posted
How many of you have experienced unexplained weight gain? I was reading some old flash disc. and it looks like people like me have had unexplained weight gain with lyme. Why would this happen? Does anyone know? I gained about 15 pounds since I have been infected and I was attributing it to getting older (30s) although I really had not changed my eating or activity habits.
Posts: 351 | From La Crosse, WI | Registered: Sep 2005
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posted
I believe that it's the body holding onto toxins. I don't know any more than that, but it's like your glands are swollen when you are infected, I believe that your body systems retain water to try and fight the infection, but cannot release those toxins.
Yes, it occurred with me. Exercise did nothing for me weight-wise. I actually lost weight over the summer by doing NOTHING. i was in too much pain and nauseous. If I did minimal movement I would have transient and recurring pain, spasms.
-------------------- Lymester Posts: 519 | From CT | Registered: Jun 2004
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I agree, even exercising regularly and eating healthy I find it very hard to lose any weight.
Posts: 649 | From United States | Registered: Dec 2003
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I have recently been diagnosed with Lyme, following the first diagnosis of vasculitis (one of the many symptoms of Lyme). When I looked up all the symptoms of the many forms of vasculitides, all had severe weight loss. I was sure that this couldn't be the right disease, as I had gained 30 lbs over a year! I also attributed it to my age, but my diet really didn't change. I read somewhere in Lyme research that it had something to do with the thyroid. In the two weeks since my ELISA results were positive, I have probably spent a good 50 hours doing research on this disease, and trying to make some sense of it! It's all coming together, but what a mess! It looks as though I have a long road ahead, but glad I have you guys to help me through, TIA, Jill
Posts: 203 | From Jacksonville, FLorida | Registered: Oct 2005
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posted
I agree with all of you. I've heard the body retains the toxins it's overwhelmed with in fat to protect the organs. The toxins produce inflammation, leading to water retention. The liver and kidneys get overwhelmed with toxins, also causing water retention. I've also read it affects the adrenal glands, thyroid and insulin regulation. I'm normally a size 2 pant, and in this past year I've gone from a size 0 pant to a current size 8. I know it's not from eating, as I only have 6 teeth right now (just had jaw debridement for a jaw infection) A size 8 is average, but on me it feels so overweight, like I'm in someone else's body. It's horrible, I do not have the $ to keep buying new clothes for work and home. Thank goodness for Target!
Posts: 50 | Registered: Jun 2005
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Andie333
Frequent Contributor (1K+ posts)
Member # 7370
posted
I went 9 years with undiagnosed Lyme. In that time, I exercised regularly -- walking three miles a day 4 or 5 days a week and swimming 3/4s mile on the other days.
And the pounds slammed on -- no matter how much exercise or how careful I tried to be with my diet. In all, I gained about 18 pounds in about that many months.
Interestingly, since I have started taking abx and all the other stuff for Lyme tx, I've been steadily losing weight. No exercise at all (absolutely couldn't do it yet; I'm still too sick). Just meds, and so far, I'm down 21 pounds.
Now, I'm able to wear all those clothes I had tucked into the back of my closet -- those "one day..." clothes.
Given my experience, the theory about toxic and/or water retention makes sense.
Andie
Posts: 2549 | From never never land | Registered: May 2005
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CaliforniaLyme
Frequent Contributor (5K+ posts)
Member # 7136
posted
Lyme and Babs affect thyroid which affects metabolism. also Babs can affect acid-base balance-
-------------------- There is no wealth but life. -John Ruskin
All truth goes through 3 stages: first it is ridiculed: then it is violently opposed: finally it is accepted as self evident. - Schopenhauer Posts: 5639 | From Aptos CA USA | Registered: Apr 2005
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CaliforniaLyme
Frequent Contributor (5K+ posts)
Member # 7136
posted
Yup- and fluid retention*)! Central and peripheral nervous system infection, immunity, and inflammation in the NHP model of Lyme … AR Pachner, D Cadavid, G Shu, D Dail, S Pachner, E … - Ann Neurol, 2001 - doi.wiley.com ... Lyme borreliosis is currently the most common arthropod-borne disease in the ... side effects, ie, fluid retention manifested as weight gain, glucose intolerance ...
-------------------- There is no wealth but life. -John Ruskin
All truth goes through 3 stages: first it is ridiculed: then it is violently opposed: finally it is accepted as self evident. - Schopenhauer Posts: 5639 | From Aptos CA USA | Registered: Apr 2005
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posted
I believe it has to do with toxins too. The thyroid is very sensitive to toxins, so it could be a thyroid involvement caused by toxins.
Because TBDs (tick borne infections) are multi systemic, one's whole metabolism is thrown off causing weight gain usu and sometimes loss.
So putting the system back into balance is needed as well as detoxing, and of course getting rid of the infection is a priority.
Posts: 925 | From California | Registered: Sep 2004
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A size 8 is average, but on me it feels so overweight, like I'm in someone else's body. It's horrible, I do not have the $ to keep buying new clothes for work and home. Thank goodness for Target!
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