Jump to content

  • Welcome to Celiac.com!

    You have found your celiac tribe! Join us and ask questions in our forum, share your story, and connect with others.



  • Celiac.com Sponsor (A1):

    Celiac.com Sponsor (A1-M):

  • Get Celiac.com Updates:
    Support Our Content
    eNewsletter
    Donate

It Seems Impossible

JesikaBeth

Recommended Posts

JesikaBeth Contributor
JesikaBeth
Posted

I am a technically obese 34 y/o female who is also diabetic and on an insulin pump. I also have Hashimotos Thyroiditis. Needing to lose weight for my health. I was diagnosed gluten intolerent last week. It is very hard to lose weight, especially because I am on steroids for my chemotherapy treatment.  I just feel like it all seems impossible. I am very overwhelmed right now.

Celiac.com Sponsor (A8):
Celiac.com Sponsor (A8):

Celiac.com Sponsor (A8-M):


LauraTX Rising Star
LauraTX
Posted

Welcome, Jessica.  I understand the difficulty of trying to lose weight while on steroids.  At the moment I am on prednisone for my lupus, and no matter what I do, I cannot lose weight.  I am starting to wean off them but it will take a very long time.  There is a point where you just have to focus on survival and put your body insecurities to the side until they are more addressable, and that is what I am doing.  What I have focused on is not gaining more weight while on the steroids, eating things that are healthier, getting my veggies in, etc.   Just make it a goal to maintain and not gain, and focus on the weight loss after you heal up.

GF Lover Rising Star
GF Lover
Posted

I agree with Laura.  Eating healthy is key right now.  Your chemo and steroids are a must so stay off the scale until treatments are finished.  

 

Colleen

SoLacey Newbie
SoLacey
Posted

Hi Jessica, I'm sorry you are dealing with so much.  That is a lot all at once.  I found it impossible to lose weight for years.  All the baby weight I gained when I was pregnant would not come off, I couldn't get it off no matter what I tried.  I went to half a dozen Dr's and they all told me to forget it because I had "hypoglycemia".  I finally tried the Atkins diet...which would have been nearly gluten free by default.  I lost a lot of weight fast.  After being diagnosed with Celiac I wondered if that was why I couldn't lose weight.  It looks like the inability to lose weight is a pretty common complaint with this. 

 

Now that you know you have to be gluten free I would try being low carb on top of that.  It would help to regulate your blood sugar too.  I don't know how big a hurdle the steroids will be but hopefully you can find a way to get through it.  They say "fail fast and change" with diets.  That's the only way I ever figured this out.  I dieted and exercised for 6 months without ever losing a single pound.  I kept changing my diet and workout program every 2 - 3 weeks.  Finally tried Atkins and the pounds started melting off. 

 

Varying your calories will also help to keep you from hitting the dreaded plateaus.  If you eat 1200 calories a day, your body quickly adjusts to that and will stop losing.  Try 800 one day and 1400 the next (or whatever your numbers should be), just keep your totals under your weekly goal and you should lose and should avoid long stalls. 

GF Lover Rising Star
GF Lover
Posted

Jessica, please don't limit your calories too much.  You need your strength.  Just eat good whole foods.

 

Colleen

Georgia-guy Enthusiast
Georgia-guy
Posted

I agree with Colleen, don't limit your calories too much. Strength is extremely important when getting treated for cancer. If you want to try a calorie counting diet, get with your oncologist and medical team and discuss it so you don't go too low. Good luck and stay strong!

JesikaBeth Contributor
JesikaBeth
Posted
  • Author

Thank you everybody for your replies.

 

SoLacey, I do watch my carbs for the diabetes.

 

I have recently begun going to the gym during the months I have a break from chemo and am feeling well. It helps me to feel more empowered, but also yes - I want to lose the weight.

 

It's hard because I have doctors pointing out that I've gained weight since the Cancer diagnosis, which is not good for the diabetes... I'm all like "well if ya'll didn't pump me full of steroids, I probably wouldn't be!"

 

Anyway, I appreciate the responses. Thank you all for your kindness :wub:

Celiac.com Sponsor (A8):
Celiac.com Sponsor (A8):

Celiac.com Sponsor (A8-M):


Archived

This topic is now archived and is closed to further replies.

