Over-weight with Crohn's?

[JenniferH]

I was just wondering if there was anyone else out there who has Crohn's and is overweight?! Here's a bit of my story...
I was first diagnosed when I was 15 (21 years ago!) I was very underweight. Over the next few years I was on high doses of steroids, in and out of hospital, and eventually had my first bowel resection.
Well, as per expected, I gained weight with the steroids, actually, I gained a lot of weight, but once I was feeling better I lost it all and was back to 'normal'.

The next 15 years, besides having a few blips where I was on steroids for short bursts, I was generally well and a 'normal' weight.

Then, about 4 years ago I started putting on weight. Despite exercising, dieting etc, it kept piling on. For the past year, eighteen months, I've been feeling 'under the weather' and have been suffering from bloating(I can look nine months pregnant at times) and also suffer from terrible constipation. I wan't eating properly, had lack of appetite yet still I didn't lose weight. I totally didn't think it was my Crohn's because 'Crohn's people are thin, right?'.

Then, last November, the pain started. It got so bad that I collapsed at work and ended up in hospital for a month where, after many scans, xrays, etc, they discovered I had an obstruction and my small intestine was riddled with Crohn's. I was put on steroids, started on infliximab and was on a drip, so no food at all for 3 weeks (after which i started on a low residue, low fat diet). Thankfully the meds cleared up most of my crohn's, and I had a bowel resection in March to remove the one stricture.

Now, one would think, that after all that, I'd be stick thin. But NO. I've lost a few pounds here and there, but not enough!! It's crazy. And it's getting me really down. Not only am I depressed over having to deal with Crohn's, but i also feel very embarrassed and uncomfortable in my body. I'm now weigh the same as I did when I was 9 months pregnant with my first child!!

Has anyone else experienced this? It's realy getting me down.

 

[can1991]

Hi Jennifer! Yes I wish I could lose weight also. I lost alot when I first flared, but now have put on a fair bit. I have not been able to exercise due to fistulas, joint pain and swelling. I also started a new job where I sit at a desk all day. The more I think about it, the more discouraged I get. I guess I need to start small.... I was able to go for a walk with my husband tonight. I know I could lose if I could cut out carbs, but I avoid raw vegies, whole grains and healthy food. What else is there to eat? Uggg!!!

I understand what your saying!!

 

[Silvermoon]

I, too, tend to be on the "cuddly" side... lol

When I was diagnosed at the age of 11, I went from grossly overweight to grossly underweight. Obesity has always been on my father's side of the family, so I am not sure if it is genetic or not. Even in college, though, after living on coffee and cigs (I know... BAD SILVERMOON!!), I still tended to be on the chunky side. Not only is the weight depressing, but the other thing I tend to find hard to deal with is, people look at me and say "Well, you don't look sick..." And how do you go out and exercise to keep your weight under control when you have to run to the bathroom everytime you do a stretch!?!? lol

I do, definitely hear what you are saying, though.... *hugs*

I do, wonder though (sorry, the nurse in me coming out... :redface: ....) CD affects MANY things in our body... has anyone checked out your thyroid lately? Fairly easy blood test....

 

[Entchen]

Yeah, I'm a member of the Chubby Crohnies Club, too. I've been gaining weight steadily since the very first sign of symptoms about 18 months ago. And I'm so hungry! It seems to be indigestion that feels like hunger - but that doesn't help when I wake up in the middle of the night and can't sleep again until I eat something. I was at a healthy weight before -- not skinny, but healthy and I looked good. Now I hate having my picture taken and I wore jeans and a shirt with sleeves today even though it was 27 degrees outside. I wasn't able to exercise for about 6 months (too sick), but now I'm able to go cycling and walking most days (as long as I avoid fruit and veg!), although I don't think I can handle my regular summer activity - tennis - yet. I haven't lost a single pound in months, mind you, despite picking up the activity level again. I guess I shouldn't be surprised, considering the total lack of fibre in my diet.

