Weight loss during tx?

[jt57]

I have lost about 25 lbs since starting tx.  I am coming up on week 30.  now 103 lbs.  Will I stop losing weight the remainder of the tx time?  (18 wks).  Please let me know some of your experiences with this.  I eat all I can, but still lose weight....never thought I'd have that problem!

Jean

[NYgirl]

If your doc checking your thyroid regularly? When my TSH bombed down to 0.0 I ate everything under the sun but kept losing like crazy. By week 30 my thyroid switched over to hypo then I gainned all the weight back (plus...ah). By week 72 I was normal again and then after tx gainned about 20 pounds MORE

Its mostly normal to lose weight but the way you say you are eating..that makes me wonder if you've gone hypo.  Something to check out for sure if he hasn't yet (usually I thikn they start checking at about week 24 or so - that is when they caught mine).

[jmjm530]

FWIW my liver specialist was concerned enough about my weight loss during tx that they were thinking of anabolic steroids at one point which are sometimes used for HIV wasting. Fortunately, it didn't come to that and the weight loss leveled off. At that time I was down 35 pounds, but I still had less of a percent weight loss than you do.

[jmjm530]

That's a significant and serious weight loss per percentage of your body weight. The fact you're now losing muscle (I assume the fat is gone) and are having heart palpitations suggests you should agressively deal with this issue. Are you seeing a liver specialist (hepatologist)? Have you had your heart checked by a cardiologist? Any family history of cardiac problems?

Other than trying to boost the calories through normal foods,  you might also try some high caloric dense preparations like "Ensure" to supplement your meals. Also, there are several drugs on the market are designed to put on weight for chemo patients. Lastly, marijuana is often suggested to chemo patients to help with appetite and weight gain.

I dont know your stats -- how much damage, when you became UND, etc -- but there is also the option of terminating treatment early if the doctors feel you could potentially do more damage than good. Remember, you dont want to throw out the baby (thats you) with the bathwater (the virus). Sounds like it probably hasnt come to that yet but you should be closely monitored.

Bottom line, at this point -- unless you still have fat to give -- you can't keep losing weight without consequences. So if you feel your doc isn't doing all they can do, maybe time for a second consult.

-- Jim

[jt57]

thanks guys!

[granitekonig]

As a weightlifter who knows how to put on weight whenever i want to, I suggest you pick up some Muscle Milk. You can buy it at any health food store. Good tasting (especially with milk) with quality calories and protien. Two a day with help keep the boniness away.

[moahunter]

I lost more than 50 pounds on treatment (almost all in the first three months). I am one year post treatment (svr), and I have 40 of the pounds back. The weight loss is not pleasant, but the weight comes back quickly, so I wouldn't worry too much.

[jt57]

Hi Trin!

Hope you are ok as well!  

My concern is keeping up my muscle mass.  Even though I try to eat like crazy, I keep losing.  No more fat to lose, so now I am losing muscle.......and have begun to have heart palpitations.  They have me on a heart monitor for 2 weeks.  They want to see whats going on and when.  What a pain !!   So my biggest concern is that the weight loss may now be causing other problems!  Never thought I would have this problem!!!!

Take care
Jean

[Trinity4]

Hi Jean,
Hope you are well.  I've lost around 12 lbs so far and eat like a pig too.  It's got to be the interferon because I've lost weight while eating anything I want.  I have started eating peanut butter and banana sandwiches for breakfast and surprisingly I've gained a few pounds.  I have no muscles anymore either.  Sigh...
Maybe try eating smaller portions more often.  I snack all day whether it's crackers or fruit or even sweets just to keep the calorie intake up.  After this over, I'm looking forward to gaining weight which I never thought I would hear myself say.
Take care
Trin

[Bobby1952]

I wouldn't worry about it because as soon as you stop treatment the weight will come back. And it will come back quickly if you are not careful. I ate like a pig on treatment and lost only a couple of pounds. But as soon as I stopped it started coming back right away.

Bobby