Weight gain

[Content1]

Does anyone have any ideas that might help with unintentional weight gain? For the past few weeks I have been gaining 3 or 4 lbs every few days. I've now gained 2 stone, sometimes daily gains. My diet hasn't changed at all, except lessened in hope of stopping the gain. I tried to talk to GP, but he wasn't interested and said it's probably because I feel tired!!?. Any ideas? Thank you.

[Blue-52]

are you on any medication?

[Content1 in reply to Blue-52]

Hi, thanks for replying. I'm on a few things but nothings changed lately

[Blue-52 in reply to Content1]

Pregalabin, and a lot more of fm meds can increase weight gain rapidly, in some, if it isn’t the meds, then may be your doctor should be testing your thyroid, could be under active??

[Content1 in reply to Blue-52]

Thanks. I'm on levothyroxine as I had cancer and had total thyroidectomy 18 years ago.Not on any FM drugs

[Blue-52 in reply to Content1]

Sorry I can’t be of more help, I hope you find out what it is?

[Puptours in reply to Blue-52]

I've gained weight on pregabalin 😥

[Blue-52 in reply to Puptours]

Ahh sorry to hear that, so many people do 🥲

[Hekkla]

It might be an idea to have your cortisol levels checked. If they are elevated that could be a reason. I gained 8 stone in five months due to that. Best to have such a test done first thing in the morning.

[Elaine200756]

Hi Content 1, I relate about the weight gain. I've gained 2 stones recently. Part of this is because I've been unable to exercise for the past few months as I got inflammation of my ribs on top of everything else.

Writing down everything I eat helps me to be more aware of exactly what I eat. Some things put weight on that I didn't expect. It's difficult to avoid fats and sugars as they're in everything. Also processed foods - I haven't been capable of planning recipes which I cook fresh from scratch.

Someone suggested to me to get up every half hour and do something like make a drink. Sounds good and I keep meaning to do it but must admit I haven't. Your doctor seems like a waste of space tbh. Is there someone else you could see? If its a group practice maybe you can avoid him?

Take care, with love and prayer, Elaine xx 😘

[misspicky82]

I could have written this myself. All I am eating is a bowl of Crunchy Bran at dinner time and a bowl of porridge oats for my evening meal. Any snacks in between are low calorie fibre bars. I am T1 so do have hypos, having a lot since I sent onto Gabapentin but I'm going to decrease my insulin but my point with that is any hypos I am obviously eating sugar/glucose and snacks afterwards, again, low calorie ones, and I have to do this to prevent my sugar dropping again but I've now nearly put on 3 stone. I gained weight with Duloxetine and Venlafaxine, alot with the latter, only started Gabapentin last week. So how on earth I have put so much on us unbelievable! I've not been as active, barely tbh but my weight gain has been very very fast and my GP said its definitely due to medications because of the speed I've put it on. I tried to put a dress on yesterday that I wore last month and wow wow wow is all I can say! I couldn't get it on! This is really upsetting me now! I don't know what to do other than walk the very small amount that I can. I am seeing a physio to start some exercise but it's not till November. I just cannot continue to keep putting this weight on, I'm so depressed. My mum told me this week that I've never been so big, ever! Comments like this don't help as I already know that myself, I barely have any clothes to put on, I've bought bigger clothes only to now have grown out of them!! 😢😢

[Mille21]

I've recently been putting weight on and it's really getting me down I've not changed my diet and exercise almost daily I volunteer 1 morning at the hospital I've never really had this before have always watched what I've eat I'm considering joining slimming world

[stravinsky1]

Hi, I'm sorry you're struggling with your weight. I am also having to rely on ready meals due to a number of chronic conditions but have found that adding vegetables to the meals helps me.

[Flowerinbloom]

I to gained 2 stone and like you the gp wasn’t Interested in the weight gain it was all about getting my condition under control and unfortunately the weight gain doesn’t help your condition or mobility so it’s a vicious circle.

