UNEXPLAINED WEIGHT GAIN

[TudorJayne1509]

Hello all. Hope you all feel better than I do. I'm so miserable. I'm still having Avastin every three weeks. I'm on prednisolone now 5mg. I'm a vegetarian and my diet is largely healthy. For months I've had upper abdominal pain and bloating. I had ovarian cancer last year, chemo, surgery then more chemo. Saw a doctor who thinks I have an enlarged liver. I'm waiting to see a doctor today. What's upsetting me most is, every time I'm weighed lately, I appear to be gaining weight. I can't understand why though?? Feeling alone and unhappy lately. Thought all this was behind me 😪

[Eriksendi]

It could be the steroids. I had to take prednisolone for 5 weeks only and put on a stone!!! Can’t shift it either.

[Katmal-UK]

Hi I am sorry you are feeling along and unhappy. Sending a virtual hug your way. You say you had surgery, I take it this was a hysterectomy? I found that after my hysterectomy I gained a lot of weight which I put down to having had the operation, steroids etc and nothing to do with what I was/am eating. Whilst not a vegetarian I do eat healthily and watch what I eat. I've tried to lose the weight and have come to accept the 'new me'. It may be worth mentioning this to your dr and how the weight gain is making you feel? xx Kathy xx

[Lindaura]

Dear Jayne,

I am so sorry you are going through this additional torment.

The steroids will definitely make you gain weight. Most of it will be water weight, but it does like to add fat pads on your back.

If it were my choice, I would stop the Avastin, so you could ween yourself off the prednisone.

Meanwhile, I hope you get a CT scan soon and they can determine the cause of the bloating and tummy pain.

Livers usually cause excruciating back pain.

Funny, I know all this because as a kid I had a bad liver and a blood disease and had to be on steroids for a year.

Caused by another genetic defect, also. I’m BRCA1 positive.

Doing well, I hope, on Niraparib!

Best wishes,

And more hugs,

Laura

[TudorPurr68 in reply to Lindaura]

Thanks Laura. Most of my pain is upper right sided abdo and now right leg also. I do have lower back pain but have had that a long while. I don't want to stop Avastin, I'm petrified of the cancer coming back. I'm on steroids due to polymyalgia rheumatica. It's just one thing on top of another. Oh well.

I'm clearly having a rough time. Thanks for caring. Hope you're ok. Thank God for support like this Xx

[Lyndy]

Yes I am also on long term steroids and weight gain even at 5mg is tricky. I would request a dietitian meeting. I am also vegetarian and generally healthy diet but I do have weakness (biscuits, nuts, crisps) which I have to keep an eye on.

Walking really helps- so if you do nothing else go for a walk every day- it also helps your mental state xx

[TudorPurr68 in reply to Lyndy]

Hello Lyndy. Me too!!! Crisps etc and steroids make me want them more but I am being careful. I think most of the weight gain is water too. I love walking but that's difficult when in pain xx

[Luvliving]

Liver problems can put weight on you. Was on Avastin for 15 months. Had to stop for kidney problems and high blood pressure. Now on a oral chemo Etoposide. Been doing good so far. Remember we are warriors the battles continue. Wishing you strength and courage ❤

[TudorPurr68 in reply to Luvliving]

Thanks Luvliving (Great name).

I'm having a scan soon to see if I have an enlarged liver. If so, God alone knows what has caused it. Xx

[Hidden]

Hi TudorJayne. I know nothing about Prednisolone. But I do know about Avastin. I would strongly advise you not to abandon it, unless you have a good and confirmed reason to do so. For my 1st recurrence I went on carbo/caelyx/avastin for 6 months. I went into remission after the 6 months of infusions. Avastin has continued as a maintenance drug (it's not a chemo, so doesn't make you ill). I've had 3-weekly infusions for the last 4.5 - 5 years. The only side effects I get are high blood pressure (have to take tabs to keep it down) and a runny nose - mostly in the mornings and when I eat. That's all. It's kept me in remission these years. It's a wonder-drug to me. Best wishes. Pauline.