Initially lost but now have gained weight during Tx

[wMich]

Weight loss during Tx sure seems to be widespread. Has anyone here ever gained weight on Tx? I initially lost about 5-7 lbs. during the first 12 weeks of Tx but regained that and another 5-7 lbs. during my second 12 weeks. I'm thinking its mostly side-induced lethargy, lack of exercise, Michigan weather and my increasing couch time. After work I'm often too spent to do much other than rest. I do Peg on Friday nights and move slowly on the weekends. OK, weakness for holiday foods is also a factor ;-) Guess I can't complain too loudly considering so many of us are losing weight they don't want to lose. I am Type II diabetic and my blood glucose control is partially weight and exercise-driven so I do need to rein it in. Though my sides have been somewhat worse in the second 12 weeks, Tx remains quite DOABLE.

Week 23 started Friday and my first precise PCR (Heptimax)is slated for 1/13/06. I'm trying to start 2006 with new resolve, doing what is in my power to increase my health, well-being and sanity. This board is one fine resource and I wish all of you a great new year from chilly and cloudy west Michigan!                  - Lee

[cougareyes]

I initially lost about 5 lbs, then gained it back and have maintained my weight, doing #27 tonite. My appetite is off and on but I do seem to get something down everyday through out the day. I probably eat more ice cream than I used to.     Peace

[SnoWav]

Gee I been posting alot the last couple of days. I gained a few pounds the first weeks and lost a few more later on.Ending TX a few pounds less 179  could have stood to lose a few more .I can say for a fact that more excersise is a good thing. I found the TX makes me think that I can't do as much but really it's in my head and I can push myself do do much more even if I do get light headed either it will pass or I will pass out (haven't passed out yet but thought I might) good luck on your journey.

[roxxiroo]

Thanks for the encouraging words on exercise. I was always an exerciser, but post like yours  and others help keep me getting out there to walk and stretch. I puff a little more, but I always feel better. My self motivation has been lacking but reading of you and other exercise troopers spur me on.

[Moniker]

I was told, when I started tx, that I would probably lose weight. Because I expected weight loss, I went ahead and ate all the holiday treats I wanted, and I had pie every evening. I also got less exercise on tx. I'm at week 25 now and have put on 11 lbs. since I started tx. I'll have to cut back a little on the pie, etc.

I guess not all of us get the same sides from tx. I have a very colorful riba rash, but no weight loss. The joke will be, if I do stop having the pie, etc., weight loss will suddenly appear as a new side for me. The sides seem to arrive at different times.

[silly little rabbit]

Hello everyone, just thought I would read and catch up.
All is goin better here, I am having a little trouble still sleeping , I think most of you remember the past issues with not sleeping and the bizzare dreams I was having, it seems that now that I am off the pain meds and stuff I hardly have any nightmares, the Doc said some people do suffer strange dreams while on pain meds..
I still have not gained my weight back it has been 2 months since my compleation yet I still look like a scare crow with a bad hair doo..LOL..anyways I pray for all of you each night and I hope all is well with you and your familys..Happy new year too all of you speacial people.


The holidays are over and life can return to some form of normality now.
My family and I are again healthy and getting back on our feet after the 6 months of chemo I under went.
I still have days of complete tiredness and not able too function as I once did however as My 3 year old told me just the other day.."It's OK.
What such a simple answer yet it hit me so profoundly.
It seems that I do worry about things that just really do not matter, so what if my house is not spotless, so what if we go camping and the laundry is not done or all the dishes put away or washed, just like my 3 year old said.."It's OK...
I have come too a new thought process anymore..I do not want too sit back and be one of these people that wish they had not stressed over the small stuff and spent more time with the family, nope this is not something I want too miss, after all they only grow up once..SO as my 3 year old says..It's OK

[vegas777]

sill wabbit!!!!  howdee!! Happy New Year!!

I thought about you awhile back and wondered why you weren't posting, glad you are okay...

I used to get horrible nightmares from codeine when I first starting taking it...I would wake up in a sweat and the nighmare was always the same one, a man with a gun to my head and just before he pulled the trigger I woke up...scared the b'jeez outa me!  But, after a few months it went away...

You are so right when you say the kids are only little once I bet you're a great mom *smile*

*veggie dip*

[beamishboy]

i have gained 3 lbs...i am on week 7,shot-8 monday.....too lazy, i just don't excercise much,plus holiday treats, i'm gonna have another cookie now..Cheers all,Happy New Year!!!

