Does anyone else have weight loss with Lyme and cannot gain any weight? I am 5'7" -female- and about 114lbs. I started at 138 before I got sick.
It has gone steadily downward and though I thought it was stopping at 120.. I am now at 114 and getting scared.
I always eat three meals a day. My diet is VERY limited because of GI symptoms and inflammation. I really dont know how to gain weight. My doc wants me to drink BOOST- but I am worried about the sugar (w/lyme) and also... when I feel so sick, the last thing I want is a chocolate milkshake type thing.
Any thoughts on why this is happening or advice on how to stop losing?
Thanks. RENNY
Posted by TS96 (Member # 14048) on :
Renny, I was the same way. I was 5'5 down to 105 lb. But once I started getting better with treatment I started gaining again.
Avacados, almond butter, lots of ghee with meals. I use to use a pea protein mix to make smoothies along with some coconut cream.
Often parasites eat all our food and that may be an issues you need to look into as well. I'm not the expert on that one. But have done some parasite cleanses with success.
I'd stay away from the boost and stick with the good healthy fats and proteins until you start gaining weight as you get better from lyme treatment.
Posted by renny1985 (Member # 25222) on :
Oh thanks for the suggestions! What is ghee? I should mention I am also not allowed any dairy because of allergies. Avocado and peanut butter are a large part of my diet. I will buy some almond butter- is it higher fat/calories/protein?
I feel like I am withering away .. I dont like seeing the bones throughout my body.
What parasite cleanse did you do and how did it make you feel during it? I am scared to do more than a few things at once...about to probably start IV ABX once I get to my LLMD in 2 wks.
Posted by TS96 (Member # 14048) on :
Renny, Ghee is clarified butter. It has the casein removed. I can't have dairy either so this is good for me and is a good fat.
I don't know if Almd. butter is higher in fat and protein but it is not as moldy as peanut butter. I don't do well with peanuts period.
I did the Humaworm clease 2x and the first round I was a bit nauseous and itchy all over but I did continue and these side effects did lesson as time went on. I did pass strange stuff but can't say exactly what they were, only that it was not normal.
But you can do a search here to read on peoples experiences with parasite protocols. many say the Rx parasitics are what really needed and do the job.
I looked like a skeleton too, It's not attractive thats for sure.
I hope all goes well at your appt. and you get well quickly.
Posted by ChristieL (Member # 27786) on :
I have lost so much weight too, and just can't seem to stop it. I lost another 3 pounds, had to see my regular NP yesterday, my first "lyme" appt is tommorow with an infectious disease doc, so hoping he has something to offer as right now I am not on abx or anything and having a really tough time. My husband bought me ensure, but like you those are hard for me to eat when I feel nauseated.
Also, they give me the "trots" as they say lol.
I eat pistachio nuts, and peanut butter, but not sure if those are recommended or not.
I just started the carnation packages, but I have no dairy issues. NONE of my clothes fit, have lost about 25 pounds since May and I was not heavy at all to begin with. Maybe we can get some good ideas, ty for this question.
Posted by renny1985 (Member # 25222) on :
Thanks everyone for your comments. Ya I hate looking like a skeleton. It is soo hard to gain weight when you feel really sick to your stomach all the time. Regardless, I eat 3 meals a day and snack as much as I can...
On better days I have snacks between each meal and make a serious effort to eat extra. I still don't gain. I am worried about how low it will go.
I feel like crap. A lot of the time I eat and it goes right through me, I worry I am not absorbing anything... is this Lyme? Bart? I don't know but it stinks.
Posted by canefan17 (Member # 22149) on :
Bart for me.
Posted by Xingqitian (Member # 28280) on :
A lot of people with Lyme do have Candida issues as well. It took about a year for me to find out that this is probably the reason for all the digestion problems I had (mainly diarrhea and a crumbling, bloated stomach). I tried eating at least 3 times a day, but with all the nausea (maybe also due to coinfections) and little appetite, it was still hard enough. I tried eating light diet, but my situation didn't really improve. I didn't know that I had Candida until about a month ago and it also took a while until I realised that this is what might cause all those problems. I'm taking Nystatin now and started an anti-Candida diet (incl. detox) only three days ago but can already tell a big difference. You can find a lot of information about candida (symptoms, diet, ...) in this forum.
Take into account that your weight loss could probably also be due to other reasons than Lyme (e.g. Candida or Lyme co-infections).
Posted by renny1985 (Member # 25222) on :
How did you find out you had Candida? Is there a test. I am starting to believe more and more I have Bart- despite a negative blood test via Quest (I guess this is irrelevant?).
Thanks for the feedback.
Posted by nefferdun (Member # 20157) on :
I believe weight loss is a symptom of babesia - an indication that I DON"T have it as I sure have no problems gaining weight!
