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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I have been experiencing the same thing now a year later. It was so fast I thought I was going crazy. I went from 145 to 180 in a matter of months nonstop. My physician thought it was hormones because I had just turned 46 and maybe I was going thru the change. I was told I was pre-diabetic she had me on ozempic which I believe led to the last 20lb jump. It’s been so depressing nothing fits me anymore. I look like I am pregnant or just had a baby. My hands feet legs and belly are so swollen and puffy. I stay with gastric issues I am scheduled for a colonoscopy soon. No one is listening about the weight gain being because of COVID. I have been working out swimming diving snorkeling hot yoga nothing helps. I am not a bad eater so my doctor recommended for me to eat more. She says I am not eating enough. Nothing works. I have lost 3lbs and that’s with fasting for a few days. I have worked hard to maintain a healthy weight my adult life and now I feel crappy gassy bloated and very sore and tired a lot. I hope a remedy comes soon it’s hard seeing my self like this and nothing I do works.

REPLY
@survivingbnard

I have been experiencing the same thing now a year later. It was so fast I thought I was going crazy. I went from 145 to 180 in a matter of months nonstop. My physician thought it was hormones because I had just turned 46 and maybe I was going thru the change. I was told I was pre-diabetic she had me on ozempic which I believe led to the last 20lb jump. It’s been so depressing nothing fits me I look like I am pregnant or just had a baby. My hands feet legs and belly are so swollen and puffy. I stay with gastric issues I am scheduled for a colonoscopy soon. No one is listening about the weight gain being because of COVID. I have been working out swimming diving snorkeling hot yoga nothing helps. I am not a bad eater so my doctor to me to eat more. Nothing works. I have lost 3lbs and that’s with fasting for a few days. I have worked hard to maintain a healthy weight and now I feel crappy gassy bloated and very sore and tired a lot. I hope a remedy comes soon it’s hard seeing my self like this and nothing I do works.

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you are not alone, i gained 35-40 lbs, i had a colonoscopy...came out fine, my body too is swollen, i know my digestive system is messed up, it's been over 3 yrs for me....it has to be the long covid...i have so many symptoms that i never had before covid....hang in there!!!!!

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@beebee000

you are not alone, i gained 35-40 lbs, i had a colonoscopy...came out fine, my body too is swollen, i know my digestive system is messed up, it's been over 3 yrs for me....it has to be the long covid...i have so many symptoms that i never had before covid....hang in there!!!!!

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Feeling very sorry for myself. Had covid 3 years ago. My stomach pain began then and never went away. All my tests said that I am fine. I did have a breath test that indicated that I had Sibo. For 2 weeks I took an antibiotic and some pills that cost 900 dollars that didn'thelp. I can't eat most vegetables with the fiber. Food doesn't taste good most of the time and fills me up quickly. I gained 10 pounds but look like I am 8 months pregnant.large roll of fat aroumd my stomach and back. I am always bloated. Discouraged here, and can't find a doctor that has been of help. Elovel and Pepcid is allI take. Some days are better than others.

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Yes, gained 43lbs in 6 months. I'm active, swim/row on the water/bike. Edema/neuropathy in feet terrible, swollen hands/face. No diet was working so far. I stick to a low calorie daily intake. I don't eat meat anymore, can't stand the smell, no alcohol, my stomach is bloated and fat and my bust got huge. Just lovely. I started doing Pilates using the reformer. It's helping, I'm dropping weight. I'm in my late 60's so it will be a slow process but I'm happy that something has finally budged. No doctor will even consider the LC as the weight gain problem so I'm trying to work it out on my own.

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@diannspalding

Feeling very sorry for myself. Had covid 3 years ago. My stomach pain began then and never went away. All my tests said that I am fine. I did have a breath test that indicated that I had Sibo. For 2 weeks I took an antibiotic and some pills that cost 900 dollars that didn'thelp. I can't eat most vegetables with the fiber. Food doesn't taste good most of the time and fills me up quickly. I gained 10 pounds but look like I am 8 months pregnant.large roll of fat aroumd my stomach and back. I am always bloated. Discouraged here, and can't find a doctor that has been of help. Elovel and Pepcid is allI take. Some days are better than others.

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why can't you eat vegetables ? hang in there, don't give up...i started doing the Classical Stretch workouts again by Miranda Esmonde White, it's all about the connective tissue in our body, it's wonderful.. i really recommend them, she is on most PBS stations (called classical stretch) and has dvds, i got some dvds on ebay...i don't do medications right now, just working on eating clean food..no junk...i plan to fight this stinking long covid thing all the way.....we have to keep our brain/mind positive...no mater what...you can do this!!!!

