Weight loss and lupus?

[Spriggy]

I already posted a bit of my history on another thread but was curious about other's here.

When you first got diagnosed with Lupus, did you notice a big weight loss?

I have lost 15% of my body weight since Christmas (and I was small to begin with). My doctor is getting pretty concerned about this.

My friend from church with Lupus had the opposite happen to her- she gained 30 pounds when first diagnosed with Lupus.

This puzzles me. What would cause such a rapid weight loss?? My doctor even seems boggled by it, he is wanting to send me on to some infectious disease doctor.

This is just so weird.

[alobreto]

Hi, Spriggy! ;)
I'm not a lupus specialist, but from what I've read, I think MOST of the weight changes that we experience after diagnosis are related to the medications we are prescribed. :unsure:

I'm sorry you're having such a problem with weight loss. Your doc seems to believe that it is not lupus related, or he wouldn't be sending you to an infectious disease specialist.
Best regards,
Angela :flowers:

[Spriggy]

Yeah, he seems to think there could be something else going on. He has mentioned Lyme's and autoimmune hepatitis.

This is just all so new to me, I was actually very healthy before all this!

[Lily]

Hi,

It won't hurt to get checked out for other possibilities as there are plenty, some of them serious.

Weight gain with Lupus can be due to many things, is your friend on Prednisone, is she unable to exercise etc. They could all be contributing factors to her weight gain, it's a common occurence. Some of it also depends on how your body reacts to stress and not least of all your metabolic make-up.

Like you I have never been big and if I get sick I lose weight easily. Enter Lupus into my life and I can flare and lose 5kgs in a matter of a week. Once I lost that in a couple of days! Needless to say my docs were quite alarmed and checked everything out coming to the conclusion that its how my body reacts to Lupus. For me now it's a warning sign, I lose weight, get mouth and nose ulcers,feel unbelievably drained and fatigued and then I flare. It's become a predictable pattern for me.

However it should never be taken lightly just as every ailment we get should be looked at and not assumed to be Lupus. Otherwise we may overlook something else that could possibly be going on in our body.

love
Lily

[here]

Lily gives good advice. Lupus is a very easy write-off for stuff. I mean, if you have a dx of sle it seems that almost anything could be blamed on it. Therefore, all lupies need to becareful not to overlook things that might not be related or might have a different source of cause.

My wieght goes up and down quite a lot and always has. It is not related to eating habits most of the time or exercise. I never know what will set it off. I do know, however, that if I start to gain weight it can becaused by my thryoid being out of whack. Also, if I take predisone, I am most certainly guaranteed to gain a lot of weight quick.

Likewise, if I am loosing, sometimes I think it can be related to my diabetes or my bowels. If my ISB is flaring up terrible or I am going through a stage where I can't keep food down, obviously it effects my wieght.

I had more trouble with weight lose in my younger years.. not sure why. Then after my daughter, I seem to have more trouble with the weight staying on and gaining.. mostly due to my thyroid.

I guess what I am trying to say is that there are lots of reasons for your body to go out of whack and it never hurts to have someone different take a look at the situation.

Before I saw my current rhemie, I also went to infectious disease specialist. It sounds pretty ominous, but it really is no big deal and doesn't hurt. You figure they probably see some of the most strangist cases, so if something different or odd is going on, maybe they can help.

Goodluck,

J :flowers:

[AnM]

Hey,

When i 1st got sick, before finally getting the Lupus diagnosis, I did lose weight. But, at that time I was also dxed. w/ Hepatitis- which was AIH/Lupiod Hepatitis.

So, it is always good to get checked out by other docs. I actually went to a Gastro. for that, n he n my rheumy wathced over it.

But, after that seemed to go, n around Lupus dx., i did lose a little weight. But, that wasn't for long. & since then, i gain weight- which I actually get as a Symptom from the Lupus.

So, if everything checks out; just so u know, though, in addition to what every1 has said- other than all that- Lupus itself does have a symptom of weight loss n weight gain.

I hope everything goes good. Keep us updated. Take care all my best,
Alicia :coffee: :flowers:

[Allerian]

I lose weight when I flare. Last fall I lost 12% of my body weight in 2 months. I've been flaring for the past 5-6 weeks or so and have lately been losing 2-5 lbs every 2 weeks or so despite being on 20mg of prednisone. I think I'm one of the rare ones who actually loses weight on prednisone!
Julia

[shopgirlsw]

I have lost almost 50lbs in about 2 and a half months, kidneys involved and all.

I never gave it much thought, but when I think back on the last ten years or more this weight gain and loss has been going on for me since the early 90s', but now with more symptoms than ever. And oh yeh my joints swell badly and the doctor does not want to give me anything to help that because my blood pressure is so low. And he is afraid to treat my pain, which I intend to discuss with my nephro on the 2nd. Good luck, and make the most of every GOOD day! :flowers:

[CTuit]

I lost quite a bit myself when I first started having problems and like you, I didn't have it too lose. Everytime I went to the doc my weight would have dropped. They've found no cause for it whatsoever. Thankfully it has finally leveled out after a year and a half. Think I even gained two pounds the last couple of months!

[TiggerBoo]

Hi! I lost loads of weight when first diagnosed. Mainly because I was on water tablets... Of course, I am now off water tablets and paying for my weight loss tremendously.

Caroline