Go to topic listing

  • Get Celiac.com Updates:
    Support Celiac.com:
    Join eNewsletter
    Donate
  • Celiac.com Sponsor (A17):
    Celiac.com Sponsor (A17):



    Celiac.com Sponsors (A17-M):



  • Recent Activity

    1. Hmart
      - Hmart replied to Hmart's topic in Celiac Disease Pre-Diagnosis, Testing & Symptoms
      11

      Is this celiac?

      Hello again. Thank you for the responses to date. I have had several follow-ups and wanted to share what I’ve learned. About a month after my initial blood test and going gluten free, my TtG went from 8.1 to 1.8. I have learned that my copper is low and my B6 is high. My other vitamins and nutrients are more or less in range. After I glutened myself on 1...
    2. knitty kitty
      - knitty kitty replied to Trish G's topic in Gluten-Free Foods, Products, Shopping & Medications
      7

      Fiber Supplement

      @Trish G, I like dates, they have lots if fiber as well. But what I found helped most was taking Thiamine (in the form Benfotiamine which helps promote intestinal healing), Pyridoxine B 6, Riboflavin B 2, and magnesium, and Omega Three fats. The absorption of nutrients is affected by Celiac disease which damages the intestinal lining of the small...
    3. knitty kitty
      - knitty kitty replied to kpf's topic in Celiac Disease Pre-Diagnosis, Testing & Symptoms
      14

      ttg iga high (646 mg/dl) other results are normal

      @kpf, Were you eating ten grams or more of gluten daily in the month preceding your antibody blood tests? TTg IgA antibodies are made in the intestines. Ten grams of gluten per day for several weeks before testing is required to provoke sufficient antibody production for the antibodies to leave the intestines and enter the blood stream and be measured...
    4. Trish G
      - Trish G replied to Trish G's topic in Gluten-Free Foods, Products, Shopping & Medications
      7

      Fiber Supplement

      Thanks, I'm not a big fan of prunes but did add them back after stopping the Benefiber. Hoping for the best while I wait to hear back from Nutritionist for a different fiber supplement. Thanks again
    5. Wheatwacked
      - Wheatwacked replied to Larzipan's topic in Related Issues & Disorders
      36

      Has anyone had terrible TMJ/ Jaw Pain from undiagnosed Celiac?

      If you were wondering why milk protein bothers you with Celiac Disease. Commercial dairies supplement the cow feed with wheat, which becomes incorporated in the milk protein. Milk omega 6 to omega 3 ratio: Commercial Dairies: 5:1 Organic Milk: 3:1 Grass fed milk: 1:1
  • Celiac.com Sponsor (A19):


  • Member Statistics

    • Total Members
      132,344
    • Most Online (within 30 mins)
      7,748
    GFBB95
    Newest Member
    GFBB95
    Joined
  • Celiac.com Sponsor (A20):

  • Forum Statistics

    • Total Topics
      121.5k
    • Total Posts
      1m
  • Celiac.com Sponsor (A22):



  • Celiac.com Sponsor (A21):


  • Upcoming Events

  • Posts

    • Hmart
      Is this celiac?

      By Hmart · Posted

      Hello again. Thank you for the responses to date. I have had several follow-ups and wanted to share what I’ve learned. About a month after my initial blood test and going gluten free, my TtG went from 8.1 to 1.8. I have learned that my copper is low and my B6 is high. My other vitamins and nutrients are more or less in range. After I glutened myself on 10/24, I have been strict about being gluten free - so about a month. I have been eating dairy free and low FODMAP as well because it’s what my stomach allows. Baked fish, potatoes, rice, etc. Whole foods and limited Whole foods. I have continued to lose weight but it has slowed down, but a total of about 15 pounds since I went gluten free. Along with stomach pain, my symptoms included nausea, body and joint pain, a burning sensation throughout my body and heart rate spikes. I still have them but I have them less now. These are the symptoms that led to my doctor appointments and subsequent diagnosis. I also did the DNA screening and was positive. So, at this point, the answer is yes, I have celiac. I have two questions for this group. Any ideas on why my enteropathy was so severe (marsh 3B) and my TtG was so minimal? Is that common? Or are there other things to consider with that combo? And this recovery, still having pain and other symptoms a month later (7 weeks gluten free and 4 weeks after the glutening) normal? I’m going to continue down this path of bland foods and trying to heal but would love to understand the reasons for the long journey. I read so much about people who stop eating gluten and feel amazing. I wish that was my experience but it certainly hasn’t been. Thank you again!
    • knitty kitty
      Fiber Supplement

