HealingWell
Search Close Search
☰

Anyone else really skinny and can't gain weight or fat on their body?

Support Forums
>
Lyme Disease
✚ New Topic ✚ Reply
12 3
❬ ❬ Previous Thread |Next Thread ❭ ❭
Posted 6/5/2019 6:00 AM (GMT 0)
Scary stuff. Headaches and fatigue all day and can't gain a single pound no matter how much I eat. People think I look sickly skinny yet no one can give me an answer about anything. I've stopped going to lyme doctors as I can't handle antibiotics and neurologists, gastro and primary doctors have all been totally useless.

It's so ridiculous and I'm at a loss. Currently on Cowden and aim to try it 3 months to see if it has any effect and who knows from there.

Any ideas are appreciated tho.
Posted 6/5/2019 6:14 AM (GMT 0)
Hi, Xelaetaks:

I'm sorry you're dealing with the inability to gain weight, headaches, fatigue, and the stress that goes along with it all.

To "regular" people, they might mistakenly think that the inability to gain weight would be a good thing. However, for those with the issue, I'm sure it's a scary condition.

Here's a recent post that may be worth reading:

Help Gaining Weight
https://www.healingwell.com/community/default.aspx?f=30&m=4129255

Other than the few thoughts I mention in the above post, I'm sorry to say I don't have any other ideas. But, I'm always reading, watching videos, and listening to podcasts about diet and health. Should I come across anything that might be helpful, I'll certainly come back and post on this thread and the aforementioned one.

I hope you find a solution soon and I wish you the best on the Cowden Protocol.

Sincerely,
Dude
Posted 6/5/2019 6:31 AM (GMT 0)
Hi Dude, Thank you! It is quite strange. I'll check out that post too.
Posted 6/5/2019 9:23 AM (GMT 0)
Hi Xelaetaks-
You are not the only one, I'm experiencing the same thing. Dude referenced the post I wrote just days ago on the same issue. I wish I had an answer for us, I know how upsetting this is. If it's any consolation, you're not alone and I truly sympathize. Big hugs.
Posted 6/5/2019 2:27 PM (GMT 0)
Thanks BeKind. Hopefully we can figure something out eventually.

Best
Posted 6/5/2019 3:06 PM (GMT 0)
I ask this every time, but you mentioned losing "fat" but not muscle. Does it seem to be fat only, like under your skin. More prominent veins and loss of fat around muscle? Also, any loss of hair on head or body?

In my situation, it is only subcutaneous fat and, seems, collagen.
Posted 6/5/2019 3:22 PM (GMT 0)
at my worst i went to the er with tachy and was describing the wasting that was happening really fast . she actually dx me with wasting associated with hiv ...then i started researching caxchia with cancer and aids patients (thats how gaunt i was looking) and found its not aids that causes the nerve damage and subsequent loss of circulation then death of healthy tissue; its bartonella gone wild once immune sx goes down! im sorry your guidance has been sub par but imho cowden is expensive tea not a powerful enough tincture to do much against the gram neg that is likely blocking absorption in gut and damaging body on a mitochondrial level:...i was able to stop mine with very aggressive treatment and have gained weight but areas of nerve damage has irreparable areas in hands and feet . act now before more damage occurs ...
Posted 6/5/2019 5:33 PM (GMT 0)
bluelyme - you don't think the nerves can heal eventually...over years?

And, then the tissue will repair/regenerate?
Posted 6/5/2019 9:16 PM (GMT 0)

Xelaetaks said...
Scary stuff. Headaches and fatigue all day and can't gain a single pound no matter how much I eat.