 

[JenniferH]

I am so glad I'm not the only one!! I too have people telling me that I don't 'look sick' or 'look like' I have Crohn's (What exactly is a person with Crohn's suppose to look like??).
Silvermoon - I have had my thyroid checked a few times because I've even baffled my dr with the weight gain!
I'm normally extremely active (when I'm not sick) and dance, horseride and go to the gym, but obviously that has slowed down while I've not been well. I'm like you Kelly, I get SO hungry sometimes!! I can't 'just grab fruit or a salad' which would be the 'right' thing to do because I'll be in pain and on the loo, so I tend to have a bowl of cereal which seems to fill me up.
I did wonder if the weight gain could be down to a wheat intolerance. When I had my resection in March, the biopsy report questioned whether I had coeliac disease. My Dr. didn't seem too interested in that, saying it was more important to get Crohn's under control and as I hadn't ever specifically complained about dicomfort after eating gluten, then I shouldn't worry about it. Hmmmm. I AM worried about it. I'm already on a restricted diet and cutting out gluten is really going to limit me, but I'd do it if i thought it would make a difference. I'm still really tired and sluggish a lot of the time. I wonder if it's wirth putting myself on a gluten free diet for a month or so to see if i feel any better?

 

[Astra]

Hi Girls

just a different slant here based on my experience of being overweight for many years, huge preggers belly. I went down the gynae route before the gastro route, turns out I had a huge fibroadenoma on an ovary, which was making the whole of my abdo distend and look swollen, as a result I had a total hysterectomy and my belly went down, not completely, but I didn't look pregnant!
Not suggesting for a minute that you have that done, even tho it's the best thing I've ever done in that it reduced my Crohns, but it's something to consider for all ladies, especially ones with monthly cramps, heavy bleeding, PMS, cos it might be endometriosis which defo aggravates Crohns, as they all 'glue' together exacerbating symptoms, my endos were stuck to my bowels and bladder.
xxxxx

 

[Jennifer]

Look into what the causes might be but if you come back being perfectly fine and there isn't some underlying issue then you'll have to accept the fact that even though we have crohn's disease, we still have all the normal problems that everyone else does such as weight gain when we get older. Lack of exercise and not counting calories leads to weight gain. Crohns patients aren't automatically thin so you have to watch what you eat and how much and do regular physical activity in order to lose weight just like everyone else. A general rule of thumb is to burn more calories than you consume if you want to lose weight. And since we're all getting older, we need to accept the fact that it's going to take longer to lose the weight than it would when we were in our teens. So be patient and stick with whatever program you create for yourself.

 

[Arin B]

Hi Ladies!
I too, have really struggled with this over the last year and a half. My weight has fluctuated 25 pounds over the last 9 months, and it can be maddening. There are 2 things that have really, really helped me:

The first thing is a book by Dr. Mark Hyman, called "The Ultramind Solution". I highly recommend it. Jennifer, it sounds like you've done all that you know to do to loose the weight naturally... and it sounds like there may be a biological reason you can't loose the weight. This book addresses those issues by looking at balancing 7 Key Systems (including hormone levels, food allergies, prescription meds, diet, sleep etc). It's been life changing for me... and as a last resort, this doctor will see you (his office is in Massachusetts, US) and do the testing on an individual basis. I like that it is common-sense based, and emphasizes the importance of cutting out preservatives, refined sugar and environmental toxins to loose weight and increase brain function.

You've mentioned food allergies and according to this doctor there is a big connection between weight gain and food allergies. Kinda makes sense, doesnt it?


THe other thing that has helped me dramatically is changing my lifestyle so that I take the time to cook everything. I pack my self a day's worth of Arin-friendly snacks and meals for the day. If it's not in my "food bag (which is thermal, btw)", I don't eat it (most of the time It takes some getting used to, but it's actually kinda fun.... And nothing tastes better than normal BMs and fitting into my skinny jeans.


I feel for you! With the positive and hard working attitude that you have, I KNOW you can loose the weight. Check out Dr. Hyman.

