Any caregivers gaining weight?

Posted by denise96 @denise96, 5 days ago

My husband is very ill with stage iv lung cancer and he has had advanced COPD. Everyday since his terminal diagnoses, I find myself wanting to eat. I have gained 5 pounds in 3 months. I am not sure if it is depression or nerves or both. Being a caregiver does play on your nerves. Anyone else have this problem?

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@crumblingaway

YUP. I keep making high calorie meals for my husband so he could maintain weight (now trying to gain weight otherwise it's feeding tube time which terrifies him). After one small meal he no longer wants it and I'm sick of tossing so much food out. Doesn't help that his mother keeps coming over with food she makes that he can't eat and now she's just dumping leftover cookies and sweets from her social gatherings on me. It's impossible. Trying to politely tell her I don't need it is like watching a flat basketball thrown at a wall and plop to the ground lifeless.

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I feel for you husband. My husband does not eat much at all. He weights between 105 and 113. His weight fluctuates. Trying to get him to eat high calorie meals is a losing battle. Someone told me that WalMart has high calorie boost. He will drink boost but I have not been to walmart yet to get the high calorie. And I had to take time off from my part time job and the lost income is really hitting hard. I did get a gas card from the social worker at the hospital that will really help alot. Stay strong, my friend.

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@denise96

I feel for you husband. My husband does not eat much at all. He weights between 105 and 113. His weight fluctuates. Trying to get him to eat high calorie meals is a losing battle. Someone told me that WalMart has high calorie boost. He will drink boost but I have not been to walmart yet to get the high calorie. And I had to take time off from my part time job and the lost income is really hitting hard. I did get a gas card from the social worker at the hospital that will really help alot. Stay strong, my friend.

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Same. We've got the high calorie Boost and he's been managing 2 a day but that's still only 1/3 of the calories he's been told to consume to maintain weight. (It's available on Amazon, by the way. Hopefully that helps so no fruitless searching happens for you). Found some recommendations for Boost Soothe on the Head and Neck Cancer subreddit as it's created for cancer patients with oral discomfort. Supposed to be just slightly thicker than water, clear, and I'm hoping he can turn to that when trying to eat to swallow down food. 300 calories per 8 oz.

Meanwhile MIL made greek stuffed veg that burned his mouth so... I guess I know who will be eating that for the next however many days. I can hear the scale screaming in fear already.

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@crumblingaway

Same. We've got the high calorie Boost and he's been managing 2 a day but that's still only 1/3 of the calories he's been told to consume to maintain weight. (It's available on Amazon, by the way. Hopefully that helps so no fruitless searching happens for you). Found some recommendations for Boost Soothe on the Head and Neck Cancer subreddit as it's created for cancer patients with oral discomfort. Supposed to be just slightly thicker than water, clear, and I'm hoping he can turn to that when trying to eat to swallow down food. 300 calories per 8 oz.

Meanwhile MIL made greek stuffed veg that burned his mouth so... I guess I know who will be eating that for the next however many days. I can hear the scale screaming in fear already.

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I understand that. I am not sure what greek stuffed vegetables are. I know about stuffed grape leaves, but I did not care for them much. But I would probably eat them too. My mom gave me a bag of homemade chocolate chip cookies and I can't leave them alone. I knew that would happen. Husband ate 1. I wish I could give him some of my fat. When I am depressed I don't have much self control when it comes to sweet stuff. My scale does not scream in fear) lol but in a very loud voice, it says "GET OFF!"

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I too have gained weight. 15lbs since 2019 when my mother was diagnosed with dementia. I had been caring for her since 2004 before that and managed to not gain weight. I'm not eating more, and my doctor says stress and not getting regular and good sleep is the cause. Not getting good sleep and the enormous stress of caregiving can affect people differently. Please don't forget about good, regular sleep. I know personally that can be a challenge or nearly impossible, but it is just as important as maintaining a healthy diet. I hope you manage to keep the pounds off. My heart is with you.

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Caregiving had the opposite effect on me. I was a busy guy trucking and farming which caused me to eat on the run,, junk food. Since I'm no longer doing that and am cooking for my wife and me I have lost 5 to 10 lbs and my blood sugar has dropped. It's hard during the holidays but I'm eating better. It's more work cooking and grocery shopping though

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@notrobert

I too have gained weight. 15lbs since 2019 when my mother was diagnosed with dementia. I had been caring for her since 2004 before that and managed to not gain weight. I'm not eating more, and my doctor says stress and not getting regular and good sleep is the cause. Not getting good sleep and the enormous stress of caregiving can affect people differently. Please don't forget about good, regular sleep. I know personally that can be a challenge or nearly impossible, but it is just as important as maintaining a healthy diet. I hope you manage to keep the pounds off. My heart is with you.

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Yes, I am depressed and sad. Not to the point of being clinically depressed, but I know it is stress and depression. I don't feel like doing anything any more from just worrying about my husband. Worrying does not change anything, I know. Yesterday, I hardly ate anything at all. I need to start walking to my walking videos and doing some exercises. It is hard to eat healthy when everything healthy costs so much money. And mine is running out fast. Well, as I remind myself, yesterday is gone, tomorrow may never come and all we have is today. God bless you and have a Merry Christmas.

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