Big 3 and weight loss

Initially I lost my appetite and I wasn't understanding why. I started drinking tumeric and ginger tea with lemon,medicinal strength manuka honey, coconut oil and black pepper. I also started taking a probiotic with 12 strains/10 billion active cultures. Also includes a probiotic. The name of the product is Trunature. I also take liquid vitamins and a sublingual B12. I also take CBD oil. My appetite is much better.

Hi @extratiredalway I lost alot of weight also but mine was through anxiety as when I sorted the anxiety I started putting on weight again, with the help of Fortasip drinks from my gastro Dr, I have been on the big 3 for 4 yrs and now have more of a problem keeping the weight off unfortunatly. Take Care Heather

@heathert What aare fortasip drinks. I continue to loose weight and have very little appetite.

@erawl I am not on antibiotics and I am loosing weight. I'm 5'7" and weight 100 lbs. No appetite. I've tried counting calories but I cannot eat 3500 calories a day, which, I believe, is the number to gain a pound. I have trouble with dairy so eating pints of ice cream just makes me feel sick. Flib

@flib you get Fortisip, made by Nutricia, from your Dr (I am in NZ but hopefully you can get it), or you can buy them on amazon.) they are really yummy if you buy the ready made pottles (the make it your self powder is yuck) and just a small drink is a meal, they work wonders, I am usually 60kg(132lbs) but went down to 47kg(103lbs), it was awful, could not look at my self in the mirror I was so skinny. They have some milk protein in them but it diddnt affect me badly. Anxiety is what makes me drop weight , I am still on the meds but got my anxiety sorted and I am not dropping weight.. Good luck and let me know how you get on.

I was on the same for more than a year and also have Gerd. I lost no weight.

I was told that when we have bronchiectasis, just breathing causes us to burn more calories. So we need more calories to survive. I lost almost 30 pounds in the last year. I felt lousy and lost my appetite and my stomach shrunk. I'm at BMI 20 and make myself eat through the day. We need the reserves to help us through any exacerbation that may come. I had stopped dairy and sugar before this. Now I use coconut milk, coconut milk cheese, and coconut milk ice cream sweetened with stevia, and I've added back more poultry and some meat. I'm also eating some gluten-free pasta with alfredo sauce. And all of this just keeps me maintaining weight, not gaining. It takes 3500 excess calories to gain a pound. I wonder if my body is fully processing the food I eat. Good Luck and keep eating.

At first, after diagnosis of bronch, but before the big3, I was so sick that eating was nearly impossible. Now after losing 15 lb and 5 months on meds, I am healthier, but weight is still dropping a pound or more each month. I can do dairy, so my coffee is now 2/3 whole milk and 1/3 coffee. Smoothies with added protein and coconut cream are on the menu too. And I'm eating as much full-fat yogurt as I can stomach, but getting mighty sick of it. I don't tolerate wheat or nuts, so have to search hard for a snack/protein bar that is safe and palatable. Can't wait to be done with this! Also with probiotics and ginger tea my stomach feels better, just no appetite. Today I was pleased to manage a whole burger with fixings but no bun. Everything else, my husband wants to eat exactly as I do, and he cannot handle more weight.

I have been doing respiratory therapy for a little over a year now but have not had to deal with many illnesses, but my appetite is very variable and I have trouble holding onto my weight also. I do some of the same things you do to help, but it is challenging. Thanks for posting this as it helps me to understand this illness better.

@erawl, Hi there. I had a pseudomonas infection that caused me to lose 24 lbs rapidly. Once treated, the weight came back on. Either active infection or medications can cause weight loss. Add extra calories to your diet wherever you can.