Anyone else experience Weight Gain with long COVID?

I’d like to tell you I’ve been successful, but it would be a lie. Despite trying Weight Watcher’s which has always been my go to in the past the number on the scale won’t budge. I had my daughter try the scale cause I hoped it was broken😵‍💫I was diagnosed with lower extremity lymphedema 2 months after having Covid in September 2022. Even though I’m now controlling the swelling in my feet and legs, the scale won’t move. Tried the Lymphedema diet. No gluten, no sugar, no white rice or potatoes, but no weight loss🤨🤔😞I am sticking with it though cause it’s healthy and it has eliminated the bloating feeling I was having after meals.
Thursday I am going for a consult at UF Integrative Medicine. They have a Post Covid Recovery Group. I’ve been waiting nine months for this appointment. I’m struggling with being out of breath on walking across a parking lot or slight exertion. I had applied to the Mayo Post Covid Recovery Group and got accepted verbally until they told me to bring my positive PCR test results from when I was tested for Covid. I told them I used the free government tests and didn’t use a PCR test, so I was referred to UF. Praying for some answers and suggestions on Thursday. I also have gained weight in the abdominal area which is a first for me. Wondering if there is a test that can determine microclotting. I did have an ultrasound of my legs, which showed lymph fluid , but thank God no clots. I also had an echocardiogram which was normal.

I can tell you I have probably more than 30 lbs of weight gain from Covid in April 2020 and it won’t budge either.

Has everyone checked for inflammation? Like their creatinine levels? Where the weight gain could be caused by excessive inflammation?

Plus 50 pounds for me....Ugh.... I eat a *VERY* healthy diet. Since COVID, weight gain no matter what. But who knows if even *that*would help. I get the COVID flushes and the COVID chills. My body has difficulty regulating temp. Have read about other women having similar symptoms - like menopause - when some have already been thru the change and others are too young. The debilitating fatigue and shortness of breath and exercise intolerance have me unable to get on the exercise equipment. But...talked my PCP into prescribing hormones. It's been two weeks and I've lost 5 lbs so far. No other food/environmental changes. Hoping I continue to lose!

Does Mayo have an online support group, or is it only in person? Thnx.

Yes. I do have gained 30 pounds. I have tried cutting calories, weight, watchers, starvation, eating just fruits and vegetables, etc. Nothing seems to help. Long COVID sucks!

For your legs what did they tell you or give you for the lymph fluid? I am going through the same thing and my legs hurt so much.

Please let us know if it helps! With so many of us having similar complaints…someone has to figure this out!

I’m so sorry you are also having trouble with your legs. By online research I had self diagnosed myself with post Covid lymphedema. I told the nurse that when I called for the appointment with my primary care doc. I had tried eliminating salt, elevation, icing, nothing helped. If you press on your leg with your fingertip and the skin stays in, it’s called pitting, a classic sign of lymphedema. My doctor tried me on a five day regimen of a diuretic, and then Lasix. I was to weigh myself before and after the 5 days. No weight change and no increase in urination. Lymph fluid is protein rich. Diuretics move water, not lymph fluid. So…there is no medication. My PC referred me to Space Coast Lymphedema Clinic in Viera Florida. It was covered by my Medicare and supplement with a doctor referral. They were amazing. There’s a whole process they do to compress the fluid out of your legs called compression bandaging. I went 2x a week for a few months. Once the fluid is down, they put you in thigh high compression stocking to be worn daily to manage lymphedema. They also put me on a Lymphapress. It’s a pump that hooks up to two boots. The pump fills the chambers of the boots gradually to press the fluid out of your legs back into your lymph system. I’d often have to run to the bathroom afterwards. They also did exercises, lymphatic drainage massage, and recommended a lymphatic diet. I was blessed that the clinic was only 30 minutes from my home.

I’m thinking you might mean UF’s Covid Recovery Group. Right now they are strictly in person. After lost referrals, and 3 actually sent, I waited 8 months for the appointment. I worked with my PCP locally to do what could be done here. I actually tried to get into Mayo’s Post Covid Recovery Group. I was accepted verbally by phone until I told her I didn’t have any proof of a positive PCR test which she asked me to bring. I told her I hadn’t done a PCR test, I had used the free government tests. So not having that ruled me out, but somehow I got into the Post Covid Recovery Blog.