I was about 20-25 overweight. I gained most of it in the past 2 years. In 2011 I had emergency bypass surgery. My two main arteries were blocked 99%. I made it through the surgery and am very thankful to be here. In March of 2014 I was diagnosed with CLL stage 0. I found a Hematologist that I am happy with. When I told him I wanted to lose weight he did NOT want me to go on any diet or lose anything. I told him I have CAD and Other concerns that warrant weight loss. So far I have lost about 8 lbs in a three month period. I am trying to be careful about not losing to fast. I know CLL can cause weight loss eventually but believe me I won't be skin and bones if I can lose most of this. Have any of you lost weight because you wanted to? I haven't seen anything about this and am curious to see what you all say.
Thanks so much,
Maria
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meemsdream
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Hi, Maria actually had the same issue with my weight, I was 232 lbs when I first saw my oncologist, but he told me to lose weight or I may have a stroke or, heart attack, so I gave up alcohol I'm down to 205 now .I also think keeping a little extra is good. Great job losing 8 in 3 months . We're all different so it might not be the best for everyone. Best wishes to you and all.
I am also currently trying to lose weight. I am attending a Slimming World class and in 10 weeks have lost 1stone 9.5 pounds. I feel so much better. Keep going (at whatever rate suits you). Good luck.
I never asked my consultant about losing weight but everything I have read indicates that eating healthily, exercising and maintaining a healthy weight is important to anyone with CLL. I have a hospital appointment (first one for 8 months) so will see what he says. I think if it's intentional weight loss it must be good.
There is a big difference between losing weight intentionally (and gaining health benefits re reducing risks for heart attacks etc) and losing it unintentionally (because of CLL).
I am sure losing weight in a controlled manner to get to a healthy weight is good!
Very interesting. I'm in a similar position. I have blockage in arteries and was a bit overweight and was near level of diabetes. So i purposefully lost weight in the last 11 months.. especially helped when I cut out drinking for that time period. I also for awhile cut out sugar..altho can't say that lately.
My H is always asking re: weight loss and sometimes I get paranoid about it.
In last two months have been eating more really and went to UK for a month and didn't watch what I was eating and usually I gain. I didn't so now I get paranoid again. I think for health and blood pressure and diabetes it is better but for me to try to sort out is the CLL causing weight loss, it is hard for me to do.
It is a stressful situation..
Sorry that your had the medical challenges, and hope you do well..tom
Tom, I don't blame you for getting paranoid! There are so many, "maybe I should, maybe I shouldn't when you have CLL." I scratch my head a lot and come here nightly to see if I can find answers. Thank you for sharing and I hope you get some very good answers to your concerns! Stay well .
Yes,I have lost 25lbs...no sugar,no dairy,no processed foods no fatty red meats. It is totally doable...I also cut out coffee,I do not drink or smoke..I walk ,and I drink a lot of water....Good luck !
Kitcat, wow, good for you! I am doing pretty much the same. I do still have dairy but am trying hard to eat the way I should. I walk every day. Thanks. Maria
Gotta drop that dairy Maria,,,,cheese is just flavoured fat as is butter,try coconut milk for a while and lay off breads as well. When you've lost the weight one slice of one of the heavy browns for breakfast with 1tsp light peanutbutter and thinnly sliced apple is yummy. Turkey chili,lots of healthy homemade soups,chicken or beef barley. You can do it,be tough and strong and don't let yourself think about the baddies,,,welcome that empty feeling,embrace it...it's a good thing !!!......Cat
eat cheese but I do have lowfat greek yogurt everyday. I love coconut milk and really do try to eat healthy.Now that it is getting cold, I will start making soup again. Thanks for the encouragement!
Maria...You should consult a nutritionist at you nearest cancer hospital. They are trained in all aspects of weight loss and cancers and many have access to exercise programs that can be OKed by your GP doctor...
My advice is to seek professional help... don't start an exercise programme or diet changes without your doctor's input...
I lost 125lbs... 18 months prior to treatment under medical guidance...
Since developing CLL I've subsequently developed diabetes and it seemed to occur during a period of sepsis for which I was hospitalised. There appears to be little or no research (unless anyone can point me to some), of a link between NHL leading to diabetes though there is for the other way round. And there is a much higher incidence of men with NHL developing diabetes.
The more I read and explore the anecdotal stories of people being diagnosed with both, the more I wonder if there is a link. We know that chemo can have a hyperglacemic effect especially when there is cortosteroidal use and this is why I think it's essential to bring our weight into as near the ideal limit as possible before treatment. Obviously that's not the only reason for being as fit as possible for the rigours of treatment. It's too late for me because I've now developed diabetes but in an attempt to minimise its impact, I've lost weight and brought my glucose levels under control.
But I also believe purely from a common sense point of view that a little extra weight could be useful to buffer the effects of possible weight loss in treatment. Which is why I agree with you Maria that being skin and bone at that time is very ill advised. You need to discuss your BMI with your doctor to gauge the right levels for you.
We may never know why we develop CLL and so often obesity is seen to be the greatest reason for the development of type 2 diabetes. I do wonder however if CLL'ers have a greater propensity towards it if other factors are in place...the main one being obesity. This excerpt from a respected haematological journal has strengthened my suspicions;
'Diabetes is a common, increasing frequent health condition associated with a wide range of metabolic, immunological, and hormonal aberrations. Recent observations indicate that autoimmunity plays a role in type 2 diabetes. This condition has been described as an acute-phase disease of the innate immune system, in which oversecretion of cytokines may contribute to the development of insulin resistance and impairment of insulin secretion in pancreatic β-cells'
We hear so much about cytokine production in CLL that I'm beginning to wonder if it plays a part. As I'd already suffered pancreatitis some years before, it could be the development was increasingly likely.
If anyone has any scientific studies or data they could direct me too, I'd be interested purely from an academic point of view.
Newdawn, It seems the more I know, the less I know! There is so much to still be learned about this cancer. I appreciate the fact that there are members like you trying to find the answers to sooooo many questions we still have. I now have 2 different Drs. giving me advice about weight loss. I am going to continue to lose a few more lbs slowly and when I can button my pants again I will quit! I am a great believer in instinct. Because I have multiple problems besides CLL I have to look at what is best for each of them and then make decisions. I have no where near the knowledge that you have and appreciate everything you say. Thank you very much.
I'm sorry if my reply over complicated the question ever more because in many ways weight and health is one of the simplest equations. The nearest we are to our ideal weight, the less pressure we put on our bodies. The question I think you're asking is what is ideal for you.
It's incredibly unusual for medics to advise us not to lose any more weight because in my experience they're fairly obsessive about it. So it could be that your doctor is advising from a medical rather than an aesthetic viewpoint. He's more interested in your fitness for treatment than how you feel you fit into your favourite pants!
It's actually a great position to be in because many of us are more likely to be nagged into losing weight.
I'm a great believer in personal instinct though and as long as we are not practising self delusion about whether we are too fat or thin, we all know when our body size feels healthy for us.
As Chris says, if you're concerned, consult a qualified dietician/nutritionist but it sounds to me that you know what you're doing anyway.
I'm no expert and I'm sorry my answer was overly complicated but it specifically related to CLL and diabetes. And I'd urge anyone to avoid wherever possible that difficult combination because they're bad bedfellows!
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