[silly little rabbit]

How sweet you are, thanks for the thoughs.
yes all is well here, I have not been around that much however I think of all of you that listened too my pouting.
Now that I am feeling some better I don't seem too have much computer time but that is ok, so much too see and do.
It is flooding real bad here in oregon my laundry room has flooded we are trying to pump yhe water out but it won't stop raining (day 6 now) and more too come, they are saying possible power outiges too come but we will face this as an adventer and have fun with it after all it is kinda like camping in  arain storm, heck I will just light the candles put the propane heater in here and read a good ol horror book..my 3 year old likes to play with flash lights in the daqrk so we will do that too should it come too that.
my husband says he has more fun watching our creativity in situations, he never gets bored..
I hope the hoidays were good too you and Happy New year...

[vegas777]

Oh I saw some of those floodings on the news...wow, I hope that it doesn't get too bad...A lot of diseases can come with floods, be careful for yourself and your lil one please...


flashlights in the dark can be real fun, my kids and I too would have fun with them when they were little and we would go camping...

[NYgirl]

Some gain some lose it doesn't seem to be a set thing.

I gainned five before starting because I am skinny anyway and then have lost 14 during tx so far (week 15/48).

Others don't lose at all.

I'd just advise everyone to eat normally and healthily as possible during treatment and not try to gain or lose or eat too much until you know.

[Forseegood]

I've been following you a little closely in this regard because this might be my issue (I'm trying to be optomistic by saying "might") so many people seem to be overweight before going in...I'm very concerned about losing weight, being of normal weight going in and my appetite gets effected easily...I don't have much to lose, I am presently putting on a few pounds for a cushion, in more ways than one, ha ha! I already am planning on making smoothies with vitamin and nutrient powder, fruit, etc. It freaks me out when some people say one of the only things they can eat is ice cream, yikes! If you have any more advice on this, or anyone else, I'm all ears!

[strator]

I actually gained about 6lbs the first 3 weeks. I'm at wk 16 and down about 12lbs from the start - mostly in the last 2-3 weeks. I guess I really don't know if it's even tx related. Sometimes I lose 4-5 just from an extra busy or extra physical week(but that pops back on quick). And the work has been physical lately. I don't feel any less healthy than a few weeks ago so I'm not too worried about the drop unless I decide to ask my dr to get me a little more aggressive and up my riba. I'm at 1000mg now and only 145lbs. Someone had explained to me before I started that it's usually muscle mass that is lost on tx, and that builds back up afterward.

FSGood_Gee I didn't realize people were talking about ice cream so much because it's all they can eat. I just thought everybody loved it as much as I do. I cut back recently cause I thought it might be one of the reasons I don't sleep well. I was having a bowl or 2 every night real close to hitting the sack at midnight. Maybe that's effected the recent wt loss.
Don

[Forseegood]

Hi Stator dude! yeah, I have read a lot that with some people one of the only things they can eat is ice cream, don't get me wrong, I like ice cream too, but I don't want it to be the main staple of my  diet! Maybe some people were just exaggerating a bit, whatever. I really have to just prepare and not freak! Easy does it, one day at a time as Bill would say....

[beamishboy]

i find yogurt w/ granola& some xtra fruit & nuts a good treat..bettr for me than ice cream..i am no doubt losing muscle mass,go figure..
hope the flood waters don't get to high--sounds like post-treatment troubles are just adventures;what a great outlook!!! kids are enjoying a fun mom!!--when does construction begin on your Ark?--fisheress mite be able to help w/ some hard to fabricate gear........Strator,how's tricks?been a good year soi far...

[strator]

Rightoh. Just gotta remember where your feet are.
Unfortunately one of my sisters just dropped off a NY's care package for us 3 amigos- cheesecake, a 3lb prime rib, a big frozen lasagna, tray of pastries, lg jar of mixed nuts, boxes of crackers...this after all the Christmas foodw she brought: everything except the ice cream I'm thinking about.
Oh well, must remember gratitude is an action word...where's that cheesecake. :)
Don

[beamishboy]

can i come over for dinner?

[strator]

Absolutely. It's the house with my 1 of a kind mural of Santa and all getting the mail in front of his workshop. 6th house on the right. I even shoveled the walk for ya.

