Weight gain and Lupus

[Dreamva]

Just wondering if anyone has had significant weight gain with Lupus. I really have no appetite most of the time, so eat very little but gained 25 lbs. Some days I look like I am 9 months pregnant and feel terrible. Clothes fit some days, other times they don't. I am taking a water pill, but hasn't helped.

[Chanpreet_Walia LUPUS UK]

Hi Dreamva,

Many people with lupus have issues with their weight; this can be due to several different factors like metabolic disorder, decreased activity due to pain/fatigue and side effects of other treatments such as antidepressants.

According to The Lupus Encyclopaedia, “It has been shown that people who have SLE can develop auto-antibodies directed at the thyroid gland, causing it to become either overactive or underactive”. When the thyroid gland is underactive, the individual is likely to gain weight. The NHS Choices’ website provided a detailed overview of having an underactive thyroid here: nhs.uk/Conditions/Thyroid-u...

- it is important to remember lupus presents differently in each individual therefore, no two people will share the exact same experience.

We published an article on our blog about diet and healthy living which you can read here: lupusuk.org.uk/diet-and-hea... .

Also, we published a blog article on exercising with lupus which you can read at lupusuk.org.uk/lupus-and-ex...

Best wishes.

[Buffy14]

Hi , are you taking steroids for your lupus ? Prednisolone can make you put on weight although generally they make you want to eat more , have you spoken to your consultant about this .

[Poshcards]

Tell me about it, over the years I have gained 10 stone!! I detest being so fat and cry a lot about it. In the last 18 months I have given up, chocolate, sweets and eat very little as I have no appetite anymore, I just eat to live now x

[lupie46]

Sorry this has happened to you. I've gained 10 stone in 10 years! It's depressing. I've started swimming when I have enough energy.

[panda2]

Dreamva, this has happened to me too.

I have been a size 8 most of my adult life (49yrs), yet now I am a size 10, rapidly moving to a 12 within the last year, despite no diet change and plenty of exercise. I am a swimmer, clocking a over a mile in the pool at least 4 times per week. Incidentally I'm on HRT (for years -- early oophorectomy) which means I'm not in menopausal waist expansion state either. I am diagnosed with UCTD (for now) and my Rheumatologist will not acknowledge that bowel/weight gain is her domain.

I have needed to see a dermatologist after a biopsy looking for urticarial vasculitis because of spontaneous chronic urticaria. This has resulted in understanding that there could be a mast cell disorder. We've not found the right medication just yet. But this apparently can affect the gut...!? Do you have hives or urticaria by chance? About 8 months after my spontaneous urticaria began, my stomach started to distend for no apparent reason. Other days it was fine. This all began some 9 months ago. Now I find it is mostly distended and if I don't take laxatives daily, I can only produce constipated pellets.

I also want to mention the other things I don't have that have been mentioned above. I'm not on steroids and my thyroid function is normal, in fact has been hyper in the past creating weight loss and excessive bowel movements. It is utterly true that we are all individual, so perhaps none of what I've said applies, but worth a shot at putting it out there anyway. Where do you fit in this bigger picture?

Panda x