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Anyone else experience Weight Gain with long COVID?

Posted by RMS @rinadbq, Oct 8, 2021

I have had ~30 pound weight gain since November 2020 when I initially had COVID. It seems disproportionate to my calorie intake. Any one else with this?

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terrielynnav | @terrielynnav | Jan 17, 2023
In reply to @melsuek "I have had the same problem. I put on 40+ pounds in about two months after..." + (show)
@melsuek

I have had the same problem. I put on 40+ pounds in about two months after I got Covid back in early March 2020. I was not eating much, as I was feeling so bad, so I was very confused by the extreme amount of weight I gained.

I have a lot of Long Covid issues but this is the one that is the most depressing. I have worked with a nutritionist for over a year as well as with two different doctors. Nothing is helping.

I did some mitochondrial testing and got some “extremely low” results in a few areas. We’re not sure if it’s related or not.

I’m in a support group for Long Covid people who got sick in March - April 2020 - well before Long Covid was being discussed. There are many, many threads/posts about this very issue. Sadly, no one seems to have a solution or been able to take off the weight that I’ve heard of. It’s interesting that in the same group there is also a group of people with the opposite problem- they lost a tremendous amount of weight and can’t seem to put it back on. They are also alarmed and frustrated.

I can’t even bring myself to get back on the scale, as it’s too depressing. I had to get all new clothes and give away most of my old clothes since nothing fit. It’s been almost three years since this happened. I fear I will never be able to rid myself of these extra pounds.
-Hopeless in Seattle

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But my sons gain is entirely fluid gain not fat. Until he was on diuretics non of the weight would come off no matter how much change he made to his diet.

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kathysahu | @kathysahu | Jan 18, 2023

I've gained at least 25 lbs since the second time I had covid, which was the 1st week of November 2022. It is making me crazy because I'm not doing anything different.

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kathysahu | @kathysahu | Jan 18, 2023
In reply to @rmfe "2 years post covid and with long haul symptoms I have suddenly gained 21 pounds -..." + (show)
@rmfe

2 years post covid and with long haul symptoms I have suddenly gained 21 pounds - Dr's have no idea of what triggered this and I have been on lasix to loose the " water weight gain". I am an active very fit 61 year old male. has anyone else had similar issues

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Unfortunately yes, but my weight gain has been over the past 6 months. I had covid in July and then again in Nov 2022. I'm not doing anything different.

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billie6977 | @billie6977 | Jan 19, 2023

See for me I'm totally the opposite I think I have lost a total of 62 lb since the beginning of November I know in the past 6 weeks I have lost a total of 44 lb

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baci | @baci | Jan 20, 2023
In reply to @melsuek "I have had the same problem. I put on 40+ pounds in about two months after..." + (show)
@melsuek

I have had the same problem. I put on 40+ pounds in about two months after I got Covid back in early March 2020. I was not eating much, as I was feeling so bad, so I was very confused by the extreme amount of weight I gained.

I have a lot of Long Covid issues but this is the one that is the most depressing. I have worked with a nutritionist for over a year as well as with two different doctors. Nothing is helping.

I did some mitochondrial testing and got some “extremely low” results in a few areas. We’re not sure if it’s related or not.

I’m in a support group for Long Covid people who got sick in March - April 2020 - well before Long Covid was being discussed. There are many, many threads/posts about this very issue. Sadly, no one seems to have a solution or been able to take off the weight that I’ve heard of. It’s interesting that in the same group there is also a group of people with the opposite problem- they lost a tremendous amount of weight and can’t seem to put it back on. They are also alarmed and frustrated.

I can’t even bring myself to get back on the scale, as it’s too depressing. I had to get all new clothes and give away most of my old clothes since nothing fit. It’s been almost three years since this happened. I fear I will never be able to rid myself of these extra pounds.
-Hopeless in Seattle

Jump to this post

I am so sorry to hear of the frustration that you are experiencing. I too have gained 2 sizes and had to get new clothes. I finally bought jeans that fit- I was deathly afraid of finding out my new size. Once I overcame this hurdle- I felt more empowered- I tell myself this weight is not forever, long covid is not forever and we will thrive again as people. There is hope, even on the gloomiest of days. I am far from positive all the time and go though times of depression, but as long as we are fighting- things will get better. I believe no pain- physical, emotional or both, is wasted. I hope you fell better- you are not alone. Sending hope your way.

