weight gain | Arthritis Information

I have gained 20 pounds in 18 months, has anyone else had this problem with their RA ? My Dr. said exercise more, yea right!

Hi!

I think It's pretty normal when it hurts alot to move less and then gain weight. I know I have, and it's only been about 4? months for me, since I had to finally just slow down altogether. Right now it's more like an altogether halt. So sure, I know exactly how that is! Somewhere I had to give up the idea that I had to be acceptable for viewing by others, and instead be more comfortable. I am trying to get healthier. I have to do that, at least for the moment. Yes, I am taking Methotrexate. I wouldn't dare tan because of the meds I am on. I am on quite a few others also that make me sun sensitive as well. I am rather new to RA but as I feel now? I have to admit it seems as though a person really needs to be goal oriented to exercise. I read of people here doing it though, and loving it! So I am hoping once my meds are leveled out, I can too. I would have some Doctors very angry with me if I didn't consult them first. Crying happens. We all do it. We all have moments we look in the mirror and wonder where we are going, but I have to take it one day at a time. I guess I am still in survival mode. I haven't gotten a response from anything but Prednisone so far, and It just takes time. I hope this helps some....I sure hope you feel better soon.

My anemia has finally resolved (for now) so I have more energy now. My gp said I need to get my BP and wieght down. She said to start this week by walking a half hour a day in 2 15 minute blocks. She suggested taking some panadeine before exercising and putting feet up and iced after walking. My daughter and I are thinking of joining Weight Watchers just to give us a little more incentive. I have about 30 pounds to lose and I'm going to the South Pacific in September so I have a target to aim for. Even if I don't get all the way, every little bit will make a difference.

I wouldn't dare tan. I'm on MTX and tonight I started Plaquenil. They both make you sun sensitive so I'll be staying covered up with sunscreen and clothes and hat. If you want a tan go for spray on.

yea i agree w/ Pam do the spray on. I had talked to my dr when i was on mtx about tanning and he said if i had to (which my skin is so fair to begin w/ it doesnt make a difference anyway) to do it a couple days before im due for it next. If you have to tan i would double check with the dr just to see for sure since maybe another med you are on could give you a bad reaction w/ tanning. But spray tanning isnt so bad if its done right, i just dont have that talent LOLI was talking with a girl a few weeks ago who wanted to get a spray tan for a wedding she was going to. When her hubby saw how much it was he freaked!... He bought some tanning solution at the drug store, took it home and put it in his paint sprayer and hooked up the compressor. He brought her into the garage, closed the doors and said 'get naked'. He then proceeded to 'tan' her!I have gained 10 lbs since RA. I hate it. I know it is because I can't excerise like I used to. I am trying to change my eating habits to compensate for the lack of excerise. I just don't want to gain more weight!!! Gawd, I hate this disorder.LMAO pammy that might work actually...not a bad idea! Spray tanning isnt so bad up here. Maybe its cause its so cold we dont see the sun a lot so they know we'll keep commin back Great post! I have gained about 20 lbs in the last year, since I've been sick (still undiagnosed). I have felt terrible about it but worse since rheumy last week said "change diet, exercise daily". Yeah, when it takes all my energy just to make it to work 5 days a week, sure. And then yesterday running into someone I haven't seen in months and she knows I'm sick, she didn't mean it in a bad way but "I've noticed you've gained weight". So now I really hate how I look. UGH. I have changed my diet and am exercising a little, but the worst of it is, my appetite has increased in the last week or so. UGH. Thanks all, that's all I have to vent on this about. Sometimes I look at myself in the mirror and don't recognise myself. I think who is that fat person? I think I have sort of reverse anorexia. I see myself as the slim person I used to be in my mind. I should be able to use that to get myself looking like that again. I see myself slim in my mind then I see a mirror and don't know who is there. I hate that phrase 'change diet and exercise daily'. It sounds so deceptively easy. I didn't really gain weight with RA until I went on Arava/Enbrel and I've been gaining slowly but steadily since then (probably a total of about 10 pounds in a year). I was a little low as far as the doc was concerned before (not as far as I was concerned). Now, I'm going tomorrow for a visit and I'm so upset about getting on the dang scale! Sometimes I wonder if the meds don't contribute. 6xmum39136.7437962963Jessie, 6 years before I was diagnosed with RA, I went from doctor to
doctor, specialist to specialist. I had an eternal case of the flu that I didn't
ever feel that I could kick. I was prescribed Elavil because I was having
terrible headaches everyday. I became very lazy, quit hiking and
exercising, wanted to do nothing but eat and lay around. I gained 65 lbs
over the course of 3 years. It has taken me the past year to get 35 lbs of
it off and I quit taking the elavil in the process as I feel the medication
was one of the main reasons I was always hungry and tired. I feel better
now and the Plaquinil has eliminated the headaches that came back after
I quit the elavil. I think RA takes a toll on us physically and I don't want to
hear anyone tell me to exercise when I can barely get out of bed some
mornings. It is all I can do to work this new job I have. We do however
have to do something to keep ourselves healthy and active. Losing the
weight has really improved the way I feel. Make sure you don't let the 20
lbs turn into 65 or more pounds because it is so easy to do. And it is so
hard to take off. Well, my RD today said that it could be the Enbrel (she's heard the complaint from a bunch of others, though it is not a listed side effect) or it could be just pre-menopausal symptoms.

Yay. Not.

No idea what to do, as I already do yoga 5-7 days a week (strength/cardio/stretching, not just easy stretching) and keep my calories around 1300.

Why is it that the less I can do, the more I enjoy eating? I've always been a 'slow burner' but to maintain on 1200 cals a day is just heart breaking.

I'd like to blame the meds...but I think it is the inability to exercise -I just can't stand the pain.