posted
I am seriously looking like a skeleton. What do you guys do to pack on some pounds? I'm about two steps away from downing tablespoons of olive oil haha...but seriously, my tummy is a mess and I don't want to eat poorly.
Posts: 594 | From NJ/NY | Registered: Jun 2006
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Keebler
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posted
- Lentils, other legumes . . . non-gluten grains like millet - or Black Chinese Forbidden rice is wonderful nutrition . . . coconut milk soups with curry and chicken and veggies.
The coconut milk will pack on pounds quickly but it's really best to be sure you get enough protein so the pounds will turn to muscle and not fat.
Root vegetables but also good above ground greens for nutrition and strength.
THE REQUIREMENTS OF PROTEIN & AMINO ACID DURING ACUTE & CHRONIC INFECTION . . .
Anura V. Kurpad - Institute of Population Health & Clinical Research, Bangalore, India 129. Indian J Med Res 124, August 2006, pp 129-148.
Excerpt:
" . . . In general, the amount of EXTRA protein that would appear to be needed is of the order of 20-25 per cent of the recommended intake, for most infections. . . ."
- Full article at link (or google the title if it does not go through).
Geneal
Frequent Contributor (5K+ posts)
Member # 10375
posted
My LLMD put me on periactin for weight gain.
I was down to 94lbs and am 5'7.
I looked anorexic.
It helped a lot.
I only took it for a couple of weeks just to increase my appetite.
I have been steady at about 110lbs since then.
Hugs,
Geneal
Posts: 6250 | From Louisiana | Registered: Oct 2006
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canefan17
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posted
My appetite is not suppressed but I cannot gain weight.
I'm 5'11 138 (used to be 158)
My morning pH is 5.5 (needs to be 7.0 or higher)
I eat a ton and don't gain anything.
Posts: 5394 | From Houston, Tx | Registered: Aug 2009
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Keebler
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posted
- Can you see a LL endocrinologist? There may be some hormonal imbalance (as occurs a lot with lyme). You may have already checked all that but, if not, it seems the mostly likely connection.
Only someone very lyme literate would be educated enough, though. Most regular endocrinologists just don't have the knowledge although they could at least do a basic screening and be helpful if this is due to something that is not lyme related.
Or, if possible, wait it out as when lyme is cleared weight issues often clear, too (for those either over or under).
How you build muscle onto your frame might need to be examined. Some key there . . . .
It's not about gaining fat. You want to gain lean muscle. That requires very specific ingredients/nutrients and, perhaps, being assessed for how your body utilized amino acids and fatty acids may be of help.
What does your LLMD say about this? Weight issues are major issue with lyme. How have others like you fared?
I would be very careful about adding any sort of over the counter weight-lifter's protein powder but, with LLMD or LL ND (naturopathic doctor) guidance, a protein powder mix may give you some key nutrients that you're not getting right now.
An undenatured whey protein might be a good start.
Attention to bone nutrients, too, can help one gain weight and strength if bones are becoming weak. The stronger the bones, the better they can support healthy muscle mass.
Can you lift any weights, even small ones? -
Posts: 48021 | From Tree House | Registered: Jul 2007
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canefan17
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posted
I think we lose weight because we are very acidic and are wasting.
It's just my opinion.
Because I can eat a ton of food and seem to be getting nothing out of it.
I eat very healthy, but eat A LOT. Still no weight movement.
I'm going to work on correcting my pH/malabsorption and I'll let everyone know.
Posts: 5394 | From Houston, Tx | Registered: Aug 2009
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Keebler
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posted
- And I eat very little and still gain weight. It seems it's either one way or the other for most lyme patients.
---
Oh, I assume every lyme patient is gluten-free but if you have not yet working up to that, gluten could certainly be a reason for weight loss.
So can Addison's (but some Addison's patient actually gain weight and most doctors don't know that can happen but it can).
Lyme patients can have lyme-induced addision's but then, an LL endocrine specialist could figure that out and that was mentioned above so my guess is you've already gone down that path. If not, it could save your life to be evaluated for Addison's.
Just be sure who ever tests you is LL as some of the "challenge tests" involve steroids and that can be a disaster for a lyme patient.
But back to the gluten. That's a huge connection to malabsorption. you can read more at www.celiac.com
Even if not genetic or "true" celiac, many lyme patients do far better on a gluten-free diet. Infection can cause celiac, too, and that may be the connection.
Gluten can cause a tremendous amount of pain, not just in the stomach, but the whole body. It also can cause dementia and other neuro stuff that can be very rough.
I can't stress enough the importance of trying a gluten free diet.
You can test it for a week and if you see a difference, get back on gluten long enough for a test. You can read more at the celiac site above.
But, test or not, positive for celiac or not, there are many things tests cannot show. What I've read about gluten and how it can harm the brain makes my hair stand on end.
I've seen wonderful help from a gluten-free diet for over a decade. I still have much to tackle regarding lyme, etc. but I'd never be able to function at all were I to have any wheat, barley or rye.
canefan17
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posted
Keebler, ya I'm gluten free
BTW, I read that entire article. Very interesting stuff.
Talked a lot about nitrogen being decreased and a need for increased protein intake.
Can somebody explain how nitrogen works in/against our body?
