muscle wasting

[Sophia1968]

I have not mentioned this before because I don’t want to sound like I’m being a hyperchondriac and also I’m not really sure how to explain it, I have been worried inwardly for a few months regarding my legs and would really appreciate some understanding or reassurance , I will try to explain the best I can without showing pictures which I know are not allowed….. My calf muscles have always been really big, even without flexing them, when I do flex them they are Rock hard and you can see the whole muscles are really big, my partner (no longer here 😥) used to joke that I had rugby players legs and I used to joke that it was the exercise they had daily, carrying my weight around , I have noticed that in the past few months the right leg is still large with the same big tensing muscle , but my left leg (dominate one) is noticeably smaller and the muscle is no where near as big, even if I tense it I can’t seem to get a big firm muscle , it is firm but no where near as much as the other leg, also if I sit in a chair and raise the left leg the calf is floppy and quite sunken, the other one has no floppyness and stays firm, everyone can see the size difference but they all say it’s cos I’m losing weight, but surely it would not make my muscles smaller, or was the muscle mixed with fat before , I really do not know, if I look at both legs individually the smaller leg ( which I assume is the bad leg) actually looks a better shape and a more normal size , where as the other one looks swollen in a way, I also have some varicus veins on the big leg which I didn’t have before so I’m wondering if that would cause fluid build up and not as good blood flow which is why I’m not losing fat on that leg , I do swimming , Aqua fit and also the gym and feel disappointed that I seem to have less muscle than before, I am five stone lighter than I was in 2021 so I kvow a lot of weight has come off and I totally get that it could just be fat not shifting on the big leg, but I don’t understand why the small leg seems less in the muscle…. Saying all that , I do not feel that either leg is weak, I can walk with no pain and pretty fast, I also walk on tip toes around the house for a few minutes here and there just to try and build the calf muscles and that is no problem either, (I know my body is changing cos I also can feel ribs and also bones on my thighs that I didn’t before so maybe I’m just not used to losing weight and the changes seem alien to me lol, ) I still want to lose another three stone so obviously I am still over weight so is it possible that the other leg will change over time so that I at least don’t have odd legs, I did mention it briefly to my dr on another appt but she didn’t take much notice because I was not there about my leg and my time was up , it just niggles me because I know my legs and feel that something is not right but without any weakness does it mean that it’s also not a problem, I just wondered if anyone on here had any advice or experience of similar things happening, sorry for the long post but thank you for reading and for any help you can offer xx

[golly123]

Hi Sophia. I would get that checked with your gp if I were you. Sounds a bit odd. 111 also give advice too. Stop you worrying. Have a good day. Best wishes Golly

[Sophia1968 in reply to golly123]

Thank you for your reply golly, maybe I will try 111 cos it’s hard seeing a dr and they just don’t seem to be interested in anything these days unless it’s an emergency , I didn’t think of 111 to be honest, so thank you xx

[Sophia1968 in reply to golly123]

take care and have a good day as well xx

[golly123 in reply to Sophia1968]

Thanks. Let me know how you get on. There is nothing worse than worrying. Always best to get things checked. Hope all goes well. Best wishes Golly x

[Sophia1968 in reply to golly123]

Thank you so much golly, I will keep you posted, once I pluck up the courage to call them , take care love xx

[golly123]

You are very welcome. You take care too x

[Greengal314]

Hi Sophia, Keep up the great progress! I don’t know for sure but maybe swimming (being non weight bearing) strengthens muscles differently - maybe lengthening them ?

I’d see if a little weight bearing exercise could help in addition to the swimming .? Just an idea to consider or ask a primary care physician maybe.

On a light note, you aren’t by chance swimming side stroke ? (Lol). Hence the different leg effect 🤷‍♀️😊

Very odd about the different legs. Maybe look at your swim stroke? I’d ask a primary doc about that too.

[Sophia1968 in reply to Greengal314]

Thank you hun for taking the time to reply, it’s just weird because when I was a couch potatoe and doing no exercise I had these big calf muscles, now I’m exercising they are vanishing , you could be right though, maybe I need to do some specific leg exercises and see how that goes, as for swimming odd that sounds like me for sure, im not the best swimmer believe me lol xx

[FlippinOut]

Hi Sophia, it’s so interesting that you asked this question. I was wondering the same thing because my muscles have changed a lot over the last year. The skin on my forearms look very droopy and my thighs are jiggly. I’ve only lost about 20 lbs which doesn’t seem enough to cause this amount of loose skin.

There are strength tests you can do to test muscles and hand grip etc. I do well on all of them but still thought there was something not right.

Then I read about creatine kinase, an enzyme released into the bloodstream when there is muscle wasting. So I got a blood test done and sure enough my Creatine kinase is a little low. I’m working on getting more protein in my diet and started taking BCAAs along with strength training to try to improve this.

Maybe you can look into this simple blood test if you’re worried. All the best to you!