If you can tolerate the protein shakes sold at GNC or any of the vitamin stores, give those a try for gaining weight. I personally can't tolerate any of the sythentic powders in my gut, even if they're gluten free, but I've heard others say protein shakes can be beneficial. I think even Dr. B recommends them in his protocol at times, even creatine.
Posted 6/6/2019 2:02 AM (GMT 0)
I have the opposite problem. I sometimes wish I had a weight gain problem but only because I miss eating food lol. You may have some hyperthyroidism going on...this might sound weird (and be careful if you try it) but iodine can actually slow down hyperthyroidism. And fluoride definitely will. I wouldn't recommend ingesting fluoride for other reasons though. But it's in tap water if you want to go that route.

The easiest weight gain recipe is of course limiting protein which is filling, and combining carbs with fat. Granola with nut butter is low volume and calorie dense. But as others said this doesn't sound like a calorie issue. Maybe an absorption issue.
Posted 6/6/2019 2:13 AM (GMT 0)
I ate anything and everything to put on weight but nothing worked until I treated the offending infections
Posted 6/6/2019 2:37 PM (GMT 0)
Yes I'm down at least 15 lbs. to the low 120s. This has been my main motivation to go back into treatment next month. Everything I've read points to Babesia:
https://www.prohealth.com/library/bartonella-and-babesia-symptom-checklists-41096
Posted 6/6/2019 3:29 PM (GMT 0)
For anyone struggling with weight... Have you heard Debbie Gibson's story? It's worth looking her up and her journey with lyme. She had unexplained weight loss and had been to a barrage of doctors before being diagnosed with Lyme. With treatment, she gained back her weight. Gives me hope for all struggling. Be well.
Posted 6/6/2019 3:58 PM (GMT 0)

ToddPaul said...
Yes I'm down at least 15 lbs. to the low 120s. This has been my main motivation to go back into treatment next month. Everything I've read points to Babesia:
https://www.prohealth.com/library/bartonella-and-babesia-symptom-checklists-41096

I think for me it was lyme or Bart because I started to gain weight after lyme/bart treatment prior to treating Babesia.
Posted 6/6/2019 5:04 PM (GMT 0)
Girlie - Lyme and Bart are the 2 infections I have as well. Interesting, wonder if there is something with those two that wreak havoc on the system. I know millions of other people have lyme and bart, just found it "funny" that we had/have both along with the weight loss.
Posted 6/6/2019 6:16 PM (GMT 0)
Girlie- Though I remember you had GI and digestive or absorption issues you could see. I don't have these. My stool is perfect..lol.

You also lost weight quickly while mine has been gradual over years. I'm sure there could be many reasons why we lose or gain weight with this disease. We also tend to blame everything on co-infections while Borrelia seems to be the innocent one but it's just so complex that maybe we shouldn't be looking for one infection as the primary culprit.
Posted 6/6/2019 7:29 PM (GMT 0)

ToddPaul said...
Girlie- Though I remember you had GI and digestive or absorption issues you could see. I don't have these. My stool is perfect..lol.

You also lost weight quickly while mine has been gradual over years. I'm sure there could be many reasons why we lose or gain weight with this disease. We also tend to blame everything on co-infections while Borrelia seems to be the innocent one but it's just so complex that maybe we shouldn't be looking for one infection as the primary culprit.

For a few months I had undigested food in my p—p but even after that resolved, I still didn’t gain the weight back.

Yes I did lose the weight fast -

I didn’t have the diarrhea.
Posted 6/7/2019 1:29 AM (GMT 0)
I have suffered from this as well, when I am feeling really well i eat more and I gain a couple of pounds.
When im not feeling well, the pounds disappear.
6' 4" and 137lbs, most I have ever weighed was 142lbs.

I will be watching this thread to see what others find to help them out.
I can't stomach protein powders or amino acid supplements, they make my stomach hurt like mad (then i eat less!).

I have lyme, bab, bart, and RMSF. Im not even sure which infection or combo could be responsible for weight loss.
My theory is that the over burdening on our system as a whole prevents us from having the capabilities to digest correctly. Truthfully im just shooting in the dark.

Im with you Xelaetaks, this gaining weight thing is hard! And very very frustrating.
Posted 6/7/2019 3:00 PM (GMT 0)
Yikes! That sounds really skinny.

