Weight loss

[IngletonCartmel]

I've lost some weight since my fracture and believe my poorer appetite to is due to my increased stoop (ugh!) and stomach feeling squashed. Does anyone else have this problem and, if so, what does your doctor say is causing the weight loss?

[fraid]

Yes, my appetite is far less than it used to be but then I am a not very active re pain etc. I do think having your stomach squashed makes you feel fuller quicker too. When they were first trying to get my pain meds sorted I lost appetite totally due to nausea mostly and I lost 3 stones in 6 mo. Weaned myself down to 12 mcg Fentanyl patches and my weight is mostly stable now having put a stone back on- took me 2 yrs! So I'd check if your meds affect appetite, eat what you want in small meals and nibbles etc. any calories are useful atm. I weigh myself every morning as don't want to put too much on but if you can't find a reason I'd ask doc. Good luck!

[IngletonCartmel in reply to fraid]

Thank you so much. I do feel that my stomach is somehow squashed though my doctor was a little skeptical... I actually could have done with a little less weight so I am quite pleased!

[tangocharlie]

I was also told (either by the ROS nurses or my physiotherapist I can't remember who) that one of the reasons you lose weight with spinal fractures is that your body works so hard to repair the damage so draws on reserves and minerals. There's also a bit of muscle wastage going on. I lost about 2 stone rapidly after my fractures but my weight has stabilised again now after presumably the fractures have healed. I do find the 'squished abdomen' a problem particularly when waking up and getting out of bed, and the pain often wakes me in the night presumably from turning over. I'm trying to find solutions to this, taking co-codemol helps mainly because it makes me drowsy so I fall asleep quicker but then you get the side effects esp constipation.

[IngletonCartmel in reply to tangocharlie]

That makes good sense. Thanks for your reply, it was very helpful. I live in the US so the names of drugs/medications are often different. I will look up co-codemol and see what the equivalent is here!

[tangocharlie in reply to IngletonCartmel]

There are also pain relieving patches you can wear but they are opiates so strong stuff and also have side effects like constipation. I'm also looking into non-drug pain solutions such as TENS machines. My tummy pain is worst in the morning after sleeping, presumably from all the turning over, or if I've overdone thigs like lifting or too much walking

[ROSModerator Partner]

Hi IngletonCartmel ,

Welcome to our community Thank you for sharing with us on here. Just wanted to drop by to share our daily living factsheet, that covers a little about how our daily lives and eating can change after fractures. strwebprdmedia.blob.core.wi...

Hope that this may feel a helpful read

Wishing you all the best,

Lulu

ROS Moderator