? weight gain/loss?

[Jennyfoo]

Ok, so I'm now wondering if my struggles to lose or even maintain my weight could possibly be correlated to Chiari or intracranial pressure issues. A little back story: I gained about 50 lbs over 2-3 months after a miscarriage about 14 yrs ago. My body went haywire. I got pregnant again a few months later. Healthy, normal pregnancy and delivery. I was about 270 full-term pregnant.  My ideal is about 180: I'm 5'10" and large build. I never could lose weight. I did aerobics an hour a day, 5 days/week, rode bikes on bike trails with my daughter in a bike seat. I was calorie counting and kept it around 1500-1800 calories. I did this for a good year. Over the years, I made many attemps to up exercise and eat healthier to lose weight. I did yoga and stairclimber for an hour 3X/ week for 6 mo and never lost, I walked 1 1/2 miles every school day in addition to that to take my daughter to and from school. I was running around after 2 busy toddlers at once, I even did Slimfast religiously for 2 months and didn't lose an ounce.  I spent an average of 5-7 hours a week landscaping my own new backyard, after we bought our house 5 yrs ago too: building retaining walls, planting, running drip lines: serious hard labor: huge hillside in my backyard. During my more sedentary times I would gain weight. I've never managed to lose. After I broke my ankle and needed a ligament replaced, surgery had me inactive for about 3 months= gained weight. I hernited and ruptured a disc in my back, requiring surgery and was laid up for a good 3-4 months, pretty inactive= gained weight. The past 6 months of being dizzy, having severe headaches, and vertigo= gained more weight. I saw a nutritionist awhile back who told me, after viewing my food diary, that I should be losing weight easily. Doctors treat me like I'm lying when I tell them this, and tell them about my inability to lose weight at all. Thyroid has always checked out fine.

Now here is the kicker: My overweight hubby recently decided to actually go on a diet and get healthy. He wanted to get his diabetes under control too. He drastically cut his food intake, did not increase exercise, and ate basically the same food we've been eating all along. We eat healthy. I even got in trouble with my kids' pediatrician years ago because I was cooking too low-fat, and our daughter was underweight: needed more fat in her diet.  We had to supplement her diet with butter, cram, etc to up her fat intake. Ok, so my hubby cut his calories to be around 2000-2500/day. He's lost 45 lbs in the past 2 months.  He still eats a LOT more than me. I would guess I maybe eat 1500 calories/day. I'm too nauseated many days to eat much at all. Some days, all I'll manage before dinner is a piece of toast, or maybe a kid's bowl of cereal. His being able to lose weight so easily, eating the same food as I am, eating MORE than I am, really demonstrates that something is seriously wrong with me, and causing me to gain weight, not allowing me to lose weight.  As he's lost weight, I've become more depressed. He's so happy, and I'm so miserable. I end up crying whenever we talk about dieting, etc. I HATE being fat! I hate it with a passion.  I am the only person in my family that is more than just a little overweight. My sisters are all tall and thin: beautiful, and I'm a fat blob. I detest my body, and Ive tried sooo hard to change it, but I'm fighting a losing battle.  I also have the added problem of excess weight putting more strain on my arthritic joints.

Is there any way that this could somehow be connected to my Chiari malformation? To increased intracranial pressure? Does anyone have any idea? Thanks.

[Tonimd83]

I have Chiari Malformation and have the same issue. I do have a pituitary tumor as well. I think it’s affect my gland and making me have the weight issues. I was working out twice a day and eating 1,000 calories and still not losing weight
. I’m having surgery on Jan 2nd I’m praying it take that issue away!

[selmaS]

Hi and welcome to the Chiari forum.
Wishing you well with your surgery in January....will it be on the pituitary gland tumor or Chiari? Please keep us posted on your recovery.

[Jennyfoo]

It's obviously something medically wrong, that won't allow me to lose weight. I just got off the phone with my dad. I told him about my hubby's weight loss, and how I eat prob 1/2-2/3 what he does. His response was, "well, if you sewed your mouth shut for a month and ate nothing at all, I'm sure you'd lose weight." I hate him! He's been a jerk to me about my weight for years. Apparently, he's forgotten that he used to weigh nearly as much as me; did for most of his 30's-40's. Last year we got into a fight/ yelling match about my weight. He said he's watched me get fatter and fatter over the years.he pointed to a picture of me and my oldest when she was 4, and said I was so much heavier than back then. I had a good laugh, as informed him that ive only gained 15 lbs since that photo was taken, and that I still fit in the outfit I was wearing in it. He sees what he wants to see.

I'm just so sick of it all! I eat the right foods, I don't overeat. I'm tired of doing all the right things and failing.

I'm going to look into/have My dr run tests for Hashimotos. It certainly sounds like I could possibly have it. If not, I'll insist they keep digging.

Thank you for your comments, ideas, and comiserations.

TTFN,
Jenn

[lu7997]

I am really over weight and can not loose it and yes I blame chiari. Well cause it sounds better than to admit I am just fat. Lol.  

I really believe it is related as your pituitary glad controls the thyroid which can control weight (simple explanation). I know if you have a pituitary tumor weight gain is normal and well no tumor but pressure just the same

[Brooklynn07]

I am having the same problem. I just found out I had CM about a year ago. I have seen multiple NS, and one told me that if I lost weight my symptoms would be better. He told me to see a nutritionist. For the last two months I have been having a diet of 1200-1400 calories and working out for 1-1.5 hours six times a week. I haven't lost a pound. I haven't gained either, but the NS told me that I needed to be on an agressive weight loss program. So frusterating to be working so hard and not having any results!

[selmaS]

Hi..I too ma having a weight issue..and found it is in relation to chiari via the thyroid.
Chiarians r prone to autoimmune issues and a thyroid condition called Hashimoto's is a  autoimmune issue...many drs only look at TSH and it can appear "normal"

Ask they do the Free T3, Free T4 , TSH and TPO antibodies....

It could be this, and that would explain the weight gain and the meds  may help u get it leveled out....

"selma"

[Sweetpea32]

I have always struggled with weight loss/gain. Since I had my surgery a year ago, i gain weight from being less active. I think the pain and discomfort from anything always puts stress on the body and some ppl loose weight because of it or some ppl gain weight because of the stress on the body. For me being in pain and not being active as I use to be I gained weight easily. I am really confused with your story. You have tried everything in the book to loose weight. I can't even imagine how frustrated you are. I definetly think have CM affects a person whole body! Medication also play a big role also. Sorry you are going through such a hard time. I look forward to see what other  on here would say also.

[mrsmith60]

I wouldnt think so except for medication

[mrsmith60]

http://chiarione.org/symptoms.html