Crohn's and Weight Gain

Hi,

According to some other articles I've read, the mention of weight gain generally refers to a side effect of some medications used to treat Crohn's.

I have Crohn's, yet have gained weight over the years, and have not been on any Crohn's medication until recently.  (I FINALLY started Mercaptopurine on 7/23).  So, your question is an interesting one.

I'm anxious to hear from others about this topic.

Before I was diagnosed, I had dropped 30 pounds in about 2 months. My family thought I had an eating disorder but it was obviously from constantly going to the bathroom. Once I was diagnosed and put on meds I was able to maintain my weight. Then I started Remicade...and the pounds just piled on. My doctor swore it wasn't the remicade but none of the other drugs I was on made me gain weight. I became allergic to the Remicade so now I am on Imuran and I again have been able to maintain a healthy weight.

For me, in the beginning, the disease definetly made me lose weight. I really haven't met anyone that gained weight, unless they were medicated.

I read a book called " Learning sickness" that talks about weigh gain being caused by CD as well as being thin. (the man in the book talks about it when he was shocked to meet an over weight person with CD) Most of the time when you read bout CD nothing is mentioned but it seems I am one of those that gain weight. Even when going to the bathroom multiple times a day. It is always hard for me to lose weight also. I have been extremely good lately and rode bikes a lot with the kids and gained 5 pounds . I once was on a very restrictive diet and lost 85 pounds. (prob 1000 - 1200 cal a day at most)  It was terrible I would get dizzy spells and was always hungry... I lost weight but I was so miserable and gained it back. Karen

I totally have the weight gain issue too.   A few years ago I lost a ton of weight for no reason at all...then all of the sudden I started gaining and gaining and gaining and I was getting sicker and sicker.  Finally I was dx with celiac disease.  I completly changed my diet and ate healthier than ever in my life...but the pounds kept coming.  I got somewhat better healthwise for about a year and then I was dx with PCOS (due to me complaining about my weight issues and lack of monthly friend).  I stopped gaining weight eventually  but have had a heck of a time losing weight.  I went from a 3 to a 10 (only 5ft tall).  This year I got the crohn's dx again after being really sick with no weight loss.  So all the docs look at me like I am crazy b/c I look so healthy.  Interestingly enough I have actually lost weight on prednisone (about 5lbs)...which goes against everything I have read.  In my non professional opinion I think some of us gain weight because our bodies are storing whatever they can absorb and our metabolisms are completely busted from years of ongoing issues.  I really let this get to me for years but now I just accept that I am what I am.  I eat healthy and get my exercise.  I still do have my size 3s in the attic...just in case.....

I just finished my prednisone taper two weeks ago and I have already gained 4lbs and I am having a major flare. So I am starting to wonder if I have some sort of water retention issue going on. Off to the doc tomorrow AM to discuss "options". Great....

Ive been 30lbs or more overweight my whole life pretty much.  The only time I'm at a healthy weight for my body size is when I'm flaring because I barely eat then.  I lost around 45lbs during my last hospital stay, after I was released I was put on prednisone, and Ive gained 35lbs in about 4 months.  I can see tho why some people say you gain weight with Crohns, because a lot of us have a hard time eating and digesting fruits and veggies, and I tend to eat a lot of carbs like breads, crackers and pretzels when my stomach isnt feeling well, which is a lot of the time.

I lost about 70 pounds about three years ago and was unsure why.   The only explanation I could come up with is that I was more active.   After I was diagnosed in January with UC and started on Endocort and Asacol I began to gain a lot of weight.   I have gained 40 pounds since January and my family doctor brought it up to me at my checkup.     I told him I thought it was due to my medication and he told me that in part that may be true, however it may just be that I am feeling better and eating more.   He told me that I had deprived myself for years and now could eat more of what I want.   I completely respect my doctor and he is always honest with me concerning my kids, and myself yet I couldn’t help but wonder if he was being ignorant about my Crohns.     I was still considered overweight 5’ 6” and 170 after losing the weight several years ago, but I have to tell everyone that I feel better now with this extra 40 pounds.  

My weight ranges from 133 lb to 175 lbs and I am 6'3 so even at my heaviest I am on the skinny side. I am at the heaviest end at the moment after being on pred for 4 months but due to finish next week so will lose about 7 lbs once off of it and as long as I eat 4000 calories a day I can maintain that weight but it is whether I can eat the 4000. I need that many and have short bowel syndrome and ileostomy and so do not absorb much of what I eat.

So I can cover every occasion I have clothes in three different sizes as I can guarantee if it for a wedding etc the outfit I used to buy months before will either be too big or too small, so now have outfits for weddings, christenings and parties in all three sizes (not the same outfit I hasten to add as things don't suit me at different sizes) and that is why I need so much wardrobe space and so many clothes. Well, that's what I tell my husband anyway! :)

i have had chrohns since 02.  I am the kinda guy that can eat and eat without gaining a pound.  i have been on a high dosage of pred for about 2 months.  I lost 20 lbs prior.  put on 15 since i have been on pred.  the reason i cannot put on weight, i am assuming is the frequent trips to the b/r.  oh well it could be worse.