sx, BP and wieght, other posts

[slarso]

Hi folks,

Had any one other than me gained weight on TX. I am on a see food diet, all I want to do is eat. Maybe it is a side of depression. I am 14/48 and have gained 5 pounds since the start. Also my BP had gone up, I don't know if it is due to the weight or drugs.

Steve

[DebbieDo]

My doctor told me before TX not to worry about my weight (i need to loose about 40lbs) WELL< he lied.......i have an appetite......and i am eating......and i dont want to gain.......gezzzzzz well, i need better control....... I'm not eating sweets as they do taste nasty and salty things too......but the carbs.....now i eat more of them....i dont understand......but i will do #8 tomorrow and this week i plan to loose a pound or two....this i have promised myself.......have a good week.....Deb

[n2cats15]

The only side effect I welcomed was weight loss.  I keep hoping that my appetite will go away.  It hasn't!  I am so glad to hear that I am not the only one who thinks about food alot!

[CARUU]

I got the results from my thyroid scan yesterday.  I have "silent thyroiditis" brought on by interferon.  The endo nurse says this is "good news" and that I won't need surgery or ablation.  Whew!  This is what is causing the flushing/hot head/heart palpatations/shortness of breath/weak legs/aggitation.  The docs really aren't sure which sx are hepc vs. tx vs. thyroid.  I understand that the only thing I can do is take Toprol for the heart sx and Ativan for the aggitation.  It's supposed to clear up on it's own in a few months. What a long, strange trip this has been (and I'm only a 2a, 17/24).  You can bet I'm looking forward to Easter this year!  I'm headed to work now, please wish me the calmness to make it through another day without yelling, insulting, taking things personally, or considering overdosing on Ativan (just kidding).  I hope you all have a great Friday! I admire each of you for having the strength and courage to navigate this tx course. caruu

[cuteus]

I was afraid to loose wt during tx, so I ate a lot before, then ate during tx, still am eating, wt is stable even during snickers days.  what a joy to have cake and eat it too! and not gain any extra lbs.  But a bad habit to break after tx.

RBC; i found that even a tad lower than MY normal has generated shortness of breath, fatigue and HTN. When it got lower than THEIR normal range, i also got pain behind left breast. Procrit has controlled all that and the Hypertension that was really worrying me. bp back to 110/78.
I believe that it was the anemia that caused the BP highs, not the meds, since I'm back to full dose and BP is normal

GL
Ive

[jevs2]

I put on a few pounds during tx ( finished 3 days ago).
I think that being so inactive had something to do with it.
Also I always have such a bad taste in my mouth that I tend to eat to try and get rid of it. It doesn't work , the taste is always there, like something crawled into my mouth and died crossed with a metallic taste.
Best wishes
Joanna

[new-sojourn]

That was a good thing about being on tx-I was never hungry, b/my partner made sure I ate several small meals. And I could smoke killer weed and never get the munchies.

[cindee]

I lost weight in the beginning...huh, but then I used something to kill my nausea!!!! hehehe I gained about 40 lbs while on tx. I am losing the weight bit by bit, it's just a "thang". lol Take care and hang in there. We're with ya! Cindee

[audreywald]

I was told that it the meds do speed up your metabolism, and my doc told me to expect to lose some weight.

I am 6 weeks into tx and have lost maybe 6 lbs.

[Sujo]

losing weight was the ONLY thing I was looking forward to during this treatment!! Haven't lost a ounce! (I really could stand to lose at least 30 lbs)
The only sides to speak of that I have is I'm tired.  Just got back my blood work from the first 2 weeks.  My RBC is low.  I'm sure it will get even lower...but otherwise, I'm feeling pretty good. (knock on wood)
Hope everyone is feeling fairly decent.

Sue

[honey1616]

I have averaged about 1/2 lb loss per week.  Whats weird is that I really make myself eat because I'm afraid of losing alot of weight and looking terrible towards end of year.  I even am eating ice cream or cake late at nite and still losing.  I know if I wasn't eating much at all..I would probably have already in a month lost alot.  Does anyone think that tx maybe makes your metabolism speed up more so?

[hepcgetlost]

It's so strange...our reactions are all so individual. For me the only good part of tx has been that I'm not hungry at all. I'm 8/48 and since beginning treatment, have virtually no appetite. I lost 11 pounds in the first few weeks and probably would still be losing  if I let myself.  I liked feeling thin, but I was starting to feel fragile, so I now force myself to to eat with the riba at least twice a day, and top it off with a little ice cream in the evening. My weight seems to be holding pretty steady for the last couple of weeks. My current weight  matches my weight in high school (in the 60's!).  I find I can only eat small amounts; otherwise I get terrible indigestion.

This is the one thing I'm NOT complaining about in regard to tx. In fact, I'm a little nervous about getting off tx and having to watch my appetite and my weight again (just kidding!!!) All the other sides are definitely NOT worth it.

I think if you feel fine and your bp is okay, and you don't gain a huge amount of weight, be happy that food tastes good (everything I put in my mouth tastes like cardboard) and enjoy every morsel. We each have to find ways to make lemonade out of some of these lemons we get from being on these bitter pills/shots...

I'm curious if any more people out there have experienced significant weight fluctuations (losses or gains) while on tx and how you're dealing with it.  

Let's kill a bunch of dragons this week! I love all you who are fighting this fight out there with all my heart.

Judi

[raheem]

Hi, I'm on week 37/48 and my appetite is as robust as ever also.  I may have put on a couple of pounds but nothing significant.  I'm not depressed about anything and actually if I was bothered by something my reaction would be to NOT eat.  I know Procrit can increase your blood pressure if you are taking that. I'm taking Procrit but my blood pressure remains a steady 90/60.  I was looking up hypothyroidism at   http://www.nlm.nih.gov/medlineplus/ency/article/000353.htm
but I don't think that is an issue here.  Frankly, I wouldn't worry about your symptoms at this point.  I just hope this wierd chicken flu outbreak doesn't wipe out the oven stuffer roasters I love so much!

[Ranger123]

no your not the only one, i cant stop eating,i have gained 5 pounds  and i am 17/48 but this a good thing for my. this is my 2nd time on tx the 1st time i losed 40 pounds and had to stop at 32 weeks of tx.so will take what help i can get. good luck ranger.

[hph5477]

I haven't gained weight but I did lose about 6 lbs in the first 2 wks;  Hanging in at about 4 lb lose now from when I started;  Could easily gain if I allowed myself, though.
In regards to BP, I know my pulse rate is a little higher than pre-tx because I don't get the same level of exercise; probably my BP is a little higher also.

[DebbieDo]

i have gain 3 lbs since Dec 29....food taste good......i dont have an appetite, but, i make myself eat and only i started eating if finish.........i am having a hard time just eating a small amount of sweets......when i eat a normal amount (whole piece of pie, bowl of ice cream, candy whatever.......i cant eat all of it......or i get this terrible taste in my mouth that is like my throat is closing up too......salty things do the same.....my BP remains the same....im on meds anyway for that
Deb