Posts: 5394 | From Houston, Tx | Registered: Aug 2009
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Keebler
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posted
-
For lyme patients, as the balance is so off kilter, I think it makes us drunk without the fun of the party. That's just what I think I got from a few things I've read about it.
. . . Nitrogen is a constituent of molecules in every major drug class in pharmacology and medicine.
Nitrous oxide (N2O) was discovered early in the 19th century to be a partial anesthetic, though it was not used as a surgical anesthetic until later.
Called "laughing gas", it was found capable of inducing a state of social disinhibition resembling drunkenness.
Other notable nitrogen-containing drugs are drugs derived from plant alkaloids, such as morphine (there exist many alkaloids known to have pharmacological effects; in some cases they appear natural chemical defenses of plants against predation).
Nitrogen containing drugs include all of the major classes of antibiotics, and organic nitrate drugs like nitroglycerin and nitroprusside which regulate blood pressure and heart action by mimicking the action of nitric oxide. . . .
. . . .
========================
there is an article about biochemistry of lyme. I think it's discussed there - I will check my file for the link.
or in a lyme book or articles David Jernigan, D.C. (I think).
You might google his name and cross search with that term. -
Posts: 48021 | From Tree House | Registered: Jul 2007
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Keebler
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From the Townsend Letter for Doctors & Patients, February/March 2006
BIOCHEMISTRY OF LYME DISEASE: BORRELIA BURGDORFERI SPIROCHETE / CYST
by Prof. Robert W. Bradford and Henry W. Allen
EXCERPTS: . . .
A discovery of great importance relating to a toxin produced by the causative agent of Lyme disease, Borrelia burgdorferi, has been linked to a similar toxin produced by the organism Clostridium botulinum (botulism). . . .
[extensive explanation of:]
* Lyme Disease Toxin . . .
* Action of Toxin . . .
* Dietary Supplements in Lyme Disease . . .
. . . .
- Full article and great photos at link above.
-----------------------------------
NOTE OF CAUTION: While this is an excellent article regarding the information about the spirochete/cyst, there is one serious caution with one of the treatments suggested: Bismuth.
Bismuth, in various forms or methods of use, can (and has been) fatal. So, cross that off your list. If you download the article, please copy and paste this note to top your page.
Reading - and learning - about the nature of this infection is invaluable. The authors offer much in that regard, I just wish they'd adequately cautioned bismuth in this otherwise stellar work.
Keebler
Honored Contributor (25K+ posts)
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posted
- I tried to edit this into the above link but the edit function is not working properly and deletes some stuff while not adding what I wanted to add.
From BIOCHEMISTRY article (about 2/3 of the way through):
Nitrous Oxide (NO), A Potential Lyme Therapeutic Agent
Nitrous oxide (chemical formula NO) is a gas, at one time commonly used as an anesthetic (laughing gas).
In more recent times, the biochemical activity of NO has been related to the relaxation of the small muscle fibers in the walls of blood vessels. They serve to either relax or constrict the flow of blood passing through those vessels.
The mechanism of NO bioactivity has also been learned; this involves the substance c-GMP (cyclic guanosine monophosphate).
The amount of c-GMP at any time is regulated by the enzyme, phosphodiesterase type 5 (PDE-5), having the capacity to destroy it. c- GMP fits into a cavity on the surface of PDE-5, the "active site" of this enzyme.
Any other substance capable of being bound by the active site of PDE-5 inhibits the activity of the enzyme by blocking the entry of c-GMP, thus allowing a greater survival of c-GMP.
To summarize, any inhibitor of PDE-5 allows an increase in the amount of available c-GMP and consequent relaxation of blood vessels, permitting a greater flow of blood through those vessels.10
It has been demonstrated that NO is toxic to Borrelia burgdorferi, the causative organism of Lyme disease. 11
Therefore, any inhibitor of PDE-5 is a potential therapeutic agent for Lyme disease. Inhibitors of PDE-5 in common use today are the drugs sildenafil (more commonly known as Viagra), Levitra, and Cialis.
Whether these drugs act therapeutically against the Lyme spirochete has not been demonstrated clinically and remains unknown. (See Chart 8.)
. . . . ================
Now, rather then the Rx approach, it is David Jernigan, DC, who has some other good suggestions around all nitrogen - mostly to do with lessening high ammonia levels and its stress on the liver. You can search with his name to find his book and blog.
And Marnie, Terry K or GiGi may have past threads about this. Note nitric oxide is different than nitrous oxide. But my brain turns to jello about there.
Ammonia build up is involved.
And that's where I get off the train. For a thumbnail sketch and practical use of this material, I defer to others.
posted
All very interesting stuff. Thanks! I eat gluten free for the most part even though I do not test positive for celiac. Just had a dinner of steamed cod and peas-yummmmm tons of sea salt.
I can't lift yet, need to be able to get my eating routine down some first.
Posts: 594 | From NJ/NY | Registered: Jun 2006
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posted
I went from 135 to 109 pounds in the span of a month... maybe even less time than that. I still am struggling to put the weight back on but what I found worked the best was eating peanut butter from the jar. Hope that helps a little.
-------------------- I'll make the most of it, I'm an extraordinary machine Posts: 43 | From Cleveland | Registered: Dec 2009
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