Hello every one
I hope we all have a great week a head
I have a question about weight loss.
I’ve been recently diagnosed with lupus and I been on plaquenil.
I expirions a wight loss ( before I took the medicine as well) .
My question If this is the normal thing ? Or it’s a flare and I’ll gain weight again ?
I think it is pretty normal to lose wight when in a flare. I lost about 30lbs pretty quickly about a year and a half ago, but gained it all back almost as quickly a year later. Your meds may contribute as well.
I got real heavy because of the steriods, then I lost all of that going on topamax. Then I lost a lot more when I was diagnosed with Gastroparesis. So I don’t know if if is normal, I am also on Plaquenil.
It is my understanding that weight loss is a common symptom of Lupus. I would keep an eye on how much you are losing and let you doctor know if it continues.
Good luck!
THANK YOU FOR YOUR RESPOND
TJ said:
I think it is pretty normal to lose wight when in a flare. I lost about 30lbs pretty quickly about a year and a half ago, but gained it all back almost as quickly a year later. Your meds may contribute as well.
Thank you
Deb said:
I got real heavy because of the steriods, then I lost all of that going on topamax. Then I lost a lot more when I was diagnosed with Gastroparesis. So I don’t know if if is normal, I am also on Plaquenil.
I lost a lot of weight when I was sickest, and also tended to lose weight when sick my whole life! I’m already at a very healthy and slim weight and lost 10% of my bodyweight over the first six months after my diagnosis. It took me over a year to gain it all back, and I still lose some (not as much) each time I have a smaller flare.
It’s pretty normal (and it’s also really normal to gain weight from prednisone… ask for methylprednisolone instead if you need steroids, it’s a derivative of prednisone that has much less side effects!) The explanation I think makes the most sense is that during a flare the inflammatory response is burning through tons of cellular energy. Add to that loss of appetite and nausea, and weight loss is almost a sure thing! I tend to lose some muscle mass when this happens, so it’s not a good kind of weight loss! Steroids also make you lose muscle mass while making you gain abdominal fat (the worst kind for heart health!) Then the champs make you so nauseated it’s hard to eat…
Hope you’re able to get it balanced out as you get things under control. Take care!
Hi Aria. From my experience, typically when I drop a lot of weight, it's because of a lupus flare and usually my appetite is almost gone so I'm not eating. After I get my flare under control, I usually put some of the weight back. However, I'm not sure I'm the best person to listen to becuase typically my body doesnt react like most lupus patients does. I've been on high doses of prednisone and have hypothyroidism, both should cause me to gain weight but I find that it is the opposite. I'm not sure if you are just losing weight without changing anything in your lifestyle or if it's because you are in a flare and too have slowed your appetite.
I've just been on Hydroxychloroquine for a few days now for ACLE. I have noticed that I'm never hungry at all. I eat meals because I know I have to, but have not been hungry at all. It's probably a great weight loss product because the urge to snack is completely gone. I'm not necessarily concerned since I don't seem to have any other side effects. We'll see what the future holds!
Thank you for your respond
I’m also hypothyroid like you I’ve been taken syntroid almost a 100mmg
b1007 said:
Hi Aria. From my experience, typically when I drop a lot of weight, it’s because of a lupus flare and usually my appetite is almost gone so I’m not eating. After I get my flare under control, I usually put some of the weight back. However, I’m not sure I’m the best person to listen to becuase typically my body doesnt react like most lupus patients does. I’ve been on high doses of prednisone and have hypothyroidism, both should cause me to gain weight but I find that it is the opposite. I’m not sure if you are just losing weight without changing anything in your lifestyle or if it’s because you are in a flare and too have slowed your appetite.
Thank you for your respond
It’s also look like you been exercising ,this is my next step is to get back to exercising and lifting light weights .IM just very scared with unknown …
I read that some people can’t even work any longer …
Faladora said:
I lost a lot of weight when I was sickest, and also tended to lose weight when sick my whole life! I’m already at a very healthy and slim weight and lost 10% of my bodyweight over the first six months after my diagnosis. It took me over a year to gain it all back, and I still lose some (not as much) each time I have a smaller flare.
It’s pretty normal (and it’s also really normal to gain weight from prednisone… ask for methylprednisolone instead if you need steroids, it’s a derivative of prednisone that has much less side effects!) The explanation I think makes the most sense is that during a flare the inflammatory response is burning through tons of cellular energy. Add to that loss of appetite and nausea, and weight loss is almost a sure thing! I tend to lose some muscle mass when this happens, so it’s not a good kind of weight loss! Steroids also make you lose muscle mass while making you gain abdominal fat (the worst kind for heart health!) Then the champs make you so nauseated it’s hard to eat…
Hope you’re able to get it balanced out as you get things under control. Take care!