PollyGirl
02-14-2007, 11:38 AM
I am wondering if anyone knows why folks with fibro gain so much weight? Right before my DX 3 years ago, I had lost 40 pounds and was running 6 miles a day. I was also following a well balanced, lower carb diet but suddenly the weight loss stopped. I was still running and eating well but the weight was piling on.
FF three years later and I am now 70 pounds heavier. What gives? What is causing all this weight gain? I know it cannot be the food calories because I am not eating any more than I used to. I know I don't move around now like I was before my DX, but come on ~ 70 pounds???
I hear this often with fibro people ~ so is it water bloating? Inflamed muscles?
Anyone know?
FF three years later and I am now 70 pounds heavier. What gives? What is causing all this weight gain? I know it cannot be the food calories because I am not eating any more than I used to. I know I don't move around now like I was before my DX, but come on ~ 70 pounds???
I hear this often with fibro people ~ so is it water bloating? Inflamed muscles?
Anyone know?
Sponsor
Misty800
02-14-2007, 12:24 PM
When we have fibro and hurt, we do not move as much anymore but our appetitie and food consumption remains the same. Does not take long for the pounds to add up and stick to our bones!!
Do you keep a log of every bite you eat in a day to know how many calories you are consuming? If not, please do so. Also keep record of activities/exercise.
In order to stabilize our weight we need to not eat more calories than we can burn in a day.
Do you keep a log of every bite you eat in a day to know how many calories you are consuming? If not, please do so. Also keep record of activities/exercise.
In order to stabilize our weight we need to not eat more calories than we can burn in a day.
kirstee
02-14-2007, 12:50 PM
PollyGirl:
The lack of movement certainly causes the weight to pile on. But, I also believe that FMS patients have a faulty metabolism. My opinion is based on what my fibro doctor's theory is: FMS is a metabolic syndrome where phosphate and calcium are not charging properly in the mitochondria properly. That is why FMS patients also have CFS.
Blessings,
Kirstee
The lack of movement certainly causes the weight to pile on. But, I also believe that FMS patients have a faulty metabolism. My opinion is based on what my fibro doctor's theory is: FMS is a metabolic syndrome where phosphate and calcium are not charging properly in the mitochondria properly. That is why FMS patients also have CFS.
Blessings,
Kirstee
Glojer
02-14-2007, 02:00 PM
I agree with Kirstee I think our metabolism takes a turn for the worse with the fibro. A lot of us also have thyroid resistance and thyroid problems that is also a reason. We do become inactive and sometimes don't reduce our calorie intake as much as we should with it. Also medication we take can cause weight gain. You combine all the factors and variables and you can see why it is just a little different for us fibromights to get the weight off and or keep it off.
LadyGwen
02-14-2007, 02:42 PM
If you are on certain medications they can pack the pounds on as well.
Meme
02-17-2007, 01:13 AM
Hey there, I was trying to find my paperwork from my dr. I can't recall all that was on it "fog" but basically they say the we are in "hibernation"
It's pretty interesting. I am wondering if you google "hibernation/fibro" if anything comes up.
I will try and locate it and repost when I can
MeMe
It's pretty interesting. I am wondering if you google "hibernation/fibro" if anything comes up.
I will try and locate it and repost when I can
MeMe
elmhar
02-17-2007, 03:12 PM
The thyroid gland is the thermostat in the body. Even minor dips in thyroid function can cause weight to pile on. Many meds can interfere with thyroid function, as well.
Lifestyle practices also impact thyroid function. A low carb diet causes the body to decrease production of thyroid hormone. That is because the brain & vital organs require a continuous source of carbs for fuel, and T hormone burns carbs. So, when people go on low carb diets, a survival mechanism eventually kicks in. And while the low carb diets are great for a while, once the free T3 level is cut, serious problems surface. Increasing carbs in the diet doesn't necessarily restore the levels of thyroid hormone.
Most people with fibro receive only a perfunctory thyroid screening. But there are many, many of us who passed the screening, yet went on to later research & discover that there is more to thyroid testing than meets the eye.
The definitive tests of thyroid function for a fibro sufferer are those that assess the actual level of free thyroid hormones in the blood. These tests are called free T3 & free T4. You must ask for, insist for them by name. When you get your lab requisition sheet, you must check that they have been requested by the doc.
You can have other thyroid tests done: TSH, indexes, relexes, total T3 &4, PBI -- and while those tests may be interesting, you could have a "normal" result & still be low on free thyroid hormone. Docs have been taught that TSH is the most sensitive test of thyroid function. And it is, for people with perfect pituitary glands. TSH is a pituitary hormone, secreted (in a 'normal' scenario) when free thyroid hormone levels fall. But fibro folks have a high rate of hypothalamic & pituitary malfunction ... so TSH doesn't tell the whole story for them.
My findings on thyroid testing were like those of many other fibro sufferers I've talked to: normal TSH, normal total T4. Doc balked at further tests.
