fishtail,

[fishtail]

have Bronchiectasis,copd,osteoarthritis and spondilitis.(among other things).Am 66yrs young,under weight(6st.12lb).have a good appetite,though i just cannot put on any weight. any suggestions would be most welcome.

[Hidden]

Firstly, do you fidget a lot? It's surprising how much energy you use up if you're always tapping your fingers and feet! Also sleep and rest are very important to maintain weight. I used to be very underweight some yrs ago (definitely not now!) and was referred to a dietician who told me how to add secret calories to everything, eg sprinkle a little grated cheese on whenever you can, and add ground nuts/seeds on your cereal. Look at the calorific content on everything, eg breads can differ a lot. Make buttery sauces to go with your veg. And eat ice-cream as often as possible. I found it quite hard cos I don't like butter or cream, but it's surprising how you can stir it into things without really noticing. You just have to think "calories, calories" all the time. Malt extract is good if you like it, and a late-night snack of a milky drink & 2 digestive biscuits works wonders.

My husband was recently very under-weight following illness and I've been watching his diet and adding calories whenever possible, it's taken a while but he's put on a stone in the last few months, still got another stone to go though.

Remember it's much healthier to be under- rather than over-weight tho. Good luck!

ff x

[fishtail in reply to Hidden]

will be visiting Holland & Barrett Health shop tomorrow for a jar of malt extract.I recall being fed that when i was sent to Malvern sanatoriom at the tender age of 6yrs. thank you for your advice.

[Hidden]

My GP surgery has a dietician most of those outside the door have the opposite problem if they can fix that then it might be a good stop in finding help for weight loss. Weight to fight infections is what is needed according to the lung consultant wanting above normal weight for height.

[Mmike110]

With your ailments do you suffer from pain quite a bit? If so you could ask about a drug called Gabapentin, I've been on it a year and put on 2 stone!! The main side effect is weight gain as it interferes with your cell development.

I have a spinal cord injury and its helped my pain 75%. Might be worth asking about it. Just a thought.

Oh and it's not always better to be underweight than overweight!

Now I've had my last nebuliser I'm off to try and get some sleep!

Sleep well.

Mike

[fishtail in reply to Mmike110]

thank you Mmike,I will enquire about this drug as I too suffer with back problems,(slipped disc,sciatica & spondylitis).You are so right about being under weight,especially when I have exacerbation,Ive been known to drop to 6stone,its so hard to put the weight back on.hope you had a good sleep.

[kimmy59]

Hello Fishtail

I have always been very tiny as a child I spent my life at the doctors trying to find why I was so small, worried my poor mother sick. Of course when I'm ill the weight falls off then I struggle to put it back on, and doctors etc are convinced is because I don't eat. I try and drink a pint of full cream milk a day, have a cereal with nuts in and snack between meals.

I've never been more then 6st 5 in my life and I'm 53, but until this dreadful illness I've always bee quite healthy.

Take care

Kim xxx

[Hidden]

Hi

Good advice from Fairyfootsteps - Increase your calorie intake by adding cream to soups, cheese to jacket potatoes etc etc. Eat small meals regularly - not one big meal once a day.

But having a lung condition can burn off a lot of calories - depending on how your condition affects you. Speak to your GP or nurse and ask to be referred to a dietician.

Thanks

Mark

[lavender1]

Hi Fishtail I am also 66 years young and also was a real lightweight (7st). I have put on a stone at least in the last 3 months -attribute this to stopping smoking (again -hope and pray I can do it this time) and by eating chocolate and cream both new to my diet but mainly by ridding myself of the constant anxiety of being ill and worrying what the outcome will be. This anxiety I am sure is what took its toll on my weight loss and didn't help with the breathlessness either. I am far from well some days but have good days also as I've made up my mind to stop worrying unduly. Mmike's suggestion could be the answer also along with all the rest of the good advice given.

[fishtail]

thank you everyone,I will give all your suggestions a try.though I do eat quite a lot and thoroughly enjoy my meals and inbetweens.Yes fairyfootsteps I do fidget a bit and try to excercise,though I must admit it does wear me out.thanks again.x

[Mmike110]

No problem Fishtail. The gabapentin works so well for pain but do be prepared for the weight gain, I won't bore you with all the details of the tablets but most doctors don't like giving them out as they're expensive so please be persistent, Lyrica is also the same drug and is slightly cheaper.

I slept wonderfully in the end and didn't get up until lunchtime....bliss!

If you want any details on the tablets please feel free to private message me.

Hope you're ok.

Mike x

[fishtail in reply to Mmike110]

many thanks Mmike for all the info,as for the weight gain I would be happy to if I could put any on.Glad you had a good nights rest,They are few and far between.sleep tight.

[bluemagic]

Hi fishtail, wow your symptoms are same as mine almost exactly. I have bronchiectasis, spondylitis, osteoporosis,conic fatigue, Ibs , blah, blah! Doesn't it all get so boring and frustrating. Weight is a big problem and as others have said, it's hard to put on wright because the lung condition uses up a lot of calories. I wondered if you have any of the supplements, like fortisip? I see a dietician, who is v helpful. My problem is that I can't eat much at all without feeling full and get reflux. So my weight stays about 4 stone and I feel quite weak ...and hungry. I wondered if you/others have the same problem? Good luck anyway and stay away from low fat food!

[fishtail]

hi bluemagic,good to hear from someone who shares the exact problems.Yes it does get boring especially if you have to tell others whats "wrong"with you.I always feel as if they're thinking "what a moaner",so I usually say "I'm fine"if anyone asks how I am.Yes I've tried the fortisip supplements but when Ive asked for a repeat prescription,the receptionist at my GPs.tells me I'm only allowed the one lot.She obviously knows more than the GP.or any dietician.I do eat pretty well though,always fresh fruit and veg.cream cakes,choc,sweets,ice cream etc.I eat little and often,(usually grazing all day).hope you can try to do the same as me.I cant put the weight on but I dont feel hungry.Hope you feel a little better soon.It sure feels good though to know theres someone out there who knows what we "suffer".take care.