| May 5, 2007 @ 2:59 PM |
Why Does This Happen?
|
|
LipGlossQueen9
Posts: 10,088
|
So I'm doing pretty good with my weight loss...not excellent, but it's the Lithium and also the birth control pills now that are dragging me down. I should be off the Lithium completely by July. But something strange is going on.
I'll wake up one morning to find that I've "puffed up"...meaning I'm much bigger than I was the day before. Usually it doesn't last till the end of the day, but it really depresses me, and I'm kind of not sure why it happens.
|
|
  |
|
| May 5, 2007 @ 5:22 PM |
Why Does This Happen? |
|
jamminjerry
Posts: 3,780
|
pardon the intrusion, but i think the word you seek is litmus, as in litmus test. if one is not "progressing" one is failing the litmus test, irreguardless of the drugs one takes. perhaps you should look at your hand a bit more often than at your spirit?
|
| |
|
| May 5, 2007 @ 9:56 PM |
Why Does This Happen?
|
|
uab_5
Posts: 2,371
|
I gained thirty pounds from Dec to Feb while on lithium. Came to find out that te lithium killed my thyroid which shut down my metabolism.
My GP put me on syntheic thyroid hormone and after two months my weight gain is slowly reversing.
Get your thyroid checked. Odds are it's shut down. Good thiing is that syntheic thyroid hormone is $4 generic prescription at Wally-World or Sams. 
|
|
| |
|
| May 5, 2007 @ 10:03 PM |
Why Does This Happen? |
|
LipGlossQueen9
Posts: 10,088
|
jerry- heard it all before, i know why i'm not losing weight as fast as i'd like and i don't need your advice. thanks.
anyway. my thyroid's fine, uab, it's just that for some reason since i've been on the lithium i haven't been able to lose any weight, before that it literally almost dropped off.
|
| |
|
| May 5, 2007 @ 11:27 PM |
Why Does This Happen?
|
|
BandTMom
Posts: 28,408
|
Lithium causes you to retain water....the "puffiness" you see in the morning. That's one reason you need to make sure you have plently of sodium in your diet...the water retention can dilute it.
Water retention is the reason you are havng trouble losing weight,
HTH
|
|
| |
|
| May 5, 2007 @ 11:34 PM |
Why Does This Happen? |
|
Heaveninawildflower
Posts: 15,333
|
Mom, I always thought salt contributed to water retention, so I looked it up -
How much salt you use will make a difference since it causes your body to retain water. Your physical activity will make a difference also. The more active you are, the more water you get rid of.
- John G. Hipps M.D.
http://www.thecountrydoctor.com/prescriptions/edema.htm
|
| |
|
| May 6, 2007 @ 3:34 PM |
Why Does This Happen?
|
|
FeliciVagano
Posts: 2,152
|
treading very softly here....Jerry you are an ass....
LGQ puffyness can be caused by a multitude of issues.... sounds like you have the situation well in hand..
now AFAIK ( and remember)
.... if a drug ( not salt) is causing you to retain water...when your body flushes out ..it takes along alot of good things with the retained water ...
..excess salt causes you to retain water...when your body finally releases the excess water...it takes some of the excess salt with it..along with other good things...
..not enough salt in your diet is bad...too much salt is just as bad...
moderation in most everything seems to be working for me...
Green tea also seems to help... It's supposed to kick your metabolism up a couple of notches.. seems to do just that for me too...
It is really great that you are progressing...
|
|
| |
|
| May 6, 2007 @ 4:45 PM |
Why Does This Happen? |
|
BandTMom
Posts: 28,408
|
When I went to nursing school, Lithium was a drug we studied. It has been a while and that is not a drug we use in PACU, but what I remember is that Lithuim causes weight gain and water retention. It was also important that a person taking Lithium had enough sodium in their diets because Lithium is excreted primarily by the kidney; adequate renal function and adequate salt and fluid intake are essential in order to avoid lithium accumulation and intoxication. Thus, a decision to initiate lithium therapy should be preceded by a thorough clinical examination and evaluation of each patient, including laboratory determinations, ECG, and a very careful assessment of renal function. When sodium intake is lowered, lithium excretion is reduced. Diminished intake or excessive loss of salt and fluids, as a result of vomiting, diarrhea, perspiration or use of diuretics will also increase lithium retention. Thus, lithium should not be given to patients on a salt-free diet and sodium depletion must be carefully avoided. Therefore, it is essential for the patient to maintain a normal diet including adequate salt and fluid intake during lithium therapy. Salt supplements and additional fluids may be required if excessive losses occur. If diuretics are used during lithium therapy the serum lithium concentration must be closely monitored
|
| |
|
| May 6, 2007 @ 4:54 PM |
Why Does This Happen?
|
|
Heaveninawildflower
Posts: 15,333
|
Mom - thanks for the explanation!
|
|
| |
|
| May 6, 2007 @ 6:26 PM |
Why Does This Happen? |
|
BandTMom
Posts: 28,408
|
You're welcome.
Sometimes having a nurse in the family is quite handy.
|
| |
|
|
|
|