Community Forum

I have always been very skinny, and I have never had an eating disorder, despite what everyone assumes about me. Now with the Crohn's it is even harder to maintain my weight. Yes, I am a picky eater, but if it is something I like I eat a LOT of it. People can't believe how much I eat half the time. My doctor says I probably just have a high metabolism. My average weight has hovered around 95 pounds for a few years (I'm now 18 years old and about 5'6"). When I prepped for my colonoscopy I dropped down to 82 but finally got back into the 90's range recently. I'm probably one of the only teenage girls who cries to her mother that she WANTS to gain weight. People tell me all the time I'm so lucky because I can eat whatever I want and not get fat...that I should be a model and that some people would kill for my figure. But people don't get what it's like to have to shop in kids' stores for pants that won't fall off my waist...or buy double zeros and still have to go get them taken in and wear them with a belt. Shopping for clothes, bathing suits, etc. can be upsetting unless I have a really good day because I find things that I'd love to wear but just don't fit me right at all. I hate being bony. My arms & legs seem abnormally long to me to begin with, but being so skinny just makes it worse. I've been told to eat more meals throughout the day, smaller portions each meal. Even when I was on Prednisone I didn't gain. I am going to try to keep up with drinking the Ensure weight gain shakes. Does anybody have any tips at all? I would really appreciate it. I would love to be at 110 pounds at least. I haven't even gotten my period for a year, which the obgyn things is from the low weight, stress, or Crohn's, or a combination of the three. I know the answer is not to stuff myself full of unhealthy stuff...but just so you know it's not like I eat salads everyday. I do love fast food so it's not even like you can say go eat a few hamburgers lol. Please please help! Thanks!

 Reply posted for stuckonyestrday.

I am 57, am 6' and weigh about 147. I am in "remission" but gaining weight is very difficult. I have had Crohn's for 42 years and no longer have my right colon or 2/3 of my ileum ( 4 resections). I too am looking for the holy grail of how to gain 5 pounds. Ensure, Modulen or any other shake goes right thru me - they are all hyperosmotic - they draw liquid into the gut. I have gained a few pounds in the last year with the following: I take about 8 imodium per day to slow things down. I take 8 geltabs of high dose fish oil for its possible anti-inflammatory effect ( + Pentasa and Mercaptopurine). I take Jay Robb protein powder in Sour Cream so that it is more like a paste - I think that enhances its absorption. I eat balance bars. I eat eggs, steak - my cholesterol/ HDL/LDL/Triglyceride profile is fine.  In summary, maybe try eating things that are more solid or paste-like in consistency if you can tolerate them.

 Reply posted for stuckonyestrday.

I know your frustration. There is no easy way to gain weight when you have a metabolic disorder like IBD. But, it's simpler than you may think. You just need more calories. My suggestion however will cost you more money. You need to decide what is more important to you the money or the weight. You will be spending abot $50-$100 more dollars a month.

You need to start drinking Ensure. You can buy a cheaper knock off brand called Equate at WalMart...I like to call WalMart WallyWorld . Anyhow, drink two or more a day. They are Lactose free and they designed to help you get more calories so you will gain weight. As a tip buy the Equate Plus product it is a little more cost but it has more calories by volume than the standard product. I am a bodybuilder who has had severe IBD for 14 years. This will help you gain weight if you stick with it. Good luck!

 Reply posted for CrohnieRN.

check out the food diets on the westonaprice.org website.  sally fallon's nourishing traditions saved my life   good luck

 Reply posted for stuckonyestrday.

I know what you mean. I am a 58 year old female and am 5'8" tall. Currently I am at 90 lbs.! I had held at a 100 for the last three years and then in April I fell and broke my heel. Within two weeks of doing that I was down to the 90 lbs. I still have seven more weeks before I can put any weight on my foot so this is really a trying time. I bought the Ensure Plus but it goes right through me so I am sticking to the regular Ensure and able to eat a little rice each day and that is about it. I'm sorry I don't have any suggestions to help but knowing how hard it is for others too can help relieve the stress and strain of the situation too. Hang in there and I pray you are able to gain some weight soon!

 Reply posted for CrohnieRN.

Thanks so much, I will definitely look into those shakes! It's nice to have someone who understands though. Like you said, most people just don't understand. Even if people make comments as a joke it still upsets me sometimes because I feel like screaming out that it's not my fault I'm so think and I wish it wasn't that way. I don't want to be extremely heavy of course, but I hate watching people say "Ew I need to lose weight" when really they're a healthy size. I'd love to have curves instead of looking bony. I dread wearing bathing suits. I know it sounds kind of bad but even though dressing in layers can be annoying during the cold weather, sometimes I just feel better covered up.  Mostly I think it's just scary to think that I want to gain weight and physically can't. When doctors say to me "I'm off the charts" I feel like...I know...what do you want me to do?! One visit to the doctor I'd gained nearly 10 pounds back and he was like "I still think you're too skinny." Well of course I am but for me gaining ten pounds is a miracle...or more than a miracle. Another thing is I know exercise is always good but sometimes I tell people I'd rather take the elevator instead of the stairs every day. I mean, walking across a college campus is exercise enough. I don't need to risk losing anything else by using the stairs lol..

 Reply posted for stuckonyestrday.

Hi there...I can sympathize with your problem.  I'm 5'4 and weigh 105 lbs, which is good for me.  Just a few months ago, I dropped to 82 lbs. because of a flare up, and gaining weight was slow, but I got up to a high of 112.  I got sick of drinking Boost shakes, so I bought some great shakes online.  Google the word Scandishake, and you should find a number of websites that can get you to read more about them.  They're powders designed to help people gain weight in a healthy way...more calories and protein and nutrition.  They come in a few flavors, but they also have recipes to enhance the shakes, like if you buy the chocolate flavor, there are recipes where you add bananas or strawberries and protein powder and other things to make the flavor different.  I love them and recommend you add a couple at least to what you eat every day.

Good luck!  I know it's hard...I still struggle with it, and when I bring it up to other people, usually they laugh and make some joke about how lucky and tiny I am.  I no longer bring it up because most just don't understand, and I wish that I was overweight and healthy instead of being thin and sick!