Need to gain weight

Hi there @hawkssr . I hope you find a solution to your weight loss. I'm sure that must be frustrating to eat every hour and still lose weight. I don't know what to suggest in terms of diet (I'm trying to figure that one out myself - I'm also underweight), but you may want to get tested for Hashimoto's. I assume you've probably already had your thyroid hormones tested and gotten normal results, but if you haven't already, you might want to get your TPO and TG antibodies tested, since those could explain hyperthyroid symptoms like weight loss even if things like TSH, T3, and T4 are all normal.

Hi Hawkssr,
I'm sorry about your weight loss! I'm also 77 and have a weight loss problem. However, mine is due to incontinence. Your problem sounds really difficult. Perhaps you should quit walking every day. Many people who weigh too much often sit on the couch and watch TV or get on the computer a lot. As far as an inexpensive diet to gain weight I would suggest making beans from scratch. Buy some white beans or any kind you like. Soak them overnight and then rinse them and cook them in water until they are done. They are great with butter and salt and pepper or you can add tomato sauce, brown sugar, onions etc. You can find the recipes on Betty Crocker at https://www.bettycrocker.com/ Beans are a great source of protein and high in calories. Also make split pea soup from scratch. You can get that recipe from Betty Crocker too. Split peas are very cheap as are beans. Split peas are also a good source of potassium and high in calories. Keep in mind you can make split pea soup without adding ham as most recipes suggest. Corn and peas have a lot of calories too. Have you tried looking up a calorie counter online and eating only the highest calorie count foods that are inexpensive? Noodle dishes are also high in calories such as macaroni and cheese and spaghetti. Make your own. Don't buy the mixes. They are full of junk that won't help your problem.
Good luck!
PML

One possibility is Exocrine Pancreas Insufficiency (EPI) where the pancreas is producing less digestive enzymes required for digestion so vitamins and nutrients can be absorbed through the intestine. As we age, the pancreas can undergo atrophy resulting in decreased function. The fecal,elastase test is used to determine if their is an insufficiency of the pancreatic enzymes amylase, lipase and protease. If found to be low, supplemental enzymes can be taken to restore digestive function.

in reply to @hawkssr I too have the same problem, and it is attributed to the dilation of my liver and pancreatic ducts which were discovered incidentally almost 4 years ago. I wish I had your appetite, as I have none, and have to set timers to remind me to eat. I have lost 40 pounds in one year, and while I have gotten used to my "new" look, it disturbs many. Let me know when you find out what is causing your weight loss. I recently had the tests described by @stageivsurvivor and they were all relatively normal. I remain a medical mystery.

@hawkssr Sometimes cancer can express itself with weight loss. Are you anemic? The doctor might want to check cancer markers in the blood. You should go to the gastroenterologist and do a colonoscopy, maybe they'll also suggest to do a gastroscopy. And see what other screening you should do. Keep up the walking. Best wishes.

I was losing weight too. I was having food delivered to my house due to the pandemic. What helped me the most was returning to the market physically to purchase my own food. I alternate markets also for the best deals and to increase food variety. They say don't do marketing when you are hungry. I try to go when hungry so that I purchase more! I've found adequate dairy manditory for maintaining my weight. Additionally, I telemedicine with a registered dietitian periodically as well as see a Internist and whomever they recommend.

in reply to @t98 Thank you. Yes, I am anemic and recently had two iron infusions that knocked me off of my feet because I was allergic to whatever they gave to me. I will never have one again. The hematologist has suggested both a colonoscopy and endoscopy. The gastroenterologist ran some tests and concluded that a colonoscopy was not necessary. I have had many lab tests run by the hematologist, and he has assured me that I do not have a plasma cell disorder. He too wanted me to have the colonoscopy. As you can imagine, I have been navigating the crazy medical system for a very long time, while trying to remain positive. Yesterday the nurse from the hematologist's office sent me a note telling me that the LDH lab which has been abnormal twice, may just be a "fluke" and I have to go back to the lab for additional workups. I will do this at the end of the month when I can take care of everything on the same day. All of this is exhausting, so I have decided to take a break from all things medical at least until the end of the summer.

With bleeding (anemia) and weight loss they usually want to check for stomach or colon cancer, so I think both the colonoscopy and endoscopy are indicated. Usually they recommend a colonoscopy anyway every 8 years or so even without any symptoms - but certainly if you have symptoms. Doing an endoscopy at the same time is a good idea because then you don't have separate preparation, and you don't have to worry about the test because you don't feel anything because you're sedated. (I've had some personal experience.) Considering you also have high LDH, since this was done twice, I think with your weight loss and anemia you should assume that it's correct and not a fluke, and look for cancer. It's better to discover these things earlier rather than later. Finding the cause will help you be stronger, so I suggest you don't wait too long.

Hi Hawkssr,

Sorry to hear that you're struggling to gain or maintain weight. As others have said, it would be wise to speak to a doctor if you have not already, since unexplained weight loss could be a symptom of a host of issues.

Also recommend to try to maintain any activity that you are already such as your daily walk. Muscle sarcopenia has one of the strongest correlations to premature death in the elderly, so let's try to stave that off as long as possible.

To increase your intake of readily digestable calories, consider adding MCT oils to your diet either through by adding a little to meals that you are already eating (goes well enough with coffee) or by making homemade shakes. Medium chain triglycerides (MCTs) are a special kind of fat that goes directly to the portal vein and from there to the liver without going through the normal fat absorption and digestion process, and I can buy a big bottle at my local Costco for $20, and it lasts me at least a month. 11g (less than a teaspoon) has 100 calories, so a little bit a few times a day could add up. Note that if you add to much to your diet right away you may get diarrhea because your body is unused to processing so much at once, recommend starting with one light teaspoon a day and increasing your "dose" every few days if you have no ill side-effects. Good luck.

Check your albumine : it will tell if you absorb nutriment or not