Scales are slow to budge: Has anyone had success... - MPN Voice

MPN Voice

10,836 members15,132 posts

Scales are slow to budge

11 Replies

Has anyone had success losing weight while taking Hydroxy? I've been trying for several months and it's a painfully slow process. I'm on a daily regimen of 500mg. I noticed a small improvement when the dose was reduced slightly. A daily probiotic is helping a lot with bloating and I do drink about 2 lt of water. My specialist doesn't think it's much of an issue, but I'm very proactive with weight maintenance.

Any tips would be an insight. Thanks for your comments in advance.

Read more about...
11 Replies
Kari1961 profile image
Kari1961

Hi Hidden . I have, I've lost over a stone in weight over the last 6 months. As with your experience, it's been really slow progress, but I've managed it.

I can't say that I changed my diet drastically - mine has mostly been by upping my exercise. I make sure I get my 10,000 steps in every day and do yoga a few times a week.

Like you, I also have a daily probiotic and drink 2 litres of water. I've also started to take a magnesium supplement, which has helped ease the constipation I suffered from due to taking Hydroxy. The hydroxy dose I'm on is 500mg x 4 days and 1000mg x 3 days.

in reply toKari1961

Great effort Kari. You're on a higher dose regime than myself so I'm very impressed. I'll keep plugging at it.

Kari1961 profile image
Kari1961 in reply to

You could also give intermittent fasting a try - Not the starving yourself on certain days one. I unintentionally do the 16/8 fasting. I only eat between the hours of 10am and 6pm, before and after those times I don't eat or drink anything (except for water) I obviously break that if I go out for a meal on the occasional weekend. It does work though, one of my friends has lost a lot of weight on a fasting regime.

tracey13 profile image
tracey13

Try calorie counting using my fitness Pal app. It works a treat

ChillyAsh34 profile image
ChillyAsh34

I am having the same problems I am on hydroxycarbamide 500g a day and bloat and putting on weight ,more since the extra 500 g on a sat and Sun

lizzziep profile image
lizzziep

I find it very difficult to lose weight, even with a very low calorie/low fat diet, I’m on Anagrelide. It is very slow to come off.

gset profile image
gset

I put 2 stone on quite quickly with HU in the first few months and having been a gym bunny this was most odd. I struggled for a long time and have now found that the Mediterranean diet approach helps me slowly lose the weight that suddenly piled on. And I have adapted lifestyle to eat earlier in the evenings too. It’s worth a try.

GarciaB profile image
GarciaB

I gained weight, one of the rarer side effects

lakeview65 profile image
lakeview65

I take a bit more Hydroxyurea than you do, 12 pills a week, not sure that makes a difference. I was diagnosed with ET this summer and I decided that now would be a good time to get as fit as possible and have normal BMI. I am active-walk and play tennis often, just needed to loose a bit. I have been watching what I eat, I track calories and points on WW(weight watchers). I have lost 15 LBS since July, slow and steady is the best way. Most days I eat a less than 1200 calories, I am 65 and have a slow metabolism.

in reply tolakeview65

That's amazing, Lakeview...well done. I wish I had your metabolism . 😀

Thanks for all your replies ... good to hear there is a way around this problem, albeit a slow process. I do track calories, exercise and have looked into the Med diet (too many carbs for me). I think lowering the dose will also help. I noticed some losses when my dose was reduced a little. Hopefully at my next appointment with the haemo he will reduce it some more.

Not what you're looking for?

You may also like...

Any successes with weight loss?

I have ET and after researching the effects of hydroxycarbamide on weight gain, I learned that the...

Headaches, Bloating and Weight Gain...sound familiar?

I think I'm on the lowest dose of hydroxy now (500mg daily) as my platelets have been normal for...

Alternative to Hydrea ?

Greetings all, I've been on Hydrea for 15 mths now (I have ET) and am concerned with a 3.5kg...

Help for weight gain?

I'm on a hydroxycarbamide regime for ET (now some 9 months since starting on this) For the first...

Chronic Belly Bloating on Hydrea

Hi All, I've been on hydrea (hydoxycarbamide 500mg) for about 20 mths now. Platelets are normal,...

Moderation team

Debinha profile image
DebinhaAdministrator
Mazcd profile image
MazcdPartner

Content on HealthUnlocked does not replace the relationship between you and doctors or other healthcare professionals nor the advice you receive from them.

Never delay seeking advice or dialling emergency services because of something that you have read on HealthUnlocked.