Losing Weight

Hi...I might check into the drug combo you are on.  Gabapentin and Utram can both cause diarrhea, which could explain the weight loss.  If they had checked into physical causes and can't find anything, it might be worth it to speak to your doctor or pharmacist about the drugs and dosages you take.  IBS is common with fibro which also may be the reason for the diarrhea, but it seems your doctor should have mentioned that possibility.  Sorry you are having problems and hope you find some answers.

Donna

Hi Cricket,

I also have periods of weight loss. My first one was when I first "got sick". Among my emerging symptoms was a loss of appetite and bouts of chronic diarrhea. I think during my 8 month period of going from Dr. to Dr. and testing I lost something like 40 pounds. I had some to spare, but I just looked very very sick. As part of the treatment once I was diagnosed with Fibro I was put on Effexor (an SNRI) to help with the pain and anxiety. Once my appetite came back I probably gained 10 pounds putting me back to looking a little healthier. Then over the next 3.5 years I steadily gained weight (as a result of the Effexor I think) and wound up gaining 60 lbs! Once I cut back my dose of Effexor I was able to begin loosing some weight and once I stopped completely 10 months ago it's been slowly but surely coming off.

However, in August I began my second round of chronic diarrhea and reduced/loss of appetite. I was due to get a colonoscopy last month but it had to be postponed to later this month due to a severe allergic reaction I had. The expectation is that they won't find anything and I'll officially be diagnosed with IBS. I have lost between 15 - 20 lbs since the end of August. I still do not have an appetite and I have to force myself to eat. I am on a self imposed restricted diet to try to keep the diarrhea as minimal as possible. I think this happens when my body is out of wack/confused and the Fibro is going out of control.

Were you diagnosed with IBS at least? Do you find that you're on a very restricted diet due to the chronic diarrhea? I would make sure your Dr. knows this is a concern of yours and make sure they stay on top of it and track it.

I think most of the weight gain associated with Fibro is due to the inactivity and the common use of antidepressants for treatment. I find that when I lose my appetite and lose lots a weight it's at times when the anxiety is worse than usual and the body is taking control. Hopefully a few more months into treatment for you and it should begin to normalize things. As my Dr. tells me every time I see her "Hang In There" :)

That's why we're all here. To give and get help from each other :)

I also have been having maybe 1 or 2 small meals a day with the loss of appetite. It is very hard to make sure you eat and drink enough when you don't feel like it. I wound up extremely dehydrated the other week because I didn't realize how little I was eating and drinking. I definitely realized after 2 IV bags of fluid though.

I don't know if it's an option for you with the lactose intolerance, but if you can do it you should try Ensure. I was very resistant to it my first go around 4 years ago, but I didn't want things to get out of control this time with the weight loss. I am trying to maintain as much of the weight as I can at this point. There have been 1 or 2 times in the past few months I've needed the Ensure, especially with chronic diarrhea we are losing so many vitamins and nutrients. I know I'm only eating bland foods and very little protein which means I'm not getting any nutrients from fruits or veggies. Just a thought, perhaps if you could drink 1 Ensure a day (or something equivalent) then you'd be able to slow the weight loss a bit.

I lost 10 lbs last month which is alot for me because I'm pretty steady for the last 15 years at 128 lbs. I never loose weight but I've been really in alot of pain in October...I eat pretty normally, and you would think I would have gained weight with all the Halloween candy I've been eating! And I'm on lyrica, which I thought was supposed to make you gain weight....who knows, maybe it has the opposite effect on some people!

Cricket, are you treating the endometriosis and have it under control?  My daughter has that and lost sooo much weight until she had outpatient surgery and then was put on birth control pills.  She got below 100 pounds!  You might want to visit your gynecologist again.

 

Sherrine

But, perhaps the endo is still affecting you.  I know my daughter was losing weight like crazy.  She is 5'7" and got down to 97 pounds.  The various doctors she went to told her it was all in her head.  (I think they thought she was bulimic.)  I told her to try the gynecologist, she did, and the outpatient surgery took care of the problem.  She has put 20 pounds back on.  So, if you still are losing weight and are concerned, I sure would check it out.

 

Sherrine