Is weight loss symptom of parkinsons

[Flyfishing]

Is weight loss a symptom of Parkinson's

[MBAnderson]

Yes, it is for a lot of people. It is for me.

[Grumpy77 in reply to MBAnderson]

so why do you always talk about and recommend fasting so often then?

I also lost so much weight- my BMI was dangerously low and unhealthy that weight gain had been my target since

[AaronS in reply to Grumpy77]

Intermittent fasting is not about weight management but rather allowing your body to perform other needed tasks, as digestion uses the majority of your body's systems to complete what it has to do.

[WinnieThePoo]

Yes, my Dad has lost weight and it is a common PD effect. Typically of course, because it is one of the PD symptoms I would really appreciate, I don't have it. I need to lose at least a stone.

[Enidah]

I think I would be happy if I never had to eat again. Very few Foods tempt me these days but I don't want to lose too much weight. Never thought I'd say that. I just keep looking for things that I can eat and try not to lose any more weight.

[PDGal4]

Yes, I have lost quite a bit of weight. I think it's the calories used up from either tense muscles or dyskinesias. When first diagnosed, I ate everything in sight and maintained my weight. When I started on Rytary, I dropped about a pound a day until 8 or so pounds, then stopped. The last few days, I seem to be dropping weight again. Can't figure out. Have also read weight drops alongside deterioration, so not a good sign.

I do love to eat and love food, but cannot eat that much.

[Fishaholic in reply to PDGal4]

Hey how long have been taking Rytary? I weighed 175 when I started now I’m 154. You’re right tense muscles and dyskinesia shake it off.

[PDGal4]

Started on Rytary 6/2017, so just about two years. I was at about 135 lbs, now about 122.

[AaronS]

I lost about 15-20 kg muscle and fat

[movinngroovin1]

Tremor

[M1tz1]

My husband lost a great deal of weight. He was a shadow of his former self.

[amykp]

Fasting (in the case of PD) is not for weight loss. It is for autophagy--a form of "detox". Here is a non-scientific article about it: medium.com/@drbradysalcido/...

But you're right that it can be a problem if you are already underweight. I make a point of "feasting" when I am not fasting. I try to eat a lot! Working out helps too. It builds muscle and makes you hungrier.

[koshca]

Yes

[LAJ12345]

My husband lost a lot of weight as we changed diet to exclude gluten and sugar but he needed to lose it. Now he has been stable for some time and looks better for it. I would like to see him do a bit of weight training as he has lost muscle mass too but he is resistant to doing anything new.

[HeartSong]

I have lost a lot of weight over the last 4 years. I am now skinny, which just doesn't fit with my self-image, as previously I was always a bit overweight. My assumption has been that this has occurred because more than just a small meal at any one time, regardless of the content of the meal, will greatly delay the onset of the levodopa effect. My doctor asked me if I still had a good appetite. I told him oh, gosh, yes, and if I could just pig out even once a week without it blocking the levodopa, I would be so happy.

[HeartSong]

This brings up a related subject. I told my neurologist (who, in addition to seeing patients, is also a research scientist) that PwP desperately need an alternative delivery system for the drugs. Something like a transdermal delivery system (in which the drug gets into the body through a patch on the skin instead of through our delicate G.I. system) would be ideal. I think this would eliminate a lot of our symptoms, such as weight loss, muscle loss. nutrient deficiencies, upset stomach, nausea, altered gut bacteria, unpredictable off and on medication effects, and maybe even some instances of constipation. I wonder if the research community ever thinks to ask the patients themselves what types of drugs are most needed.