How to manage weight while taking four antibiotics?

Posted by helen1000 @helen1000, Aug 12 7:18pm

I am taking amikacin and three other antibiotics for MAC for three weeks. So far no diarrhea or nausea, stools are well formed, but my weight keeps dropping every day. I am gluten intolerant and milk lactose intolerant, maybe allergic to flaxseed or chia seeds as well.
My dietitian gives me some plant based protein powder and nutrition formula,
1) KateFarms Standard sole source nutrition formula
2) Orgain Organic protein powder.

But I really don't like the taste, too artificial!! Plus I am not sure whether my guts can tolerate them. It looks like anything not natural is too complicated to my guts!

I was 141 one month ago but now only 135!! Any probiotics to increase weight? Do you have any other recommendations?

Thanks for any input!

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Here's a useful talk about nutrition and NTM by a nutritionist at NJH. She addresses weight loss and tips to put it on and keep it on. I do not remember if she mentioned those with diet restrictions.

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Thanks for sharing Scoop! It is a very comprehensive video with nutrition knowledge. One interesting comment I see is that dairy thickens mucus.
What I did not do right in the past week is that my diet is focused too much on fruit, veggies and legumes, I forgot to take animal protein. That may be the reason I lost weight quickly.
As a MAC patient, it is way more important to take protein than other stuff as we always have anemia.

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Years ago, my late husband had a stem cell transplant and developed an aversion to food. They told him “no free liquids” and small high calorie amounts frequently. No free liquids means every swallow had to have calories-no water or low cal fluid. He had to try to eat or sip every hour. It was surprisingly tough.

I lost 15 lbs during 2023 and am not on MAC treatment. My loss stopped spontaneously and appetite is normal again. Good luck to you!

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@pacathy

Years ago, my late husband had a stem cell transplant and developed an aversion to food. They told him “no free liquids” and small high calorie amounts frequently. No free liquids means every swallow had to have calories-no water or low cal fluid. He had to try to eat or sip every hour. It was surprisingly tough.

I lost 15 lbs during 2023 and am not on MAC treatment. My loss stopped spontaneously and appetite is normal again. Good luck to you!

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Yes Pacathy, that is a very useful advice. I am so happy for your progress and it is successful! I usually drink a lot of water and eat a lot of veggie and fruit as I am never a heavy eater for sugar, meat or fat. I think it is time to change my diet, I recently found honey increase glucose level so quickly. I have been on 90 for all my life and the most recent 3 weeks as I eat a lot of honey, it increases to 130!! Our body needs zero sugar!!!

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I am also gluten sensitive and lactose intolerant.
Being on a low fodmap diet for years, I decided to introduce bread in moderation. I dont eat dairy, too many problems for my IBS.
Eat 3 meals a day. Add butter to your eggs. Eating out puts weigh on. Swipe out water for juice. I get quessy so drink diluted ginger ale. I dilute juices too, find them too sweet.
Try to eat more food at your mealtime.
Good luck!

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@mariegrace

I am also gluten sensitive and lactose intolerant.
Being on a low fodmap diet for years, I decided to introduce bread in moderation. I dont eat dairy, too many problems for my IBS.
Eat 3 meals a day. Add butter to your eggs. Eating out puts weigh on. Swipe out water for juice. I get quessy so drink diluted ginger ale. I dilute juices too, find them too sweet.
Try to eat more food at your mealtime.
Good luck!

Jump to this post

Thanks for yourel reply. I think my body is actively fighting off bacteria so my weight dropped quickly. I do see my sputum became clear since this week! Don't panic! I told myself!!

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@mariegrace

I am also gluten sensitive and lactose intolerant.
Being on a low fodmap diet for years, I decided to introduce bread in moderation. I dont eat dairy, too many problems for my IBS.
Eat 3 meals a day. Add butter to your eggs. Eating out puts weigh on. Swipe out water for juice. I get quessy so drink diluted ginger ale. I dilute juices too, find them too sweet.
Try to eat more food at your mealtime.
Good luck!

Jump to this post

Butter has lactose too. Even some pribiotics contain lactose!

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@helen1000

Butter has lactose too. Even some pribiotics contain lactose!

Jump to this post

Boost very high calories is good too.

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@helen1000

Thanks for sharing Scoop! It is a very comprehensive video with nutrition knowledge. One interesting comment I see is that dairy thickens mucus.
What I did not do right in the past week is that my diet is focused too much on fruit, veggies and legumes, I forgot to take animal protein. That may be the reason I lost weight quickly.
As a MAC patient, it is way more important to take protein than other stuff as we always have anemia.

Jump to this post

I went off dairy per advice of ENT for 3 solid weeks and there was zero change in mucus production. It is probably another one of those things that is different for individuals and not a solid rule.

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@liz440

I went off dairy per advice of ENT for 3 solid weeks and there was zero change in mucus production. It is probably another one of those things that is different for individuals and not a solid rule.

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Yes I guess everyone us different. I find that natural food + brown rice do not give me any motivation to go to bathroom. But processed food do. I bought a lot if Fodmap snack and the more snack I eat, the more I need to go to bathroom. Natural or organic food is the key! Even those labeled organic processed food may not do much goodness!

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