Just a quick poll: did you lose weight or gain weight during tx?

[trolsgirl]

I have not been back to the doctor as I am waiting on results of my bloodwork to see what genotype I am and choose which duration of treatment.  I am 5'1" and weigh 117 right now and could stand to lose about 12 lbs. on the high side.  I have read about losing weight on tx and wondered how it varies for each person.
How many weeks in did you start losing/gaining etc. and what did you eat when you were nauseated and DID NOT want to eat but had to in order to keep up your strength?
Thanks for sharing.
Sandra

[sass_blue]

thanks Kalio...your support here is appreciated..Ladybug, no harm done...sense of humor is a necessity!!

[stangshelly]

I lost weight initially 50 lbs.  then at week 30 or so thyroid problem so gained a little back... now around 160? maintaining on week 43/72 and eat what i crave and what my hubby forces me too lol;)..drink lots of water. every friday i crave a fish sand and frie from mcdonalds..the absolute worst to eat but do it every friday..i hate fish go figure...

[lab-rat]

I've pretty much maintained the same weight throughout tx (19wks so far - 130 lbs/5'10").  My appetite has been voracious (I eat constantly) but then I hit the gym so maybe that has something to do with it.

[NYgirl]

Lost 20 while my thyroid went wonkers but gainned it back slowly during treatment. The less nauseau as treatment went along combined with finding things I could tolerate eating got me back in shape.

Thank God. I looked like the walking dead skeleton or something. It was bad.

[jmjm530]

Don't know if you work out or not, but post tx weight gain tends to can on fast and furious once it starts and comes on as mostly fat as opposed to muscle. That was the case with me as at 3 months post tx I was like a kid in a candy store now being able to enjoy all the foods I was deprieved of for over a year because of tx eating disorders. Had to do it all over again, probably would have watched my diet more post treatment and combined it with more gym work to get more muscle versus fat. I doubt however I would have had the will power because again I was like a kid in a candy store! Now 9 months post I'm starting to discipline my diet, work heavier in the gym and build that muscle back up.

Be well,

-- Jim

[APKhaos]

I lost maybe 15# in 24 weeks, from 210# down to 195# on a 6'5" frame. Ice cream became an almost nightly ritual; I craved the stuff!

Also quit smoking after 20+ years!

Finished tx now, so we'll see what happens with the weight, which was always fairly constant pre-tx.

[sallyo]

Lost 30 lbs on treatment.  No appitite.  Relied heavily on BOOST

[Moniker]

You're right. It wouldn't be a good idea to over do the ice cream and pie. A balanced diet is very important. But it probably doesn't hurt to have some extra high calorie foods while on treatment. If one over did it, it would be counterproductive. Everything in moderation.

[mikesimon]

I lost a significant amount of weight. Mike

[scubadiver30]

I'm on week 9 and I have gained 10 pounds :-(
I was looking forward to loosing some weight (I was 94 kg)
but I'm eating as usual and not exercising

[niceguy2007]

i gained 8 lbs on treatment..but  i'm losing weight after the 12th week.  i weigh about 61 kg now.

[pigeonca]

Hi, nice to hear from you.  Hope you had a nice trip out of town.  Did you go anyplace interesting?  (I forgot where you live.)  Regarding my journey, well...  Week three is almost over (take shots on Weds. nite).  It's been a bit rougher than the first two - very, very fatigued.  Not much interest in anything.  And I have to get some work done or I'll be in big trouble.  It's difficult to focus.

Will be getting a 4-week PCR on the 24th.  However, last week I went in for a blood draw and by mistake they ordered up a 2-week PCR, the results of which have not arrived.  My doctor says if there's a significant drop, great, but if not, it means nothing at such an early date.  Still, I'm dying of curiosity.

Coloring the hair...  Well, in prep for this ordeal I let the natural color grow out and was pleasantly surprised to see no more than 10% gray except at the temples, which looks kinda distinguished.  When this is all over, I think I'll color it darker.  What are you doing?

[koala68]

A year ago, I was slightly overweight. My hepatogist suggested to loose weight to increase my chances of success for treatment and prevent fat in the liver from developping in the long run. So I jogged regularly (up to 16 miles in a day!) and lost about 30#/15 Kilo.
It had a very positive impact on me: no more headaches (which were frequent a few years ago) and exercising reduced my overall fatigue considerably.
By the time I started treatment I got to 175#/80 Kilo (I am 6'/1.80m).
Halfway through treatment(6 months), I have exactly the same weight as when I started.
I lost a bit of appetite in the very beginning (every food looked the same to me), but it's now back to normal!

[Sincebirth]

Lost about 30 pounds went from 155 to 125.  I lost most of my weight in my leg muscles.  I used to be thin but muscular for my height 5'8".  Now I am real skinny.  I weigh my self just about everyday.  I lose the weight on the weekends and early in the week and gain some back late in the week when my appitite picks back up.

[hippygem]

I was 70 kilo before tx, went down to 60 kilo during.  Had no appetite, but the interesting thing is that it is muscle that you lose.  So, post tx, the weight came back, but as fat, not muscle.
Best to do some sort of exercise while on tx.
I now weigh 66 kilo.

[l-horn]

I used the same philosophy and ended up developing type II diabetes.

[jab1979]

lost 15lbs

[ladybug52]

Haven't really lost or gained but only been doing this 6 weeks. I have said before I'll probably end up type 2 diabetic with high cholesterol from my attempt to absorb the riba with fat. I don't even care how I look anymore, so I never weigh. Clothes still fit, especially when I'm always in pajamas or sweats!

[pigeonca]

It's been almost 3 weeks since starting tx, and I've lost 5 lbs.  Eating, which is one of my favorite forms of recreation, has become kind of unpleasant.  Don't want anything but soup and milkshakes, so now i'm forcing myself to take charge of this.  I'd love to lose another 10, but not so fast.

[susan400]

I lost weight.  I lost more weight on my 6 of my treatments than on the last one that I just finished in June '06, but lost weight still.  Since stopping this last time, my weight has been harder to keep off than before.  This could be because I'm not slightly hypothyroid and have been started on low dose Synthroid.  It could be normal middle age metabolism slowing. Since stopping treatment I've gained 20 lbs approx.  I need to go now, have to exercise!!!

Susan

[desrt]

23 wks. tx  46-47 y.o.  6'2"  went from 224lb to 220lb w/rebound to 234lb post

[jmjm530]

Lost 30 pounds didn't have to lose. Ate whatever didn't make me nauceous to think about which was a very limited selection of foods and nothing particularly healthy.

[wMich]

Gained 5# during first half of 48 wk Tx then lost 10# during last half. In the 6 months post Tx I have gained 15#

[painterlady13]

I was also told that I probably lose weight, so I wasn't too worried about the few pounds more that I already had on me. But for some reason treatment makes me hungry. Yes in the beginning I got sick.  I had to find things that sounded good.  Apparently I have done that.  I gained about 15lbs and I am week 25/48.