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@survivingbnard

I have been experiencing the same thing now a year later. It was so fast I thought I was going crazy. I went from 145 to 180 in a matter of months nonstop. My physician thought it was hormones because I had just turned 46 and maybe I was going thru the change. I was told I was pre-diabetic she had me on ozempic which I believe led to the last 20lb jump. It’s been so depressing nothing fits me anymore. I look like I am pregnant or just had a baby. My hands feet legs and belly are so swollen and puffy. I stay with gastric issues I am scheduled for a colonoscopy soon. No one is listening about the weight gain being because of COVID. I have been working out swimming diving snorkeling hot yoga nothing helps. I am not a bad eater so my doctor recommended for me to eat more. She says I am not eating enough. Nothing works. I have lost 3lbs and that’s with fasting for a few days. I have worked hard to maintain a healthy weight my adult life and now I feel crappy gassy bloated and very sore and tired a lot. I hope a remedy comes soon it’s hard seeing my self like this and nothing I do works.

Jump to this post

I'm 46 as well and have been told the weight is due to hormones and age. I never struggled with my weight ever until I had COVID. Not even when I was pregnant did I struggle with my weight or losing the baby weight. I had COVID in January of 2022. Went from 120 to 135 in a few weeks. Went to the doctor and they couldn't see anything wrong. I didn't change my eating habits as I follow an AIP diet. And I exercise regularly. Held steady at 140 no matter what I did. Contracted COVID again in August 2022. Put on another 15 pounds within weeks so was at 150. And doctors have zero answers other than I have elevated cortisol levels. No answer on how to lower that level. Well was sick a couple weeks ago which felt like when I had COVID (tested negative twice) but have been putting on weight rapidly again. I am now at 156 and climbing. I'm only 5'2" so I am swollen and look pregnant. My shoes don't even fit anymore because of how swollen I am. And for how many people are on this forum there has to be a correlation between COVID and weight gain that has nothing to do with over eating.

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@sssfarmasi

I'm 46 as well and have been told the weight is due to hormones and age. I never struggled with my weight ever until I had COVID. Not even when I was pregnant did I struggle with my weight or losing the baby weight. I had COVID in January of 2022. Went from 120 to 135 in a few weeks. Went to the doctor and they couldn't see anything wrong. I didn't change my eating habits as I follow an AIP diet. And I exercise regularly. Held steady at 140 no matter what I did. Contracted COVID again in August 2022. Put on another 15 pounds within weeks so was at 150. And doctors have zero answers other than I have elevated cortisol levels. No answer on how to lower that level. Well was sick a couple weeks ago which felt like when I had COVID (tested negative twice) but have been putting on weight rapidly again. I am now at 156 and climbing. I'm only 5'2" so I am swollen and look pregnant. My shoes don't even fit anymore because of how swollen I am. And for how many people are on this forum there has to be a correlation between COVID and weight gain that has nothing to do with over eating.

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I feel your frustration…I have same issues. Doctor keeps saying it will come off once inflammation is under control but it’s been almost a year!

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I put on 15 lbs when I started taking Abilify for my long covid. When I eat I never feel satiated so snack constantly. But the benefits of Abilify have been huge - about 80% reduction in total symptoms so it has been worth it.

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@survivingbnard

I have been experiencing the same thing now a year later. It was so fast I thought I was going crazy. I went from 145 to 180 in a matter of months nonstop. My physician thought it was hormones because I had just turned 46 and maybe I was going thru the change. I was told I was pre-diabetic she had me on ozempic which I believe led to the last 20lb jump. It’s been so depressing nothing fits me anymore. I look like I am pregnant or just had a baby. My hands feet legs and belly are so swollen and puffy. I stay with gastric issues I am scheduled for a colonoscopy soon. No one is listening about the weight gain being because of COVID. I have been working out swimming diving snorkeling hot yoga nothing helps. I am not a bad eater so my doctor recommended for me to eat more. She says I am not eating enough. Nothing works. I have lost 3lbs and that’s with fasting for a few days. I have worked hard to maintain a healthy weight my adult life and now I feel crappy gassy bloated and very sore and tired a lot. I hope a remedy comes soon it’s hard seeing my self like this and nothing I do works.

Jump to this post

Eliminating gluten from my diet relieved the bloating. But, unfortunately nothing has touched the 60 pound weight gain in 6 months post Covid. I can wear the same pants and skirts. But, I have to wear top 2 sizes larger, and larger bra size at 71. I avoid the scale and eat healthy.

REPLY
@diannspalding

Feeling very sorry for myself. Had covid 3 years ago. My stomach pain began then and never went away. All my tests said that I am fine. I did have a breath test that indicated that I had Sibo. For 2 weeks I took an antibiotic and some pills that cost 900 dollars that didn'thelp. I can't eat most vegetables with the fiber. Food doesn't taste good most of the time and fills me up quickly. I gained 10 pounds but look like I am 8 months pregnant.large roll of fat aroumd my stomach and back. I am always bloated. Discouraged here, and can't find a doctor that has been of help. Elovel and Pepcid is allI take. Some days are better than others.

Jump to this post

I researched anti inflammatory diet. I decided to try eliminating gluten from my diet. I no longer have any bloating.

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