      By knitty kitty · Posted

      @Trish G,  I like dates, they have lots if fiber as well.  But what I found helped most was taking Thiamine (in the form Benfotiamine which helps promote intestinal healing), Pyridoxine B 6, Riboflavin B 2, and magnesium, and Omega Three fats. The absorption of nutrients is affected by Celiac disease which damages the intestinal lining of the small intestines where our nutrients are absorbed.  If you have constipation, where your body is rather pushing your food away and not interacting with it, the nutrients in the food are not being released and absorbed.  You can develop deficiencies in all the vitamins and minerals necessary for the body to function properly.   The B vitamins cannot be stored for long, so they must be replenished daily.  Thiamine B 1 stores can run out in as little as three days.  Constipation (or diarrhea or alternating) is one of the first symptoms of thiamine deficiency.  Thiamine needs magnesium, Pyridoxine B 6, and Riboflavin B 2 to make the intestinal tract function.  Thiamine and Niacin make digestive enzymes.  Thiamine provides the energy for nerve impulses to carry messages to the brain and back about digestion.  Thiamine provides the energy for the muscle contractions which move your food through the digestive tract. High calorie meals containing lots of starches and sugars can deplete thiamine stores quickly because more thiamine is required to turn them into energy.   Are you taking any vitamin and mineral supplements?  Correction of malnutrition is very important in Celiac disease.  Thiamine, the other B vitamins and magnesium will help with constipation better than adding more fiber.  What did your nutritionist recommend you take, besides just the fiber? The association between dietary vitamin B1 intake and constipation: a population-based study https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC11100033/ Thiamine, gastrointestinal beriberi and acetylcholine signaling https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC12014454/ Association between dietary vitamin B6 intake and constipation: a population-based study https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC11584952/
    • knitty kitty
      ttg iga high (646 mg/dl) other results are normal

      By knitty kitty · Posted

      @kpf, Were you eating ten grams or more of gluten daily in the month preceding your antibody blood tests? TTg IgA antibodies are made in the intestines.  Ten grams of gluten per day for several weeks before testing is required to provoke sufficient antibody production for the antibodies to leave the intestines and enter the blood stream and be measured in blood tests. If you had already gone gluten free or if you had lowered your consumption of gluten before testing, your results will be inaccurate and inconclusive.   See link below on gluten challenge guidelines. Have you had any genetic testing done to see if you carry genes for Celiac disease?  If you don't have genes for Celiac, look elsewhere for a diagnosis.  But if you have Celiac genes, you cannot rule out Celiac disease. You mentioned in another post that you are vegetarian.  Have you been checked for nutritional deficiencies?  The best sources of the eight essential B vitamins are found in meats.  Do you supplement any of the B vitamins as a vegetarian? Deficiency in Thiamine Vitamin B 1 is strongly associated with anemia which can cause false negatives on antibody tests.  Fatigue, numbness or tingling in extremities, difficulty with coordination, headaches and anemia are strongly associated with thiamine deficiency.  Other B vitamins that contribute to those symptoms are Riboflavin B 2, Pyridoxine B 6, Folate B 9 and B12 Cobalamine.  The eight B vitamins all work together with minerals like magnesium and iron.  So your symptoms are indicative of B vitamin deficiencies.  You can develop vitamin and mineral deficiencies just being a vegetarian and not eating good sources of B vitamins like meat.  B vitamin deficiencies are found in Celiac due to the malabsorption of nutrients because the lining of the intestines gets damaged by the antibodies produced in response to gluten.    
    • Trish G
      Fiber Supplement

      By Trish G · Posted

      Thanks, I'm not a big fan of prunes but did add them back after stopping the Benefiber. Hoping for the best while I wait to hear back from Nutritionist for a different fiber supplement.  Thanks again
    • Wheatwacked
      Has anyone had terrible TMJ/ Jaw Pain from undiagnosed Celiac?

      By Wheatwacked · Posted

      If you were wondering why milk protein bothers you with Celiac Disease.  Commercial dairies supplement the cow feed with wheat, which becomes incorporated in the milk protein. Milk omega 6 to omega 3 ratio: Commercial Dairies: 5:1 Organic Milk: 3:1 Grass fed milk: 1:1
×
×
  • Create New...

Important Information

NOTICE: This site places This site places cookies on your device (Cookie settings). on your device. Continued use is acceptance of our Terms of Use, and Privacy Policy.