As I posted on another thread, I gained a lot of weight by following the GAPS diet. I also couldn't tolerate any kinds of protein powders or shakes, and for me the best way was to load up on real foods that were easy for me to digest. The GAPS diet was helpful because it eliminated grains and some starches (which I couldn't digest) and helped me eat a lot of meats and vegetables and nuts.

I would argue that limiting protein when you are trying to gain weight is a bad idea, because protein helps you build muscle. I went through a phase where I tried to gain weight eating breads and starches, and it never seemed to work.

You might also try HCl or digestives enzymes if you are having trouble with absorption.
Posted 6/7/2019 6:45 PM (GMT 0)

Girlie said...
bluelyme - you don't think the nerves can heal eventually...over years?

And, then the tissue will repair/regenerate?

ive gained weight since correcting insults to my gut however its not collagen gain. my nurse said nerves can heal but its really slow like 1 nm every few months
Posted 6/8/2019 1:19 AM (GMT 0)
Limiting protein to the minimum amount needed to maintain muscle mass is not going to decrease your muscle mass, but increasing it without weight training will not add to your muscle either. If weight gain is necessary then your body will not be devoting it to muscle as it's already burning through everything and muscle is expensive to maintain
Posted 6/18/2019 10:04 PM (GMT 0)
Just curious ive had lyme for years 1st bit at 3 yr old then 10 yr old so on . Just started and have been on treatment herbs for 3 weeks small her bt not many since I detox so much before hand. How long did it take before anyone started gaining weight again?? Or noticed any changes. I went from and average 134 down to 109 I'm 5'7 and I can see my bones bt yety stomach looks 5 months pregnant Everytime I eat or drink something and I'm constantly full was misdiagnosed with gastritis gerd ibs even anorexia and bulimia ....1st thing doc thinks when your vomiting up everything due to the Lyme and suffering from gastroparesis . I believe my bs instead is a very bad case of sibo I've never had bloating like this until 2 years ago where I now look pregnant. All of my weight basically goes to my stomach while u can see my collar bone I wear a size 3 jeans in juniors for crying out loud what gives. Has anyone else experienced extreme weight loss with pregnant looking stomach and seems to notice ALL weight goes to their stomach??? SIBO??? I've been on and off many years of antibiotics
Posted 6/18/2019 10:15 PM (GMT 0)
Yes, I have the exact same issue. When all of my symptoms started I lost weight and got down to 105. I can now maintain 110-112 but all the weight is in my stomach, goes no where else in my body. Everything else on me is skinny - arms, legs, feet, shoulders, back area. It is so frustrating and no doctor can give me any answers. I never had SIBO checked, although I don't get any major stomach issues. I have been doing herbals now for the past 10 months now on an off with no real change in this issue. I keep having to buy smaller and smaller clothes also and down to smalls and xsmall tops and can also shop in junior departments at almost 50! It is crazy, wish I knew how to get the weight to even out on me. I do feel it is also due to alot of collagen loss but just not in my stomach but everywhere else.
Posted 6/18/2019 10:21 PM (GMT 0)
Haaa! I'm 26 and same thing went down from small to practically extra small. I've never had a sibo test bt can only assume I have bloating nausea on a daily basis early satiety just from literally 2 bites of food or even a few sips of water even it's crazy. I had started to have an issue which I would eat and be fine then suddenly the burping starts with nausea. Bot to be gross the burps were like undigested raw meat it was horrible then the vomiting started next day I'd be fine but terrified to eat.i have experienced gastroparesis with Lyme and would vomit up as much as chunks of food and docs thought I was anoredic or bulimic that stopped on its own thank god
Posted 6/19/2019 1:30 AM (GMT 0)
It could also be parasites or candida causing stomach distention. You paradoxically could be insulin resistant and thin which might be why fat/weight goes to your stomach too.
✚ New Topic ✚ Reply
123