Anita

[Sophia1968 in reply to FlippinOut]

Thank you so much Anita, I had also heard about this blood test and have a doc appt next week, I am going to request this test along with checking my vitamins and minerals , just in case I’m not eating enough of something, they won’t refer me to hep so I will find answers another way, appreciate your message hun xx

[user2021a]

I lost around 3 stone when I unable to eat with ascites - I lost muscle as if your livers not working well it is easier to get energy from your muscles than by using fat. Eating lots of protein helps protect your muscles. Weird about only seeing it in one leg though. I have one leg swells up with water retention way more than the other. You should speak to GP or liver specialist about it being one sided.

[Sophia1968 in reply to user2021a]

Thank you hun for your reply, I am really cross cos I have no hep specialist , no liver nurse and no help, this is why I have so many questions on here cos I am just being left alone, thank you for your advice xx

[Dogbot]

I’m not sure about other people but it was one of the first things the nurses and doctors told me that I will have muscle wasting and I have. I have to take gentle exercise to get my legs and arms back to working better. I understand I’m 68 and won’t have an athlete body but would like to get up off the floor better and walk more. Good luck with your weight loss and your exercise keep it up 👍.

Stay safe All

Dogbot 🐶🌈Dave

[Sophia1968 in reply to Dogbot]

Hi Dave, thank you for your reply love, and for your kind words regarding my weight loss, I will definitely continue but I just wish I was not alone, I don’t kvow if I’m eating enough or the right foods, exercising too much or not enough, I am angry that no one is taking this serious apart from me and all of you, my doctors just sweep it all under the carpet 😥 xx

[Millie09]

Hi Sophia, Bless you hun , first off , ( and I know we're all different) regardless of liver issues , I had muscle wastage really bad back in 2008, my arms ,my legs , my chest,and backside, totally gone ,I was only 47kg back then on first diagnosis , I couldn't exercise as I was very weak , I was told by liver dietitian to eat protein protein protein to build my myself back, also I was on fortisip 3x bottle per day.

Well I'm now filled out so to speak lol in my arms and legs ,too filled for my liking 😂😂 but one place i just cannot replace is my backside, no matter what I do , maybe I need specific targeted exercise I will ask my liver nurse, see what she says .

Try not to worry hun ,I know what your like , but lots of good replies to your post, so hope it helps

Lv linda xx

[Sophia1968 in reply to Millie09]

Thank you Millie, for replying, I’m just really fed up with this constant roundabout of getting no where , it making me paranoid about everything , hope you and the puss cats are well hun xx

[Millie09 in reply to Sophia1968]

Hi Sophia I'm so sorry your having to wait so long for answers, I think you need to raise a complaint, or try a different Surgery maybe ? .I don't understand why your not getting anywhere with your diagnosis? It's time to dig your heels in hun as hard as it may be ,

Yes my kitty cats are good 👍 thank you xx

[Staffi99]

Hi Sophia. I'm the same as Millie. I was diagnosed with acute liver disease 5 years ago and I went from a healthy Size 10 to an 8 that never fits on my legs. Same the body starts to use your muscle when you are drinking and not eating enough food. I have a healthy hearty appetite but the only place I seem to put a bit of weight on is my belly. I was shocked last year when I saw a summer picture of myself. My shoulder blades were showing and the skin on my arms was hanging.As previously said speak to a health professional. We're all different so it could just be the way your body reacted. Do you have a consultant? Best of luck. Julie.

[Sophia1968 in reply to Staffi99]

Oh bless you Julie, this is why I worry, I am the same weight I was when I used to wear this particular pair of jeans, it’s good that they fit again around the waist, but the legs and bum area is really loose so I can’t wear them, my legs filled them before even at this same weight , I will get things checked thanks hun for replying xx

[Greengal314]

I highly recommend yoga for muscle toning and building. I’m stronger than I was prior to my health issues.

[Sophia1968 in reply to Greengal314]

Thank you lovely, I will look into yoga, I’m happy to try anything xx

[Chick_atee]

I would totally get that checked by your liver specialist or persist with GP until you get to the bottom of it unless you’re working one leg more than the other.

I think with liver disease anything including strange stuff can happen. Sounds like a blockage or imbalance somewhere perhaps.

My weight dropped over 4 and 1/2 stone with serious muscle wastage but building up slowly again. Fortisip etc…

I think what the other person mentioned, yoga might help. I’ve started Chi Kung to try and balance everything and get a little bit stronger and unblock any stuckness.

I can’t advise but maybe might help.

[Dusty2023 in reply to Chick_atee]

Thanks for this Chick_atee. My husband has had significant muscle wastage over the past three months and the docs seem at a loss to explain it. He now needs to walk with a walking aid. It's good to know you have been able to build it up with Fortisip etc.

[Sophia1968 in reply to Chick_atee]

Thank you so much for your reply, I will look into yoga for sure and anything else that may help, xx