Weight gain

[Becky1995]

Hi all,

I have been on Hydroxychloroquine for over a year now and I’m have been told I will be for life. I seem to be experiencing weight gain.

Before the tablets I was on slimming world and lost 2 stone, for the first time I felt happy in how I looked (has been a constant weight battle my whole life) when I get depressed about how I look, my flare ups get worse, so it’s a constant battle!

I have continued slimming world and working out but my weight seems to be gradually creeping up each week, little by little. I also bloat a lot. More than I ever did before.

All of this seems to have happened since the tablets. I barely eat, stick to slimming world and yet still put weight on. It’s really getting me down.

Is there anything I can do to counteract this?

Thanks

Becky

[CarolMcl]

I can totally relate to that. I've put on weight, have tried a few slimming clubs and they look at me as if I'm lying. I wish I knew the answer too 😞

[Lisa6161]

Hi Becky, welcome to my world! I take a cocktail of meds, and seem to still gain. Pre lockdown, I swam 50 lengths 5 days a week. Eating 3 meals a day, which is not what I usually do. No chocolate or snacks. More fruit etc... My limbs and bum, are all fine. All the weight is on my stomach, and it's solid. I give up!!!

Sorry to just commiserate, and not help x

[heatherevans28]

It could easily be the changes of lockdown. My husband is doing the same number of gym classes at home as he was at work, and we are eating the same yet his weight is slightly increasing. He checked his fitbit and it seems that working from home (even with a daily walk) has halved his step count. Most people are experiencing the same, whether it's a decrease in exercise or an increase in home baking. Lockdown is causing most to gain a few pounds.

If you are socially distancing and perhaps not walking to the shops etc as much it could easily be this decrease in daily movement. Although most medications have weight gain listed as a side effect, it's definitely not a well documented one for hydroxychloroquine. In comparison things like steroids have well documented effects on fat storage, water retention and your hunger.

I would personally recommend putting the scales away and trying to focus on your confidence building. Weight fluctuates and being tied to that number can be very stressful. However, if you really want to address this then I would start by lookingbat possible causes for the bloating as this won't be helping how you feel in your body. This might be hormonal or it might be a certain type of food. Keeping a diary of food, time of the month and when it happens could help you see patterns.

You then may want to look at how much you usually move outside of lockdown and whether you can increase your movement at home.

Hope this helps x