HealingWell
Search Close Search
☰

I should know this, but why DO we lose weight?

Support Forums
>
Ulcerative Colitis
✚ New Topic ✚ Reply
❬ ❬ Previous Thread |Next Thread ❭ ❭
Posted 2/26/2011 4:34 PM (GMT 0)
Heya guys, I did some searching and have been studying a bit, but I think many of us would agree that one of the oddest parts of this disease is the weight loss.

So, why DO I lose weight? I'm only 130 most of the time, and now I'm probably 112. I am eating, but still figuring out what foods work for me or not, but is my body not absorbing ENOUGH nutrients, or is it that some nutrients do not get absorbed at all?

I mean, what's preventing us from starving? Some foods stick around and get absorbed better? If there is a link to a better article or something, I would love to see it. Right now I am trying out Muscle Milk, a lactose-free protein shake, in the hopes that it keeps some good stuff coming in.

Of course, I have my next appointment on Monday and I will ask my Doc. Here's hoping that he gives me some more meds because although I feel "better" on the steroid after only 4 days, I am still having issues. I am going to proudly show him my diet log, too, and see what he thinks. It's not making sense, not quite yet, but I think I'm getting closer.

Beau
Posted 2/26/2011 4:36 PM (GMT 0)
I eat what i want and i don't lost weight. I feel its when people become "picky eaters" because they believe food plays a huge role in causing flares which i do not believe.
Posted 2/26/2011 4:37 PM (GMT 0)
Do you eat what you want, despite feeling uncomfortable?

Beau
Posted 2/26/2011 4:58 PM (GMT 0)
Your body isn't getting the nutrients it needs because of the chronic diarrhea. As a result the body needs to function, so breaks itself down to survive. As a result fat is broken down and then muscle.
Posted 2/26/2011 4:59 PM (GMT 0)
So I guess that's why everyone says "Just keep eating." lol

I guess what confuses me is if the body is taking anything at all from the foods. I'm sure it is...but still, it's a little shocking.

Beau
Posted 2/26/2011 5:34 PM (GMT 0)
I've always wondered about that too. I mean we know that the stomach breaks food down, then it passes thru the small intestine where nutrients are absorbed and the waste goes down to the large intestine where some left over nutrients and water gets absorbed...so if the small intestine absorbs the majority of the nutrients why do we still lose weight??? Perhaps we have a faster transit time?

I lose weight too, however I have always had a fast metabolism. But I think too, because when I am flaring, I don't feel like eating (no appetite) so combined with a fast metabolism I tend to lose weight quickly.
Posted 2/26/2011 5:35 PM (GMT 0)
I get confused, too, because anything I've ever read says that nutrients are taken out of foodstuff in the small intestine, and basically just liquid is taken out in the large intestine. Maybe one of our medically trained members can answer!
Posted 2/26/2011 6:02 PM (GMT 0)
I would love to know the answer to this too. My Mom with UC has lost 14 pounds in a little less than 2 months and she is one that needs to put on more weight anyway! She is being very careful with what she eats but I wonder if we are being too careful and she needs to try more variety. Milk seems to be one thing she does not tolerate. I need to look into the muscle milk the original poster mentioned to see if they may work for her.
Posted 2/26/2011 6:05 PM (GMT 0)
As a result fat is broken down and then muscle

For me it was muscle broken down, then the fat, lol. Those with Crohn’s have it much worse than we Ucers because CD can inflame the small intestine where many of the nutrients are absorbed. That is why children with Crohn’s often have stunted growth while that is less of a problem for children with UC. I heard one theory why some CD patients have poor healing of fistulas and fissures, retinal dysfunction, etc., it is because of deficiencies of zinc and other nutrients necessary for healing that exacerbate the disease.

I became anemic during my last flare probably because of the daily bloody D. And I had constant stomach pain, sometimes severe after eating any kind of meal, that discouraged me from eating. So I was losing an average of 5 lbs a week while flaring. The good news is that once the flare ends you can quickly gain the weight back. If it can be said that there is drawback to being in remission, it’s that you once again have to be careful about overeating and becoming overweight again.
Posted 2/26/2011 7:57 PM (GMT 0)
I gained weight because all I am eating is carbs- pasta, chicken, rice , potatoes and white bread. Raw veggies/ fruit and whole grains is what I used to eat before I was diagnosed but now they bother me . I wish I would lose weight it would be the only postive thing about this disease :)
Posted 2/26/2011 9:14 PM (GMT 0)
Yes, it is a malabsorption problem that is in the small intestine, plain and simple. Either food matter is shooting through there quite rapidly, or there is a malabsorption problem because of faulty villi in the small intestine.
Posted 2/27/2011 12:01 AM (GMT 0)
I see my doc on Monday, so I am going to ask him for an exact reason. If he does not know, I will bop him on the nose and fin another.

To me, it seems like an issue between not eating as much and non-absorption somewhere -- perhaps because of the water loss?

In other news, I am already starting to feel much better, so I am hoping that between staying on standard meds and continuing to carefully watch (and track) what I eat I will be able to steer clear of more flares. That combined with more visits to the doc (that I would have never taken otherwise, probably) will mean I will stay on top of this, as well as any complications.