Probably won't do any cookin til tomorrow though. Not sure yet but may be going to pick up the odd couple for a meeting. 2 guys in their 50's, look like they're in their 70's. Both in and out of the rooms for  20 years ago though 1 now has 16 years, the other a few days. Both on canes with bodies wracked by injuries and abuse(1 with hep), neither has a license. Both are tall and  I practically hadda fold em to get em into the little Honda. Over the last couple of years we rode together a lot.  They get me in stitches, different as night and day, the guy with 16yrs is as grumpy as they get, the other guy is a worry wart that's never got a bad word for anybody. The 2 of em get together it's like Oscar and Felix except the grumpy guy is the neat freak. Both got great souls though.
Happy Wappy New Year there Snappy,
Don

[friole]

I haven't lost any weight since the 10 I lost the first 4 weeks or so.  But then again, it seems like I can eat a lot of things I shouldn't and not gain.  I did not gain anything over the holidays and had tons of food here.  Seems like my taste buds are off lately too - I wonder if it is the side effect I was hearing about when I first started tx but not experiencing.  Mexican food doesn't taste as good as it used to ( and I love it).  I know a lot of people said fish tastes bad on tx but I haven't had that happen yet - sure hope it doesn't. I do think the saliva is drying up and that may have something to do with it.  I don't have your problem NY girl and foreseegod.  I am within weight range but could use to lose a few.  I am on week 25 now btw.

silly wabbit - I am sure your weight will come back as soon as these drugs drain out of your system.  Seems that you have a wise 3 year old

frijole

[NYgirl]

I know what you mean some days my favorite food are just like UCK I don't know why I used to love that too. Especially Mexican I don't know WHY!

I know I ate about 100 chocolate chip cookies at Christmas, lasanga everything and didn't gain a pound either.  I don't want to lose anymore and just LOVE this eating what I want to and not worrying.

But the time will come this will be over and I worry...what is to happen then.  How to go back to something like dieting? ACK!

[friole]

Doesn't sound like you will have to diet after tx.  I probably will.  Actually try to weigh in at weight watchers once a month to stay on top of it but have missed Nov and Dec (but no gains).  As long as I keep up the fruits and vegetables and salads I am good.  But I tell ya what, that high fat natural yogurt from Stoneybrook sure is good.  Don't think I will be going back to my nonfat Dannon yogurt at all.
frijole

[NYgirl]

Hello how about since we are in the same boat you take one oar and I take the other oar and we row along together!  :)

It would be VERY easy right now to become completely skeletal.  I forget to eat all of the time if I don't make a point of it. A big meal to me is like yuck.  So I make sure I have lots of high calorie MUNCHIES around and I munch as much as possible.

I have on hand (even in my bedroom) favorite cookies, candies, nuts things like that.  While I'm watching tv or on the computer I grab a handful of this or that and munch on it.  I figure yeah it's not a great eating habit but...every calorie counts!

Nuts are high in calories and good for you.  Munch munch munch.

The yogurt smoothies for breakfast while I am really sick of them...a couple hundred calories and some FAT for the Riba.  Plus they taste pretty good and dont give you coffee breath going in to work (I am a coffe aholic).


Of course I TRY to eat healthy and TRY to eat dinner and things but sometimes I just don't find it possible.  Somehow...I usually can put down a bowl of ice cream later in the evening no matter what (or Creamsicle or Fudgesicle or Hagan Daas ice cream bar or Dove Ice Cream Bar........)  it's all about VARIETY.  Make sure you have lots of things that you enjoy and that will help a lot.  Variety is the key!

Row row row the boat.......
Debby

PS I lost the most the first four weeks...after that it's only been a pound or half pound every week.  The munchies shut it down pretty well.

[indyjo]

I gained 15 pounds on tx and my nurse always asked about exercise. I basically became a couch potato because of the anemia and ate all day at work to help me stay focused.  Happy new year everyone!!!!

[roxxiroo]

I heard that most likely I would lose weight by quite a few pounds. I purposefully gained weight before  the start of treatment. As it turned out that was 7.5 pounds, and now I have lost two of those since my twelve weeks of treatment. I do eat an organic dove type bar of ice-cream each day from Whole Foods. I rarely ate ice before, but it makes me feel better. I am sure it is the dark chocolate coating. I think maybe I should eat yogurt on some days as suggested by beamishboy,  but i already eat a granola, nut, and fruit concoction for breakfast. I really don't mind staying steady on the scales because I am terrified of shots anywhere other than in the little roll of fat I have below my waist line. Mostly appetite is not a problem though, just fatigue and some aches for me.

[rossrad]

I gained 20 lbs during 24 weeks of Tx.  And, my medical team did act like I was a freak over it.  But, they thought that anyhow because of how I feel better on interferon.  They called me a masocist for that.  Just having fun.  But yes, I gained weight.  Took it back off in 3 months after Tx.

Ross