Weight

[cindyh]

I have suffered with sjogrens for several years.  My mother had it as well.  I cannot lose weight.  My doctor says most of his patients lose weight with sjogrens.  Is there anyone else out there that cannot lose weight?

[Dolly Dimples]

  Hi Cindy,  Iv'e not seen any postings that suggest us Sjoggies lose weight because of having Sjogrens!
      This is a new one to me.

               I personally have put on weight very recently,
                probably due to the fact I am in the house more during these days of Winterwhen I tend to snack more...

                   There are probably times when some of us are going through a bad time,

                                 and that could affect the appetite, so one might lose weight then ,

                                       but on the whole I can't think where your Doctor got this idea from.

            Perhaps others could throw something up on this that might help your query,     Dolly

[Scottietottie]

Hi Cindy 

I can't lose weight - and I really have been trying. My weight gain was caused by thyroid problems but it is stabilised now - and I still am not losing weight. It's really disconcerting because I spent most of my life underweight - but no more.

Quite a few people with SjS also suffer thyroid problems. Has yours been checked out?

You are not alone anyway.

Take care - Scottie 

[Cheryl]

I think you will get mixed answers on this topic!  Some people gain weight due to meds, inactivity, etc., but others become almost anorexic.   Digestive problems, for example, can cause loss of appetitie or inability to eat much.  It will be interesting to see the responses.   (As for me, I tend to keep a pretty constant weight.)
Cheryl

[Maria3667]

Hi Cindy,

As a teenager I was always very thin. 
Then I went on the contraceptive pill and BOOM my weight sky rocketed to amazing hights. I kept it under control by strick dieting, active cycling every day and some other sports. Just when I thought I had stabilized on a normal weight, my thyroid messed things up. For no apparant reason at first, I gained 20 pounds in just 6 weeks... I was also dead tired and extremely cold. Thyroid check proved I had hypothyroidism.  (Sjogrens was diagnosed just weeks before).

The meds & the combination of the Atkins diet at first helped greately and I was able to loose about 20 pounds within 6 months. For years I was happy on this, but last year the battle of the bulge had to be fought again.

Probably to the fact that testosterone had been added to my regiment of meds. Testosterone & Atkins are a bad mix. because testosterone binds to fat.... 

Now I've cut down on the testo and want to start Atkins all over. Besides that I walk the long staircase in my appartement building to the 9th floor, I lift weights every day, bicycle to work & and walk the dog more often... If this doesn't work, well then you can balloon me into the skies! 

See how it goes... Take care!

[Epson]

In the past year I have put on weight and blame it on inactivity due to the surgeries I have had in the last year and also the meds.
But now I have really been watching what I eat and trying to walk a couple of miles a day, but no weight lose.  I have used the Atkins diet and it work well for me, but now that my kidneys are not functioning well all that protein might not be good for my kidneys.  I just got my labs back and they weren't too good.

[fluffiebunnie]

Since my first flare up last year I have lost two stone.  Now I am out of the flare up, my appetite has come back.  I am being careful with food now and eating healthily and exercising, so I dont put it back on as I needed to lose the weight in the first place!

Will be interesting to see how things turn out for me, and if appetite loss is part of my symptoms of flare ups or if it was a one-off.

I am on no medications.

[Babs659]

Your doctor may have been referring to gastroparesis, which seems to be common with Sjogies.  If you Google it I'm sure you'll get a good description of it

[Patze]

I'm another one with problems trying to loose weight, and being hypothyroid sure makes things even more difficult (and I was thin until I went hypo in my 30's).

Hang in there, and take care -


Patze

[lori]

yep, Im stuck at a certain weight and cant lose. it is a blessing that according to the BMI I am only 5 lbs over but its annoying as I eat really healthy, excersis and watch calories. i too was dx hypothyroidism 11 yrs ago and take synthroid- the dr. said that my throid is fine and I just eat too many calories but if I cut back any more I feel weak and grumpy and  its not worht it. I uwas always on the thin side till I hit 40 then boom... it all went downhill..... so I cant say the throid is it cause in my thirites I was still thin and could lose when I tried...

[Babs659]

Personally, my recent weight gain is multifactoral.  Menopause, Prednisolone, lower activity (I used to run 25 miles a week).  I do not think Sjs causes weight gain, but someone correct me if I'm wrong.

[Jules48cats]

I have had a weight problem most of my life.  I had been a little overweight for a number of years, but after the RA and the drugs I gained over 40 lbs and could not lose it.  Part of it was from inactivity. I had a lot of surgeries and knee problems.  But a lot of it was from Prednisone, Cymbalta, etc.  Then I gained another 35 lbs.  Then last fall I started to have a lot more digestive problems.  I have reflux and a hiatial hernia.   I have to be really careful what I eat.  I need soft foods.  Anything with seeds or crumbs makes me cough and choke.  I stopped eating chips and crackers for the most part.  I eat more fruit and vegetables.  As a result I lost 40 lbs.  It has been very slow coming off.  When I have a really bad flare I don't eat much at all and that is when I  really lose the weight...........So I look at it as a silver lining.   
Jules   

[Nans]

I've had weight issues all of my adult life but for the most part, was able to keep my weight within a relatively acceptable range until I hit menopause (with the exception of gaining 55 lbs with my second child and then getting pregnant again when he was only 4 months old  ).  Since then, my excess fat has decided it's very comfortable where it is and refuses to leave.  Now - since starting on plaquenil, it has decided it needs some company.  I rarely overeat (although I suppose I will this week     ) and avoid sweets and simple carbs.  I don't go to the gym or anything like that, but I am no couch potato either.  We have livestock and I have to do some level of physical exercise at least twice a day.  It really annoys me when I tell my doctor that a medication is making me gain weight and they brush it off by suggesting that I'm eating too much.  Well, I guess I am -  but to lose weight I would have to cut back to the point where I would be hungry all the time and at this point in my life, I just am not motivated to starve myself.  Maybe I'll find the motivation in a few months; my daughter is getting married next year and I will need to buy a "mother-of-the-bride" dress!   

[cindyh]

I am glad to know that I am not the only one that struggles.  I have always struggled with my weight.  I am on Evoxac and hormones since menopause.  My doctor says I would feel better losing the 40 lbs that I am overweight.  My thyroid has been tested and it is normal.  I don't feel like exercising.  I work 50 hours a week and it is all I can do to cook dinner at night.  My husband has had to take on most of the household chores since I don't seem to be able to keep up anymore.  When I cut back too much on food then the Evoxac seems to make me sick at my stomach. 

[watoozie]

In the last year I've lost 35 lbs.  Haven't changed my eating habits, the doc says it is from Lupus and Sjogrens.  ?