1. < Post-COVID Recovery & COVID-19

Need help gaining weight

Posted by summerof42 @summerof42, Jul 16, 2023

I would welcome folks to advise me how to GAIN WEIGHT. I'm now down to 90 lbs (normally, a healthy, active 127 lbs at 5'4").

As we all know, LT Covid ignites our nervous system off the charts and I'm sure that is what's going on because I feel totally on the edge, dealing with internal shakiness, etc.

I'm eating every hour to include very healthy foods, i.e., fish, chicken, turkey, tons of veggies, snacks in-between and cannot gain a lb. I also incorporate protein shakes.

Because I'm dealing with no medical support since the Doctors I've seen to date to not have any knowledge of LT Covid to include my primary MD. I'm so alone and frightened.

Please be sure to list the name of the products in your suggestions to include any vitamins, etc.

I know I also need the appropriate anxiety/depression Rx and a few have been tried to no avail, which is why I welcome your input on this as well and what has helped. Tried Zoloft and Escitalopram.

Prior to catching Covid twice, I was soooooo active and healthy and folks would always comment about my incredible health and age in the mid 60's (now 68) and they couldn't keep up with me.

I just want this beast of Covid out of me! I wish our medical teams were working on finding us a cure and help.

Hugs and prayers to all.

Interested in more discussions like this? Go to the Post-COVID Recovery & COVID-19 Support Group.

summerof42 | @summerof42 | Jul 19, 2023
In reply to @emo "Are you able to establish with a dietician for guidance? I had unintentional weight loss related..." + (show)
@emo

Are you able to establish with a dietician for guidance? I had unintentional weight loss related to a different condition that preceded long COVID (which then flared up again after COVID infection), and my GI doctor referred me to a GI dietician. I learned dieticians have specialties also; you can find someone who specifically works with people with GI difficulties, but I would think any dietician would be able to advise you on safe weights to gain weight.

She's been invaluable to me. Many dieticians now do telehealth.

I may have mentioned this to you in a post before, but my GI dietician recommended Kate Farms. It's an enteral product--it can be used for tube feeding, or taken orally, completely plant-based/vegan, and GI-friendly. They have different formulas. I take Kate Farms Adult Standard Formula 1.0. To me, chocolate tastes the best. I believe it's 325 calories per serving. I don't drink the whole thing; I use it as a breakfast or snack usually.

The Standard 1.0 formula is actually the same formulation as their Nutrition Shakes product--the difference is the shakes are made to be sold to the general public. But the Standard 1.0 formula can be obtained by prescription. For me, it's covered by my insurance--my GI doctor sends a prescription to an enteral feeding company in network with my insurance.

What does your PCP say about medication for anxiety/depression? Or are you having trouble choosing?

Jump to this post

Hi Emo,
Last year I was ordering the protein shakes by Kate Farms - boy are they expensive! As much as I love chocolate, they say to stay away from chocolate for LT Covid sufferers, along with sugar and gluten on the avoid list. I think I may need to consider those shakes again, but I remember it really was helping me much. I want to stay away from ENSURE because if you ever looked at the ingredients, its garbage. They have lots of nasty oils, high sugar and carrageenan, which causes cancer!

My PCP says basically nothing and could care less, even when I was down to 89 lbs and got Covid. I begged him for medication to treat Covid and he wouldn't comply. Month later when I asked to be put in the hospital feeling so ill and 89 lbs, the hospital just did another MRI of the brain, sent in a physiatrist and kicked me out. Basically, because my PCP said in his notes its just all anxiety. He's horrible and needs to have his license taken away. And he's with Northwestern University in Illinois.

I know I need medication for anxiety and now it's reached a stage where it's PTSD because with Covid you can also get very sensitive to noise and when I try to lay down to rest, I get "jolted" by the slightest sound and start trembling.

Right now, the pain in my right flank area below my rib hurts so bad and is trembling, when I eat my tummy is grumbling and churning. Regardless, I just made some organic turkey dogs and veggies. In about an hour around 9:30pm, I'll have a high calorie protein shake. Contrary to so much effort, I still can't gain an ounce and all of the Doctors don't care - and that includes the hospital..

REPLY
1 reply
emo | @emo | Jul 19, 2023
In reply to @summerof42 "Hi Emo, Last year I was ordering the protein shakes by Kate Farms - boy are..." + (show)
@summerof42

Hi Emo,
Last year I was ordering the protein shakes by Kate Farms - boy are they expensive! As much as I love chocolate, they say to stay away from chocolate for LT Covid sufferers, along with sugar and gluten on the avoid list. I think I may need to consider those shakes again, but I remember it really was helping me much. I want to stay away from ENSURE because if you ever looked at the ingredients, its garbage. They have lots of nasty oils, high sugar and carrageenan, which causes cancer!

My PCP says basically nothing and could care less, even when I was down to 89 lbs and got Covid. I begged him for medication to treat Covid and he wouldn't comply. Month later when I asked to be put in the hospital feeling so ill and 89 lbs, the hospital just did another MRI of the brain, sent in a physiatrist and kicked me out. Basically, because my PCP said in his notes its just all anxiety. He's horrible and needs to have his license taken away. And he's with Northwestern University in Illinois.

I know I need medication for anxiety and now it's reached a stage where it's PTSD because with Covid you can also get very sensitive to noise and when I try to lay down to rest, I get "jolted" by the slightest sound and start trembling.

Right now, the pain in my right flank area below my rib hurts so bad and is trembling, when I eat my tummy is grumbling and churning. Regardless, I just made some organic turkey dogs and veggies. In about an hour around 9:30pm, I'll have a high calorie protein shake. Contrary to so much effort, I still can't gain an ounce and all of the Doctors don't care - and that includes the hospital..

Jump to this post

You’re right…Kate Farms is really expensive. I’m only able to get them because I have an RX from my GI doctor. They do have a discount program if you contact their customer service for people who don’t use insurance for it.

Another brand that is plant based is Owyn. It’s slightly less expensive than Kate Farms, has many more flavors (other than chocolate) and GI friendly.

It is difficult to find the right fit with physicians, especially for non-linear and chronic conditions. I have had a positive experience with the Osher Center for Integrative Medicine at Northwestern. The clinic is within Northwestern but they have a much more holistic approach and they’re accustomed to treating chronic conditions.

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