[thinker22]

I'm 5'4". In NY back in 2006, I weighed about 135. When I came here to Oregon in and as late as winter of 2007, I was around 125. Last summer '09 I was around 110. The latter part of this summer I am hovering between 100 and 101 in the mornings. My appetite has certainly decreased, but to a significant degree in the past few months.

I don't know if one of my meds is doing this or my supplements or what. All I know is I feel sick to eat more than a few bites of anything even though I force myself to eat 3 times a day plus dessert (not really suffering there). Anyway, I tried to call the pdoc, but she's evidently not in the office today. Who knows, maybe Rosh shashona or however that's spelled. I saw my GP's NP today and she's ordered blood labs.

Maybe because it's been gradual it isn't my meds but a metabolic issue. I have no idea. All I know is that my thyroid levels have been normal since spring, so I can't blame it on that. I'm on a supplement to combat hypothyroidism but my readings are coming up in normal range, not hyper, which would lead to weight loss.

None of the meds that are likely to cause weight gain have ever done so in me, and I've been on one thing or another since summer of '08. I exercise 45 minutes a day, but it's just light walking.

Anyone have any tips about how to gain weight when you feel full almost instantly after you eat anything or have no appetite to begin with?

I just thought to take some iodine and I did. Maybe if I take that regularly?

Any help is welcome. Thanks.

[PT52]

Once you rule out any physical causes, you'll have a better idea of where to go from there. It could be that it's not metabolic or your meds - it could be any number of things.

[thinker22]

A tapeworm? Now I'm thinking about that episode of House with the girl with the vitamin B deficiency. Gross. You'd have to see it.

[PT52]

I was actually thinking worse, but I didn't want to say it out loud. A tapeworm sounds kinda cool, tho ...kidding, kidding..so why is it we love shows like House? Is it because the character seems to be worse off than we are? I like United States of Tara, too...

[sick]

hey really call her GP okay you need to find out why it could by your diabetic but you need to go to doctor who will run blood test ect to find the cause of wt loss Do it now okay really it important don't play around with stuff like iodine when it could be something that if not treated properly could be hemoglobin is too low but only GP can help you find answer

[dj586858]

Originally Posted by thinker22

A tapeworm? Now I'm thinking about that episode of House with the girl with the vitamin B deficiency. Gross. You'd have to see it.

Loved that House. Cool.

[PT52]

Maybe we should start a thread - "what are your favorite TV shows?" and see if there's a pattern?

[owllover99]

House is definitely my favorite show. I hardly watch anything else. Maybe How it's Made or something with Classic Rock music. House it IT.

[thinker22]

Haha. Thanks everyone for your replies. House rocks! I'm a total addict. Got my blood drawn this morning. Have to run off to work now. Will check back in again when I get home.

[owllover99]

I really hope they find out what is going on with you. Me, unless I'm on weight watchers (now I can't because of my mouth) I end up fat. It's been a lifelong battle.
But losing too much weight and not knowing why is I would expect worse. Good luck, dear. Hugs, Owl.

[thinker22]

My bosses came home early, so I only had 2 hours of work today. I'm back. Trying not to squander my day on video games. Should find out results of blood test by the end of today or on Monday. I wonder if my mood being so good is related to the weight loss/lack of appetite. Maybe Cymbalta is what's making my gradual weight loss more acute in the past month and a half. I'm not changing it though because we finally found a combo that works. Talked w/the pdoc about that this morning. She says the only one that could cause weight loss I'm on is Geodon. But I've been on that since December. So I suggested that maybe they should just give me a pill that will increase my appetite to counteract that.

All speculation until I get blood test results. I don't think I have cancer or anything because I had a blood workup in early July and everything was normal.

Thanks for your thoughts. D

[PT52]

I have a theory about weight loss, but I'm pretty sure it's not backed up by science...you have to ask yourself, when you lose weight, where does it go? I mean, here's this physical thing and just like that it vanishes...so here's the theory part: I think I know where it goes - it goes right on my butt! So glad you're feeling better, thinker, and positive vibes coming your way on the results of the blood test. Are you still giving odds on the tapeworm theory?