And no more weight loss, if I can help it. lol

Beau
Posted 2/27/2011 1:54 AM (GMT 0)
I don't think all UC'ers lose weight. During my 10 going on 11 years with UC I have varied 20 pounds up and down. I have 3 sizes of clothes in my closet, currently wearing the smaller size. And the weight gain for me was never due to prednisone-never took it, just a short spell of Entocort with no weight gain, also no improvement.

I agree that weight loss is generally due to dysfunction of what our colons normally do-process nutrients. Why did I gain weight in the past? Dunno. But I know there are people on this forum who aren't underweight, so not everyone's the same.

My current weight is stable and I look and feel healthy. I eat a lot of protein and some veggies but no carbs, no grains and very little dairy.
Posted 2/27/2011 3:09 AM (GMT 0)
I see a gastroenterologist on March 3, 2011 and I will ask this question. Yes, beside the obvious diarrhea, blood/mucous loss when in a flare.

Anything else I should ask? I've got a 3 page list of items for my appt so far.
Posted 2/27/2011 5:18 AM (GMT 0)
I lose weight very fast while flaring. I went from 205 to 175 in a little over a month. My friends thought I was dying lol. When the flare goes away I eat sooooo much. I seriously pig out for a week straight on fast food, pizza, ice cream, etc.
Posted 2/27/2011 11:28 AM (GMT 0)

blueclassring said...
Yes, it is a malabsorption problem that is in the small intestine, plain and simple. Either food matter is shooting through there quite rapidly, or there is a malabsorption problem because of faulty villi in the small intestine.

I believe this also. I think my problems begin in the small intestine and the unabsorbed food enters the large instestine feeding the wrong bacteria. I went weeks without dairy or grain. I was quite normal. THEN I ate some mozz flavored pretzel chip that had processed bleached flour and milk products after I replaced the kitchen sink leaky faucet. I was hungry and rewarded myself with a quick snack some of my daughters chips. I woke up this morning bloated with painful gas and much lower quality poop.

Clearly I have food triggers, not everyone does but I do. Now in the past this might get pretty bad but I will rein it in starting today. I believe it is the malabsorption causing weight loss then prednisone accelerates it with across the board conversion of muscle into glucose

"This process of making sugar from amino acids by the liver is known as gluconeogenesis. Literally interpreted as: the genesis of new sugar.

This glucocorticoid steroid causes muscle degeneration in order to manufacture sugar, or glucose, for the brain and body. Once produced cortisol continues to reek havoc on the musculature for about three hours before the liver collects it from the blood, even if we eat a meal to try to stop it."

"Cortisol is destructive to muscles. It is destructive for a vital cause. Consumption of refined white sugar during and following a workout prevents the need for cortisol output. It is better to understand the function and control of this muscle eating steroid than to be simply afraid of its effects."

Prednisone is simply synthetic or man-made Cortisol which works opposite to testosterone which men and women both have in different amounts.

I have very low body fat so I feel the catabolic weight-loss effect of prednisone harshly, losing up to 50 lbs. Others gain weight on prednisone and I suspect it is because they have less muscle in their body composition and more fat at the beginning of their course of medication.

Post Edited (aguywithuc) : 2/27/2011 4:31:02 AM (GMT-7)

Posted 2/27/2011 3:02 PM (GMT 0)
Aguywithuc,

Yes, this theory is right on. Glucocorticoids, like prednisone, causing wasting away of muscle. That's the biggest reason I went from 140 to 118 lbs in two weeks. I have very little fat content as it is, so my body has wasted away very quickly. I'm glad I'm at 7.5 mg of prednisone today.
Posted 2/27/2011 4:25 PM (GMT 0)
This is great, guys. Very interesting discussion.

My wife noticed how bony I had become and I noticed how mu muscles seemed to be "thinning." I will definitely ask him about that Monday.

KatKat: seems like you have it all covered, I'm very interested to hear what he says!

Thanks guys! I'll just continue eating. :)

Beau
Posted 2/27/2011 4:37 PM (GMT 0)
I've lossed so much muscle mass on my behind, it hurts to sit on something firm.
Posted 2/27/2011 5:22 PM (GMT 0)
When I have diarrhea, the food doesn't even digest, I see it in the toilet. So that's why I lose weight.
Posted 2/27/2011 6:54 PM (GMT 0)
I'm not sure, but, in addition to the above reasons, I always thought your body was expending a lot of energy (calories) trying to heal itself. I don't know if this is true at all though. Let us know what your doctor says!
Posted 2/27/2011 7:11 PM (GMT 0)

blueclassring said...
Yes, it is a malabsorption problem that is in the small intestine, plain and simple. Either food matter is shooting through there quite rapidly, or there is a malabsorption problem because of faulty villi in the small intestine.

I think the transit time quickens then because of that the undigested food irritates the lining. Does not matter if it is allergic reaction that causes the mucous to thicken first of transit time time quicken first because for me the cure is to 'slow' the transit time. This allows healing.

180 lbs down to 130 lbs
200 lbs down to 160 lbs

Currently nearing 180 lbs again and interested in gaining more.

What works for me to slow food

- Cut out fake sugars and sugary drinks ( sugar over fake sugar at least my body knows what that is )
- Eat only unprocessed foods
- Librax ( relaxes smooth gut muscle of GI tract )
- Immodium ( slow digestion by reducing stomach acid )
- Mebeverine ( relaxes smooth gut muscle and has a 2nd positive effect )
- Hyocyamine ( seems like immodium to me )
✚ New Topic ✚ Reply