So I self-ordered a complete panel, incl. frees, through Health Check USA. When both my free T3 & free T4 came back at the bottom of the normal range, my doc was open to a "therapeutic trial" of thyroid hormone: low dose for 2 mos., then revisit & retest. Well, the thyroid hormone helped & in fact, my doc even increased the dose on the second visit.
If you compare the symptoms of hypothyroid with fibro symptoms, you will be shocked at the parallels. I'm not saying that hypothyroid is the only cause of fibro, BUT -- it should seriously be considered. That means, getting the actual hard copy, on paper lab results for your thyroid test from your doc. Did he do the actual tests you asked for? What was the reference range, and where on that range, did your numbers fall? The top? The middle? or closer to the bottom.
For me, addressing thyroid & other hormone deficiencies has been critical in starting to heal & improving quality of life. I won't say that thyroid is a problem for every thyroid sufferer, and I won't guarantee that it will cure you or get rid of your excess weight. But I did lose 30 lb. as my free T hormone levels approached the midpoint of the normal range. For me, the weight loss was much less important than "being cured" of my fibro fog & reducing my pain. Tendonitis can be a factor when free T3 levels are low, & for me, tendonitis was a very nasty companion before that low free T3 was fixed.
IMO, everyone with fibro deserves serious attention to their thyroid function. But you won't get that attention if you're not a knowledgeable, assertive healthcare consumer. Being passive, taking the word of a "professional" that thyroid function is OK, isn't going to get you the info & the treatment that you need, IME.
Best wishes.
Lifestyle practices also impact thyroid function. A low carb diet causes the body to decrease production of thyroid hormone. That is because the brain & vital organs require a continuous source of carbs for fuel, and T hormone burns carbs. So, when people go on low carb diets, a survival mechanism eventually kicks in. And while the low carb diets are great for a while, once the free T3 level is cut, serious problems surface. Increasing carbs in the diet doesn't necessarily restore the levels of thyroid hormone.
Most people with fibro receive only a perfunctory thyroid screening. But there are many, many of us who passed the screening, yet went on to later research & discover that there is more to thyroid testing than meets the eye.
The definitive tests of thyroid function for a fibro sufferer are those that assess the actual level of free thyroid hormones in the blood. These tests are called free T3 & free T4. You must ask for, insist for them by name. When you get your lab requisition sheet, you must check that they have been requested by the doc.
You can have other thyroid tests done: TSH, indexes, relexes, total T3 &4, PBI -- and while those tests may be interesting, you could have a "normal" result & still be low on free thyroid hormone. Docs have been taught that TSH is the most sensitive test of thyroid function. And it is, for people with perfect pituitary glands. TSH is a pituitary hormone, secreted (in a 'normal' scenario) when free thyroid hormone levels fall. But fibro folks have a high rate of hypothalamic & pituitary malfunction ... so TSH doesn't tell the whole story for them.
My findings on thyroid testing were like those of many other fibro sufferers I've talked to: normal TSH, normal total T4. Doc balked at further tests.
So I self-ordered a complete panel, incl. frees, through Health Check USA. When both my free T3 & free T4 came back at the bottom of the normal range, my doc was open to a "therapeutic trial" of thyroid hormone: low dose for 2 mos., then revisit & retest. Well, the thyroid hormone helped & in fact, my doc even increased the dose on the second visit.
If you compare the symptoms of hypothyroid with fibro symptoms, you will be shocked at the parallels. I'm not saying that hypothyroid is the only cause of fibro, BUT -- it should seriously be considered. That means, getting the actual hard copy, on paper lab results for your thyroid test from your doc. Did he do the actual tests you asked for? What was the reference range, and where on that range, did your numbers fall? The top? The middle? or closer to the bottom.
For me, addressing thyroid & other hormone deficiencies has been critical in starting to heal & improving quality of life. I won't say that thyroid is a problem for every thyroid sufferer, and I won't guarantee that it will cure you or get rid of your excess weight. But I did lose 30 lb. as my free T hormone levels approached the midpoint of the normal range. For me, the weight loss was much less important than "being cured" of my fibro fog & reducing my pain. Tendonitis can be a factor when free T3 levels are low, & for me, tendonitis was a very nasty companion before that low free T3 was fixed.
IMO, everyone with fibro deserves serious attention to their thyroid function. But you won't get that attention if you're not a knowledgeable, assertive healthcare consumer. Being passive, taking the word of a "professional" that thyroid function is OK, isn't going to get you the info & the treatment that you need, IME.
Best wishes.
Glojer
02-17-2007, 11:31 PM
Elmhar a big AMEN to everything you have stated and you do it so well.
Glojer
Glojer
PollyGirl
02-18-2007, 02:50 PM
GREAT information, however, I have had several "complete thyroid panels" done with all numbers falling in the middle range. My alternative doc even put me on Cytomel "just to try" but still no results.
I am wondering is the weight gain fat? Is it fluid? Is it air? Is it muscle and skin?
What exactly is all this weight we gain?
I am wondering is the weight gain fat? Is it fluid? Is it air? Is it muscle and skin?
What exactly is all this weight we gain?