I eventually weaned myself off the strong steroids and Hal lost half of what I gained but my mobility is so bad that I to am struggling to loose more.

The downside is the pain and my condition is constantly on a high but I was beyond miserable with the weight gain that I will suffer as long as possible.

[Nipper11]

Sorry to hear your concerns and totally understand. I too put of 3st in weight and felt my diet and lifestyle was good and therefore couldn't understand the changes. I started to research my medication and at the times I was on 4 different painkillers a day plus other medication for high blood pressure. After reading the side effects of each drug and the efforts of weight gain I decided to take my off these drugs and look for other ways to stop my pain levels.

My journey went like this after taking nealty 6 months to stop the medication I lost 4st in weight and couldn't believe how much better I felt.

The next step was to look at other pain management.

I brought a ten machine and requested a course from my GP for pain management course which was done through video groups it was fantastic to see what other benefits the other team members offered in ideas.

They deal with the mindset of pain and sweating with pain and lots more the course is long but great. I also got involved with talking therapist website and spoke to the team who helped me with chair exercises for pain and other issues. You can sign yourself up to that on there website.

I walk with two sticks and have osteoarthritis in both knees and its bone on bone but I won't give up. The fibromyalgia doesn't help and other illnesses I have is a mixed bag.

I feel at times the pain is so sore and my body is screaming but my mindset has supported me in getting through it .

My mind is so much better I am more with it and feel stronger with out all of these drugs.

Of course there are days I need something to push me on . I take Tramadol only now when needed like going shopping or gardening.

I use to take 8 of these tables plus a day.

Some checks you can think about.

Check you Portion side.

Check your eating times.

Check out your calories each day.

Is your body holding water ?

Are you drinking enough. Drink more .

Eat your meals on a smaller plate .

Write down the food you are eating each day and any changes in your symptoms.

Research self-help NHS app for weight loss information is free and can help you.

Look on YouTube at the chair exercises they will help your pain levels . Keep stretching everyday this helps your muscles.

Keep pushing your doctor to do some simple tests .

Like thyroid test plus diabetes test.

He needs to listen to you . The problem with weight is doctors think you are eating to much when this isn't the case.

My doctor couldn't believe the weight loss I had from coming off drugs I had been taking for years.

Good luck and don't let your doctor make excuses about your weight. You know your body and your lifestyle. Xxxx push for support.

[Gaballetto]

It's got to be fluid hasn't it, to accumulate that fast! Maybe you should reframe your conversation with the doctor to ask whether there is any reason you may be retaining a lot of fluid suddenly.

[Yassytina FMA UK Volunteer]

Hello, he sounded very helpful 😞I would have thought he would have ordered some blood tests 1st too check if any changes with your body recently(in fact I would ring and ask too be seen again) if your eating habits or medication has not changed I would of thought this would be obvious too your doc. This is just my advice it’s something I would ask for at least for a piece of mind that you have been checked, take care xx

[Saraia]

what else has changed? If you’re moving around less due to your tiredness, then you might gain weight too. If you’re eating more tea and biscuits cause ur tired and can’t cook, that would add weight and sugar increases fatigue. (In my case anyway) . If you’re sleeping/ resting instead of exercising. …

Keep a food- activity diary. Everyone is different , you need to see what you, yourself are doing. Could be new meds. Too many possibilities. Sometimes we think we haven’t changed anything but we subconsciously have.

Sorry I can’t help more.

[Content1]

Thank you all for your answers. I felt so bad yesterday that I managed to get an appointment with doctor today, a different one. After examination and questions he believes it's water retention somewhere. He's doubled the furosemide, ordered blood tests and wants to see me again. I'll let you know how things go, if I can stay off the loo long enough to text!

[jojotom in reply to Content1]

Glad you got somewhere with docs and blood tests should help

[jojotom]

When I started gaining weight I was also tired more docs dud bloods and it came back I had hypothyroidism that may not be the case for you but do you have other symptoms