I mentioned in a previous post that along with my lung function plummeting so was my weight. My BMI was getting close to the "underweight" category and the doctors thought that bringing my weight back up would help with my overall health and therefore help with my lung function. I can eat fine (about 3000 calories a day) when I feel well, but when I am sick, which is happening frequently now, I have absolutely no desire to eat. I also often didn't have the energy to really cook or make myself anything to eat when I was feeling feverish or ill. So I asked the doctors for an appetite stimulant to help me get out of my rut. Oh my goodness, I had no idea what I was in for.
The first day I took 2 of my 4 doses since I didn't receive it until late afternoon. That very same day I started to feel a little hungry. Within two days I felt like I always wanted a snack. I started opening the fridge so many times that Kaylee must have thought I had gone crazy. I was eating nonstop and still woke up starving in the morning. I think it helped that I was coming off of three weeks of antibiotics so I felt well. The combination of feeling well and having an appetite stimulant made me a ravenous pig!
I kept asking my husband if I looked fatter, a loaded question in most relationships, but I was hoping I looked a little more roundy. He kept laughing at me telling me it couldn't work that fast. Oh, but darling it did! I was 110 pounds (I am 5'4" for reference) last Monday when I started Megace. I am currently 117lbs only one week later! That is a pound per day! I actually was checking in the mirror today for stretch marks because I was worried I was gaining weight too quickly, but luckily found none. I only want to gain about 8 more pounds, but at this rate I will be there by next week!
I feel like I look better, I felt skeletal and weak when I was 110 and even the seven pounds has made a difference in my appearance. I also feel so much better. I am not sure if it is psychological because I look healthier so I feel healthier, but I do feel less weak and frail. Having an appetite makes me feel more normal as well. I may need to pick up a part time job to pay for all this food I am eating though!
I had good luck with Megace once upon a time. I didn't find that I actually felt hungrier I just could tolerate eating much more, and I found the amount I could eat really increased.
ReplyDeleteThe one thing I didn't like about it was it made my hair fall out and it messed up my monthly cycles. It's a female hormone so I'd just watch out for similar things! Granted, I was on it much longer than 2 weeks. I'm happy that it's working so well for you.
My doctor warned me about it messing with periods. He said I may have a crazy long one when I stop. I am not looking forward to that, but it can't be worse that lochia after birth, right?
DeleteThere are tons of crazy side effects, but I figure at this point totally worth it considering how crappy my health has been. So far I have only noticed I am breaking out (bleh), but we will see since I haven't been on it very long yet. I am supposed to stay on it until my next appointment, but at this rate I will be around 140 by the time my next appointment rolls around!
I'm so glad that it's helping you gain and I REALLY hope it helps your lungs. I know that even if my BMI is not "underweight", if I get too low it affects my health in a HUGE and negative way. I'm 5'2 and if I get below 115 it's noticeable, and I actually overall do best if I'm 120-125, which I was never able to get to until I switched to Zenpep a few years ago and then started Kalydeco. I'm really hoping that putting on a few extra pounds is just what you need to get your lung function back up and stay stable.
ReplyDeleteThank you! I hope so too!! I figure even if it doesn't help my lung function I am hoping it will strengthen my body so I don't get so sick so often. If I could just stay healthy for a few months I could work out more and hopefully improve my lungs that way.
DeleteI agree that the lower my weight the worse I do overall. I haven't been this low in...I can't even remember when!
Wonderful news! Enjoy each and every extra bite of food.
ReplyDeleteI am totally enjoying the fact that I am enjoying food again :)
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