lost probably 50 lbs. Which i am fine with and glad to do so. It does scare me tho wondering if something else is going on. But do hope i loose more.
Yes if we dont have something external to make us look bad people make the comment how good we look. I hate to answer the phone because i sound great. I told people if i could walk around on my tounge i would be great..
Feel better soon.
Posts: 112 | From Ohio | Registered: Aug 2006
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