Coconut oil is very good for you so you might add it to your diet. Mix a couple tablespoons in oatmeal for instance. Avocado is loaded with fat and easy to digest. Walnuts are high in good fats with omega 3 fatty acids.
Snacks can be popcorn drizzled in melted coconut oil (it becomes a solid when kept under 76 degrees).
Coconut oil is supposed to be very good for your brain. I make "brain candy" - heat 2 oz unsweetened bakers chocolate with 1/4 cup unprocessed local honey until melted. Remove from heat and stir in 1/2 cups coconut oil and one cup walnuts. Stir until cools enough to begin to set. Then put into oiled pan and refrigerate.
Some people object to honey though. I think small amounts are ok and one eighth of this recipe is one and a half teaspoons honey with one TB coconut oil.
Posted by zil (Member # 12048) on :
I'm 5'6" and was down to 98lbs. I looked horrible and felt horrible. Massive fatigue. Found out I had adrenal insufficiency. Drank ensure but it didn't help me gain, I could only drink 1 can a day as it gave me the trots too. Get your cortisol checked.
Posted by renny1985 (Member # 25222) on :
I think I've had my cortisol tested but I am planning on seeing an endocrinologist soon!
I am really confused about what coinfections I may have or not.
Coconut oil is a good idea- thank you. Also, yes lots of avocados- easy to digest and Delicious! Your chocolate bark with honey and coconut sounds great, can you send me some !
Posted by Forgetfulgirl123 (Member # 27939) on :
Hi you guys,
I'm 5'7 and was down to 87 pounds (yikes), but eventually gained enough to get back up to 100 pounds but now I'm stuck there.
Anyways, here are some healthy/allergen friendly/candida diet friendly/gastroperisis-friendly suggestions on how to boost your calories and perhaps gain some weight:
-Organic Casein Free Ghee/Butter: http://www.purityfarms.com/ (my favorite thing to do with it is to puree leftover brown rice or wild rice, then make cook it into hot cereal with water and ghee. It's easy to digest and quick to make)
-Almond butter, Pumpkin Seed Butter, etc: http://www.rejuvenative.com/peanut-free/ (Really good on apples or cooked into hot cereal like Bob Redmills gluten free Oats or Arrowhead Mills Amaranth)
Let me know if you need more suggestions. I hope you start feeling better soon.
Posted by renny1985 (Member # 25222) on :
Thanks! Just ordered the unrefined coconut oil and bought some almond butter and avocadoes at the market today. I will start there- thank you!
I am going to look at the sunbutter now too Posted by Xingqitian (Member # 28280) on :
There's a test for candida, but I have heard that it sometimes doesn't show up in the test even though you have it.
I have been testing positive for babs too, so I'm pretty sure that in my case it was not only babs that kept me from gaining weight. Before I started with the candida diet my digestion was never even slightly kind of normal for almost a year. No gaining weight possible with poor digestion. Aspergillus might play it's part too (tested pos for this one too), don't know what it does exactly, but I'd assume it's similar to candida...?
Renny, if you're starting with a candida-diet and feel better afterwards, you should also take medicine that helps kill the yeast, otherwise it will not go away.
Posted by whatayear (Member # 15833) on :
Kind of pricey but there is this stuff called absorb plus its about 400 callories per shake and they taste good. Ive lost over 80 pounds at this point, thank God i had the weight to loose, this stuff keeps me from loosing weight, its gluten and lactose free and has stuff to heal your gut as well and its predigested so u absorb the nutrients! Im so thankful for this stuff but i also have tons of food allergies at this point and there was very little i can eat.
Posted by Keebler (Member # 12673) on :
- If your doctor is suggesting "Boost" you need a new doctor. There's a lot of junk in that. -----------
Ingredients in BOOST Vanilla -
Posted by Keebler (Member # 12673) on :
- I'm really too tired to fully explain and add links to to do that but I'd really not be too concerned about weight loss as, most often, weight gain comes along later and I'd concentrate only on just getting the very best nutrition from the very best food sources.
And ADRENAL support is essential to help normalize optimal weight when under stress (whether those out of whack stress hormones push loss or gain).
Weight training like pilates can help shape some muscle. But, I would not focus specifically on trying to gain weight just for weight's sake - or appearances. -
Posted by wtl (Member # 19883) on :
quote:Originally posted by Keebler: - If your doctor is suggesting "Boost" you need a new doctor. There's a lot of junk in that. -----------
Interesting. The "supposedly the best llmd in US today" asked my wife to start drinking boost after her continued weight loss. I assume it's because the benefit outweighted the bad stuff in the boost?
![[Frown]](frown.gif)
.. I dont like seeing the bones throughout my body.![[Smile]](smile.gif)
!