Is it possible to gain weight if you have Crohns? How?

[qeq6uv38]

Has anyone gained weight while having Crohns? I'm 5'12'' and never been more than 45kg (~99 pounds).

My doctor says that some people are always lean no matter what they do, and can't gain weight, and I probably am one such.

I tried protien-rich food (nuts and such), but that worsens my Crohn's pain. Doctor advises against eating fibre-rich stuff and avoiding lactose. And I don't eat eggs or meat.

Was any of you in a similar state but managed to gain weight enough to look "normal"? I'm in remission now, and want to experiment a bit.

 

[Clash]

Some times due to active inflammation or scar tissue from past inflammation therected can be malabsorption issues.

So nutrients need to be in more digestible form. You can opt for nutritional shakes as supplemental nutrition. Eat your regular calorie rich diet and add in the nutritional shakes. The can create solid weight gain. If the disease isn't active then even when you come off the shakes the weight will remain.

My son did this for being at failure to thrive and having upcoming surgery. So he chose an ng tube instead of drinking say otc brands like boost. He put the nasogastric tube in the evening and took it out the next morning. He did this for maybe right at 3 months and gained over 25 lbs. Since his was due to active inflammation when he stopped the regimen he reverted back to near original weight.

Tesscorm has a son in college who has been doing this (first like my son then just drinking boost and ensure) for a few years. Hopefully tagging her will bring her along. But he has had great results, especially since he is in remission. He holds on the the weight and is involved in athletics so that helps as well.

 

[pb]

I have gained and lost weight while flaring (a flare for 23 yrs straight) I didn't eat properly, 3 meals a day, I'd eat one big meal for the most part and then snack in the evenings and the first part of the day have flavored coffee, at one point I didn't even have BM's after 2 pm but that only lasted for about a year, my flare went through many changes since I became sick 25 yrs ago this spring but never once did I go into any kind of remission until 2014 when I went on Humira....but I also developed IBS about 12 years into already flaring and having crohn's.

I also developed lactose intolerance in my mid 30's so it's safe to say that I'm doomed to have a lot of crap in my life for the rest of my life...crap-curses for sure.

Right now I still go on average, 5 times/day but my IBS is more on the constipated side so I often struggle to pass my bm's yet it happens way too frequently each day, I'm scared I'm gonna end up with either a rectal or vaginal prolapse from all the pushing I usually have to do that many times a day and some days even more (especially during "that time of the month") so it can be hard to pin-point many things and 100% be able to direct it to something specific causing my issues, especially when I found out that being lactose intolerance can cause either D or C.

But as far as the weight thing goes, I couldn't tell you what I did specifically when I gained weight or when ever I've lost weight, it's fluctuated a few times over the years but the best thing to do is just eat as healthy as you can having your biggest meal of the day start with breakfast and getting smaller by supper time, if you stay on track with eating this way then eventually your weight should work itself out but keep in mind that a lot has to do with your metabolism and how it's working which may have very little or nothing to do with even having an IBD.

 

[EvieBaby]

I gained a lot of weight when I was first diagnosed and was on and off steroids for a long time. Losing weight has always been difficult for me so I've struggled to get any of it off. I'm not sure if there is something underlying because I did slimming world and weight watchers for months and lost a few pounds the first couple of weeks and put it all back on even though I stuck to it ridgedly.

 

[HorseAngel]

I am 34, always less than 110lbs until last year. I had been hospitalized for flare, did the feeding tube came home and gained 50lbs in 3 months which will never go away and I hate it. Malabsorption issues with ibd is normal. Unfortunately for me it caused weight gain when the hospital corrected the malabsorption as my body thought I had been starving it all these years and now is hanging onto anything it can. You may never be able to achieve weight gain. I know most people can't. Hysterectomy or menopause can change that though

 

[Tesscorm]

Hi qeq6uv38

My son has had good success using nutritional formulas for weight gain. He used an NG tube nightly (inserted before bed, removed in the morning) for two years. When diagnosed, his treatment was exclusive enteral nutrition (EN) (formula only), using an ng tube. He took in 3000 calories per night and no food during day for six weeks. After the six weeks, supplemental EN was his maintenance treatment and ingested 1500 calories each night and ate a regular diet during the day. This was his treatment for two years. Eventually, he needed to add remicade to eliminate all inflammation. Since adding remicade (and going away to university), he discontinued using the ng tube and now drinks one to two Boost shakes each day (250-500 calories).

Before getting sick, he was 145 lbs, 5'10". While flaring, pre-diagnosis, he dropped to 120 bls. In the last four years, he has steadily gained (and held) weight to now 180 lbs, and almost 6'.

Not sure if Boost is lactose free but there are a number of formulas available. Also, if you have any malabsorption issues, it might be helpful if you use a semi-elemental formula such as Peptamin (Boost and Ensure are polymeric and not as easily absorbed).

I'm sure you've tried this but you can also add high calorie foods to your diet, ie avocados, peanut butter, cooking in coconut oil (which also has anti-inflammatory properties), etc.

Good luck!

 

[qeq6uv38]

Thanks everyone I'll try some nutritional drinks and see if they help.
Will post an update in a month or two.