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I'm eating. Why am I not gaining weight?
Here's what I learned today. COVID gave me a metabolic disorder. It likes to invade the small intestine, you see, where the nutrients from all the food you eat are absorbed, and the damage can take a long time to heal.
When I finally started to get better, I thought I was doing all the right things. I was eating the best of the healthy snacks throughout the day. Drinking kefir and electrolytes. My gut had been through such an ordeal, I was very conscientious about feeding myself well. So why was I still so thin and weak? Well, because it was too damaged to absorb all those nutrients. They were just passing through. That's why I needed the extra electrolytes. That's why I was still so underweight.
I've read that many of our symptoms may stem from this problem: dry itchy skin, troubles with eyes, hair loss, etc, including the racing heart I talked about earlier. Experts say that you can mend, but it takes time and attention to replace what all was killed off or damaged, and of course with COVID it's going to take longer.
Hope that's useful to someone. Next time I want to talk about this eating disorder it's given me that keeps recurring. It switches off my hunger periodically. I simply don't want food, don't care about food, don't feel hungry at all, sometimes up to 5 days, and I can't afford to lose more weight. I'm kind of mad about that.
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not having an appetite though I'm active DOES make me angry at times.Can't sit down to a normal dinner.I cook some meat and potatoes or something.By the time it's done...zero interest again.I'm getting better somewhat about it though.It's a challenge sometimes.6 years now LC...from 172 to 140 tops...not fun.Zinc might help you.And some B vitamins...LOTS of water.Everyday.God Bless...stay in there,things will change...
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1 Reaction'troubles with eyes,'...mine have been acting like they have a sheet of 'liquid' over em.I drink a lot of water.My eyes are okay....just this thing that happens periodically.Never had allergies before.This acts like one.It's not constant.But annoying..yes.Looks like I'm stoned out.And I'm working with the public eye to eye.Sheesh.lol.
This has been happening for a few years now.I've had my eyes checked.
Started taking lutein a while back.This isn't related to that pretty sure.This was happening before.
also started taking marine collagen and Chondroitin.
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1 ReactionHi, Marge.
Don't know if you're on any type of exercise program. But if you're not, I'd strongly recommend one... not just for appetite, and PD, but also for weight gain -- combined with a good diet and sufficient protein for muscle-building. Increased muscle mass is significantly important for PD, balance and avoiding falls... and muscles will put useful weight on you... while only fat gain is not functionally as useful.
Can you consult with a dietitian and and a personal trainer? May be a good idea.
Hope this helpful. Please let us know how you decide to proceed, and any future results. Thank you.
All the best!
/LarryG
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1 Reaction@larryg333
Well thank you, but mostly I've been too weak and shaky to do anything strenuous. I used to be fit, hiked my dog at least 3 miles a day, could lift 50lbs easily. Once I got sick, though, it was difficult to even walk short stretches. After 9 months I have good days and bad ones. Sometimes my muscles go weirdly weak and numb. Standing at work is not a problem, but exertion sometimes is. Still, I push and do what I am up for every day. For arm strength I've been doing easy pushups against the wall. I've also been eating wildflowers for the extra gut bacteria. Daisies are pretty tasty!