I got diagnosed with sle lupus 4 years ago. A year into my sickness and I was so skinny. and than I started putting on weight so rapidly that I started having big stretch nearly every where!!! I just dont like this! please has anyone gone through this?
I’ve had uncontrollable weight gain also since my diagnosis last summer - 15 lbs since June. I exercise (hike 20 miles plus a week), am more than calorie mindful, work full time, and care for a house built in the 1920s plus care for an acre and a half of property and yet I steadily gain. I’m pretty certain it’s the meds. I take Methotrexate to suppress the immune system; Motrin for inflammation and pain. When I received my diagnosis I became uber conscience of diet and exercise. Any reasonable person would expect to have lost weight by this time and yet I keep gaining. Stretch marks don’t seem to be a huge issue for me but, I’m sixty years old so wrinkles, age spots, flabby skin and other distasteful body changes are becoming the norm. What meds are you taking and for how long?
Hi Grace, unfortunately, I know how disheartening stretch marks can be. My Doctor told me the steroids thin our skin and that combined with the weight gain they cause, leads to streach marks. You can try coconut oil to keep the skin hydrated and as healthy as possible.
When i was dx at 13 i went through the same thing. I was 100 pounds then went to the hospital and was put on steroids. When i came home and started gaining weight i had huge stretch marks on my back. I’m 35 today and still jave them although they are lighter. They were horrifying when i was young now i look at them as a symbol of my fight all these years and can’t picture myself without them. Hang in there, its a long journey bit don’t give up
Yes, i have them too. I hate that they’re on the creases of my inner arms ugh! Not sexy at all.
You're definitely not alone with this; when I was diagnosed with lupus I went from initially being a healthy 130lbs to 110 when I lost my appetite, and ballooned up to about 200lbs after starting prednisone and such. I have stretch marks all over-- my arms, back, stomach, butt, thighs, oppiste side of my elbows (no idea what that area is called, lol), backside of my knees etc. I initially used bio-oil which I think helped somewhat, but I stopped when I noticed no more changes. But definitely know you are not alone with this one.lol.
Hi Grace,
I'm sorry to say yes, I've gained a ton of weight, thanks to some of the drugs I'm on. I can't do much anymore due to pain from fibro but I'm going to try to go to the gym and use the treadmill. I'm also going to look into the gastric sleeve surgery. I don't have stretch marks but do have horrible cottage cheese butt. Related, I think. I've heard that rubbing liquid vitamin E into the stretchy areas helps.
I'm sorry that you're experiencing weight gain and stretch marks. I hate the weight gain as I don't even look like myself anymore.
Petunia said:
Hi Grace,
I'm sorry to say yes, I've gained a ton of weight, thanks to some of the drugs I'm on. I can't do much anymore due to pain from fibro but I'm going to try to go to the gym and use the treadmill. I'm also going to look into the gastric sleeve surgery. I don't have stretch marks but do have horrible cottage cheese butt. Related, I think. I've heard that rubbing liquid vitamin E into the stretchy areas helps.
I'm sorry that you're experiencing weight gain and stretch marks. It's a real bummer, isn't it? I hate the weight gain as I don't even look like myself anymore. It's like you even lose that, your physical identity. And that hurts.
No stretch marks but other skin problems with the drugs.
I gained 85 lbs when I started the lupus meds (esp. prednisone). I became stabilized and the pred and plaquenil doses were reduced. I lost 35 pounds and stayed at 200 lbs for years. I thought my bod didn't look so bad, even with the extra pounds. Friends and family didn't recognize me though because I'd never been overweight.
In 2011 I got tired of my size. Started eating better (mostly at home and not dieting) and exercising. My 2 dogs gave me the incentive to walk. My weight came down easily.
However, my bod looks horrible. Between the side effects from the meds and having lost 50 lbs. I have loose thin skin all over. And, my extremities are very bruised and discolored from the plaquenil and the prednisone. I still don't recognize myself. The drugs changed me even with the weight loss. I do "feel" better with the weight gone. There's something to be said here about the quality of life though. My rheumy and internist just chalk it up to the fact that I'm still alive.
If some of you are younger, slowly lose the weight before late 50s to 60s.
You got to hold on.