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karel | @karel | Jan 21, 2023

i had covid 2times in 90 days. The first time not much appetite, but this last variant even though I had no taste no smell for 3 weeks, my appetite for sweets was horrendous. I gained 7 pounds.

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butterfield | @butterfield | Jan 29, 2023

My husband and I got the delta variant of covid in 2021. My husband and I both were taken to the hospital. He suffered multiple strokes because covid formed a blood clot that burst and hit the front, left, and back of his brain. I could not stay awake but since I did not need oxygen they discharged me after 4 hours. I was taken home and quarantined. I was told about my husband the next day. I could do nothing but pray. He did recover and had to retire from his job after 53 years. Three months after healing from covid my hair began to come out. I was told by my doctor this was a side effect of the virus,it causes your hair to go into the "shedding" phase. I thought I was going to loose all my hair, it was depressing. Two years have passed & my husband and I both have suppressed appetites, brain fogs, and I gained 23 pounds in 5 months. Doctors tell me my blood work is normal, and can't explain it. Covid changes things in a persons body. So much more research needs to be done to determine exactly what covid does to the human system. Our smell, taste, appetite , neurological, and body has been changed, and the medical community cannot explain it. I hope more research is done on the long term effects and why it effects the human body like it does. Blood work looks good so maybe the research should be looking at in the DNA of the body, or on a cellular level. Not knowing how it was created, I think puts us at a disadvantage. It is depressing to think the medical community may never figure out what this virus really did to us in order to help us get back to normal.

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1 reply
cheryl12 | @cheryl12 | Jan 30, 2023
In reply to @butterfield "My husband and I got the delta variant of covid in 2021. My husband and I..." + (show)
@butterfield

My husband and I got the delta variant of covid in 2021. My husband and I both were taken to the hospital. He suffered multiple strokes because covid formed a blood clot that burst and hit the front, left, and back of his brain. I could not stay awake but since I did not need oxygen they discharged me after 4 hours. I was taken home and quarantined. I was told about my husband the next day. I could do nothing but pray. He did recover and had to retire from his job after 53 years. Three months after healing from covid my hair began to come out. I was told by my doctor this was a side effect of the virus,it causes your hair to go into the "shedding" phase. I thought I was going to loose all my hair, it was depressing. Two years have passed & my husband and I both have suppressed appetites, brain fogs, and I gained 23 pounds in 5 months. Doctors tell me my blood work is normal, and can't explain it. Covid changes things in a persons body. So much more research needs to be done to determine exactly what covid does to the human system. Our smell, taste, appetite , neurological, and body has been changed, and the medical community cannot explain it. I hope more research is done on the long term effects and why it effects the human body like it does. Blood work looks good so maybe the research should be looking at in the DNA of the body, or on a cellular level. Not knowing how it was created, I think puts us at a disadvantage. It is depressing to think the medical community may never figure out what this virus really did to us in order to help us get back to normal.

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Have your thyroid checked not test 1 but ask for test 2 my hubby found out he now has thyroid disease and must get blood work for the rest of his life ! He’s a long hauler too! My hair started falling out too!! Many people have ended up in psych wards because of it !!
You are not alone !

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1 reply
christine8 | @christine8 | Jan 31, 2023

I’m so sorry you are struggling with this- it’s definitely incredibly frustrating. I used to benefit from exercise to help manage my weight. Now, exercise intolerance, from Covid induced POTS, makes it difficult to exercise. It’s a vicious cycle that doesn’t seem to have an end.
I am wishing you all the best in your journey.

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tblackrinse1 | @tblackrinse1 | Jan 31, 2023

YES!!! I've gain 35lbs and this is soo crazy 😧😔. My COVID doctor signed me up to join the Living Well Center at Washington University Clinic. I start there weight class 02/08/2023

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