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12528541 tn?1425788163

Lyme Antibiotics/Weight Gain

Hi,

I'm a 29 year old female diagnosed with chronic Lyme and Bartonella.  I was on a course of antibiotics for 9 months straight, with little improvement, until I began a new, much more tough regimen.  I'm currently on 3 antibiotics and 1 antifungal and a bunch of supplements (I don't wish to discuss people's opinions on my treatment, sorry, I am happy with it) and most of my symptoms have gone away.  I feel significantly better.  The problem is...

I CAN'T LOSE WEIGHT TO SAVE MY LIFE!

I see a Psychiatric Nurse Specialist who has spoken to me about how being on antibiotics can make it difficult to lose weight (ie- messes with the good bacteria in your gut, etc.), however, my MD Specialist is adamant that I can lose weight.  I have lost a few pounds, and I suppose if I cut my diet down to maybe.. 500 calories a day, I would lose a good amount of weight, but short of that, I have no big improvements.  I go to the gym every single day.  I eat decent, and I should be losing weight.

The thing that kills me is that I know if this was say.. maybe 3 years ago.. even 2.. and I had the exercise and diet regimen that I have now, I KNOW I would be roughly 50 lbs. lighter.  It is SO HARD for me to lose weight now, and I think it has to be the antibiotics.  

I'm just looking for any advice/support.  This has been a really tough time.  My boyfriend of 5 years broke up with me over my weight gain (about 60 lbs. over a year and a half), and I don't have much family.  We were supposed to be together and his family was essentially my family,  so it kills me that my inability to lose weight (amongst other things- but a large part has been the weight) has turned my life upside down.  I've had other casualties along the way, and despite it all, I'll keep fighting.

Just having a real struggle with weight while on antibiotics/supplements for Lyme and looking for any advice or support.  

Thanks very much.  I'm so alone right now that any response is welcome.  

JD
7 Responses
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Avatar universal
I understand what you are saying, that you want soothing words and kind encouragement, and that is a good thing to have, but imo without laying out the hard facts and problems in any medical situation (including Lyme and its co-infections), kind words without analysis and attempts to put together a useful game plan is not helpful in the long run.

"Hope you feel better" is nice, but "Here's what I'd do to get well" is ... preferable.

Since I gather you are looking more for support and encouragement, I will remember that and spare you my 'here's what I'd do' approaches.  Good luck!  Hope you feel better soon.
Helpful - 0
12528541 tn?1425788163
Well Jackie,

While I suppose there's some truth to any logical statement.  It's not particularly encouraging or supportive.  Everything does not have to be handled with kid gloves, per say, however, I think most in the community will turn towards the empathic side, rather than the critical side, when giving advice.  Sometimes it's not always easy to give advice, especially if it's advice that may be interpreted as harsh, but there's an eloquence in which one may/probably should (if they're striving to help, not hurt, that is) use linguistics.  

I understand what you were attempting to say, and I thank you for that.  I would, however, encourage you to be more empathic with others.  Most of us (perhaps you, included) feel terrible, and are looking for support.  So if you can't help someone, I'd encourage you not to try not to hurt them with your words.  Often times, people who are the most critical feel the worst about themselves (either inside, outside, or both).  Assuming this is the case, I wish you the best of luck, and hope that you can find kinder words in a supportive community.

Best,

JD
Helpful - 0
12528541 tn?1425788163
Thank you <3
Helpful - 0
12528541 tn?1425788163
Thanks.  I'm really going to try the diet... Sometimes it's just so hard because, as bad as it sounds, it feels like there's so little joy left in life, so to take away food seems like an enormous task.  I know I need to though.. sometimes I just feel like I'm already running on empty and the thought of doing additional things (that aren't fun) seems so overwhelming.  I'm trying though... Thanks again.
Helpful - 0
Avatar universal
It's difficult to discuss possible side effects of treatment if one is not willing to discuss the treatment.  Just sayin'.
Helpful - 0
Avatar universal
I know how you feel, I've also gained weight over the last year of lyme treatment. I walk on the treadmill for 30 a day, sweat in the sauna, have been on the lyme diet for 2 months but am still gaining. Doc says my thyroid is fine.
I bet you're right that the abx's are causing this. So there is hope- we get well, go off the meds, and watch the pounds melt!
Helpful - 0
1763947 tn?1334055319
Hi, you are not alone. Many Lymie's gain weight as in my case, because we become hypothyroid due to Lyme. Once this was found in me and I took thyroid medication I lost what I gained.

Many Lymies also follow a sugar free, dairy free and gluten free diet. I just started following this recently because those items cause major inflamation in the stomach. I was so uncomfortable that I actually lost too much weight. When I switched my diet (which I thought I would never do) my stomach felt much better.
Helpful - 0
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