 

[JenniferH]

Thanks girls. Arin, I'll def have a look for that book on amazon!
Crabbyrelish - It certainly does take longer to lose the weight as you get older!! I sometimes feel ok about it knowing that I'm eating the right things (I love cooking and enjoy healthy food) and I've started taking the dog for long brisk walks again since my surgery (poor dog doesn't know what's hit him!!) But it gets me down when i catch a glimpse of myself in a mirror and i see a person that i don't really recognise or I go to put on a pair of jeans that fit me a week ago and now I can't get them to do up! It just seems a little unfair. I will give it time, and hopefully when i start feeling better again, the weight should start coming off.

Confession time! I'm still on a low residue diet since my op and last flare up and have been really trying to limit myself to 2 portions of fruit or veg a day. Well, tomight, I just couldn't help it. I made myself a gorgeous salad with lettuce, tomato, avocado and cucumber. mmmm Think i might regret it later, but it had to be done!!

 

[Entchen]

THe other thing that has helped me dramatically is changing my lifestyle so that I take the time to cook everything. I pack my self a day's worth of Arin-friendly snacks and meals for the day.

This point made me remember conversations that I recently had with a nutritionist. First I should say that you have made an excellent point and I'm in full agreement. Lots of people here on CF seem to lead very healthy food lifestyles and do much of their own cooking, and I believe it helps, having that high level of control over what goes into your own system.

The advice from you that I especially like is the idea of setting aside a pre-planned amount of food to eat, and not deviating from that. I've been letting that slide since the endless hunger set in and one serving of supper became...let's just say more than one serving!

So, anyway, the nutritionist: I wanted to work with her on finding a way to eat well during the times when fruit and veg cause terrible pain. But, we just couldn't communicate well, because her standard routine for advice-giving to was irrelevant for someone who prepares most of her meals from scratch.

First she told me not to eat French onion soup because it's unhealthy. I wondered what was unhealthy about a beautiful onion caramelized to perfection, vegetable soup stock, and a tiny amount of high quality extra old cheddar. She thought I was buying canned stuff (hello, sodium) and piling on cheap cheese.

Then came the pamphlet about which fast food options are better than others. I abstained from all fast food for nearly a decade and now allow myself one fast food hamburger a year. So, also not useful advice for my situation (and I tried to explain that to her, I really did!).

Then advice on which breads to buy. I make my own and add a variety of grains according to what I think my stomach can handle. (Today, I have a loaf of sourdough in preparation.)

Mind you, she also recommended a super high fibre diet -- when I emphasized that all fibre, whether soluble or insoluble, is causing dramatic levels of pain right now -- so our working relationship ended pretty quickly. I'm more or less an obedient Kelly, but this was not a recommendation that I could follow. But she wouldn't accept that 7 servings of fruit and veg plus a heaping serving of flax and some quinoa would cause agony like nothing else, and that my goal for right now wasn't getting my system used to fibre (I ate a high fibre diet pre-Crohn's, thankyouverymuch), it was finding a way to get through the tough times. My typical eating habits aren't a problem. Healthy foods help provide the energy needed to lead an active lifestyle. It's what to do when all the good stuff (salad, etc.) has to be thrown out the window that I wanted help with.

*sighs*

 

[Rob]

Well ladies your not alone

I'm a BIG crohnie too, possibly the biggest on cf

it sux as everyone looks at you like - "nothin wrong with you??!!"

I'm on a low residue low fibre diet too , tried low fat to but if you cut that out of a low residue low fibre diet your virtually left with water lol

it gets me down at times yea but the way I see it is, once I'm in remission an the pain etc leaves then I can Join a gym an hopefully get a half respectable body lol

I'm currently blaming the pred lol

 

[belle1999]

I, too, am an overweight crohnie. I have struggled with weight problems since I was a child. When I was first diagnosed with Crohn's, I had lost 20 lbs. very rapidly. Since then, it has come back with a vengeance. It is hard to be motivated to exercise when I have fatigue. I just keep hoping that the fatigue lessens and I can begin moving more.

 

[JenniferH]

It IS hard to exercise when you're feeling tired or unwell! And it's hard to eat the right things when most of the foods good for us cause pain and/or diarrhoea. I feel like I'm trying to make excuses for my weight, but I'm really not. I just feel a bit sorry for myself at the mo. I'll get over it!

 

[belle1999]

Jennifer, I am right there with you!