[bridgie]

Are you nauseous or just not hungry? Due to my meds I have to take anti nausea or I don't eat. Its slowly gotten better but I lost a lot of weight in a short period but I cldnt eat or really drink anything. All blood work was normal. I blamed meds and pdoc said it wasn't so I went thru test after test even ct scan and upper gi biopsy. Nothing. So finally attributed it to meds. With anti nausea meds I can eat and have gained some weight back. I want to go back the other way lol. Oh well.anyway I hope you get it all worked out. Can be frustrating and you want to be healthy

[thinker22]

I do get nauseous if I try to eat more than my stomach wants to allow. Since taking a liquid supplement of iodine, I've noticed my appetite has increased. My weight hasn't though. I still kind of pick at my meal food, but I feel like snacking now in between meals and I do it. PT52 - if I have a ginormous tapeworm, I think I'll get a giant aquarium and keep him there...the poor thing is just trying to live his life, albeit parasitically. He's almost a member of the family by now. I can sprinkle in my usual fare: cookies and ice cream and veggies and non-animal protein of some type. That way he won't feel so lonesome.

[vjdragonfly]

Have you got your results back yet? Hoping they figure out what is going on with you. Although I envy that you can lose weight without even trying. Sorry if that is not acceptable. I'm just tired of being so overweight no matter what I do it doesn't go away. On the upside I also like House, one of my favorite shows.

[thinker22]

House is awesome. What can I say. He's my most favorite created character on TV of all time. MacGuyver was pretty cool too, but no one can match House. Hugh Laurie didn't get the Emmy this year, but he should have. His going into detox and to the psychiatric hospital alone should have clenched it, but the rest of season 6 was awesome too. I figure they just wanted to recognize one of the newer shows Mad Men...but I can't stand the premise of that show.

I talked to the Dr's office on Friday. They said they will have the results on Monday. I just checked my weight journal, which I started in January of '09 and discovered that the weigh drop from 110 to 100 started around the same time my manic episode ended and not long after I started Geodon. The last 2 pounds were shed after I started Cymbalta. So I figure it is meds related and the blood test will come back normal. I just need something that will make me feel less full and more hungry. I need to get the calories into my body one way or another because I'm not going to fall below 100. Then I would consider myself anorexic. That would be very depressing if I had that label along with bipolar and PTSD.

[BNLsMOM]

Here is a prescription for you: One ice cream sundae each night while watching House.

I love that show.

Seriously, I hope you get some answers soon.

[PT52]

I like the ice cream diet!

[Amazonmom]

I love dr house! Although the episode where he spiked Wilson's coffee with amphetamines looked more like manic me than House's manic roomie at the psych hospital did. Wilson looked just like me in my Pnurse's office on diagnosis day LOL

I hope you get the weight thing under control because it bothers you. And you need to be healthy.

[thinker22]

That episode was hilarious! I love it when they play pranks on each other. Can't wait to see the season opener on the 20th. He and Cuddy together at last. Can't imagine how they're going to get along though. Or maybe they'll be horribly cute and sacchariney and drive everyone crazy. It's hard to believe that Cuddy forgave him for what he blurted out at the end of season 5. But he was hallucinating on his meds. Okay, okay, I'll stop. My partner says I'm addicted to the show because I'll watch repeats where I forget what the diagnosis was.

I have a scoop of vanilla ice cream each night with either cake, or part of a cookie, or something sweet like berries. My mom knows now about my weight loss and said I should put my oat bran muffin in a bowl and pour half-and-half over it and eat it like cereal. That actually sounds kind of good. We only have soy milk and creamer though. Will have to try it out on Tuesday. I ate eggs for breakfast this morning instead of just a croissant or a muffin. Mom's doing. I wish she didn't worry so much.

[PT52]

You know what else is yummy? Blueberries with heavy cream and sugar. Mmmmmm

[thinker22]

Definitely yummy. I was 101.8 this morning, so I've gained about a pound. Let's hope it sticks with me.

[PT52]

Yay! Keep it up!!

[thinker22]

Thanks PT52. They were supposed to give me the blood test results today and I even called them after I got home from work. They took my number and said they would call me back. They haven't. Oh well, I guess no news is good news. Will have to wait until tomorrow. I'm probably obsessing, but I think thoughts like "I'm fat" all the time. I'm worried I am somewhat anorexic, but it's not that I'm starving myself...I just have a low appetite and I adjust accordingly. I know I'm not fat. In fact I'm skinny, but now my mind is thinking negative thoughts about my body. I never used to obsess about my weight until I started losing so much. Now I check the scale twice a day. I know I should gain weight and get back to between 110-115 so at least more of my clothes would fit me again, but I secretly fear gaining weight. It's like the weight loss triggered this whole other part of me that never used to care if I was 135 or whatever, but now it's hyperactive and disappointed if I gain a pound back.

[bridgie]

i dont know if you are able to get carnation instant breakfast packets, but drinking that once or twice a day actually adds good calories. when a friend of mine was going through chemo they told her to drink that to gain weight, also told her snickers candy bars. i think the main thing is to be healthy. and not focus too much on the numbers game.