Community Forum

Have a question, or want to share your own tips and experiences? Join the discussion in the community forum. You must be registered to participate. Our forums are moderated by Crohn's & Colitis Foundation staff to facilitate a safe environment.

I can't Gain Weight

Wed, October 22, 2008 12:00 AM

Hello everyone, I was diagnosed with CD about 12 years ago. I have had 4 bowel resections. Long story short, at one point I weighed 185lbs. Today I only 95lbs. I have been on steroids just to try to gain weight, but as soon as I get off the steroids, no matter how much weight I gained, within a couple of weeks I am back down to 95lbs again. I have drank the ensure and different shakes like that at the local grocery store. I know that my idea body weight is about 120lbs and I would like to get to that, if not that atleast close to it.

My question is, is there anything that I can eat, drink, or take to help me gain weight? I am in the process of looking for a new doctor because my doctor doesn't seem to care that I am wasting away to nothing.

delliott
Joined Oct 21, 2008

Tue, November 11, 2008 7:43 AM

Reply posted for DElliott.

My thirteen year old daughter in March of 07 was down to 60 pounds. After a 9 day stay in the hospital her doctor recommended the "Low Residue Diet", which pretty much is the lowest fiber diet you can eat. No raw veggies, no fruits with seeds (like strawberries) take skin off of apples. Eat all white breads full fat cheeses and high protein meats. She now weighs 89 pounds so we will continue this diet for her its the only thing thats kept her weight climbing. Ask your doctor or look it up.

tracy hampshire
Joined Nov 10, 2008

Sat, November 08, 2008 12:59 AM

Reply posted for DElliott.

I have had Crohn's for 42 years and have had 4 resections, losing my right colon and a large portion of my ileum. I am 6' and weight about 147 lbs. I swim and am in good shape. Even though I am in "remission", I cannot gain weight. The problem with Ensure is it is hyperosmotic. It draws liquid into the gut and will always go "right through" people like us - it is a waste of time. I have been eating protein powder in Sour Cream. It is more like a paste that way and has a chance to be absorbed. I may have gained 2 pounds in the last 6 months. For me the sour cream is not a problem. Maybe you can try something like that - it just has to taste good.

since66
Joined Nov 6, 2008

Sat, November 01, 2008 12:00 AM

Reply posted for DElliott.

Hey I too had a hard time gaining weight i am an 18 year old boy who was diagnosed with crohns in march. I was down to 115lbs (normally weighed 150). I am back up to about 145lbs, and i can say i owe it to bread, chicken, and milk. i know alot of people with IBD are also lactose intolerent but i luckily am not and milk has helped me put on alot of weight. I found the ensure and weight gainer drink hurt my stomach and they would just go right through me. Chicken and turkey are good too because they are high in protein but don't have alot of visceral fats, like red meat, which is hard to digest. I hope thinks get better for you

wrknout247
Joined Aug 15, 2008

Related Topics

IBD and trauma

Janeliza
Joined Apr 13, 2022

Hi all! I've had Crohn's since 2014 with m....

read more

Life Insurance?

Aperson1
Joined Dec 2, 2022

40 y.o. male looking to get life insurance. ....

read more

IBD and exercise/sport

JS25
Joined Aug 14, 2023

This is my first post. I am 28 and I was diagnosed....

read more

Welcome to the Crohn's & Colitis Community!

This website is associated with the Crohn's & Colitis Foundation.

Please read our Top 12 Rules before posting messages and sharing stories. Always be courteous and sensitive to others!

Intended audience. The Crohn's & Colitis Foundation Online Community is intended for patients and their caregivers, family and friends. The Community is not intended for industry representatives or advertisers and these individuals are not permitted to participate on the site.

Meet the Crohn's & Colitis Community! Browse our site to see what our community is talking about and find issues important to you.

Join in and share your stories. After you feel comfortable with our site, register to share your thoughts on a regular basis.

Stay secure. Remember that our site can be viewed by anyone on the Internet. With the exception of our registration and personal pages, search engines are available within this site. To guard your privacy, follow these simple rules: do not share your address, phone number, details about your family, or anything else you would feel uncomfortable with others reading. If you post your personal email, be aware that you may receive spam e-mail from spammers who gather addresses off of the web.

Read and react to posts with care. If you don’t agree or are offended by someone’s post, take a step back and think before you reply. Since we can’t talk in-person to each other, we must recognize that we may be misunderstanding stories or posts. Please be sensitive to others’ feelings and ask for clarification before acting out.

Search before starting new topics. To keep our message boards easy to use, please use the search bar to locate topics of interest before starting a new thread. If you start a new thread, please use obvious subject headings and words that will catch the attention of others. Topics will be archived after 21 days of inactivity. To view past topics and posts, click on archive topics within each of the forums.

Stick to our guidelines. To keep this site safe for everyone, please do not post: doctors' names, treatment facility names and treatment specifics, contact information for others without their consent, links to websites with uncertain content or advertisements, requests for fundraising, items for sale, requests for study, survey and/or questionnaire participation or provocative information.

Sharing photos. Please use good taste and appropriate images when adding photos to your profile or personal stories. Photos should be in .jpg format.

Not following the rules? Crohn's & Colitis Community moderators routinely scan the message boards and will delete tasteless posts. If you post inappropriate messages or pictures or use offensive language in a post on multiple occasions, you will be notified via email and your account will be inactivated.

Report foul play. Help the Crohn's & Colitis Community moderators by reporting anyone that posts inappropriate messages or pictures by clicking the 'Report Abuse' button under the message or emailing ccfacommunity@ccfa.org.

Questions or concerns? Please feel free to email us at ccfacommunity@ccfa.org with any questions or concerns. We want you to feel comfortable here.

Terms & Conditions. By posting your story, questions, concerns and other information on the Community, you grant the Crohn's & Colitis Foundation or its authorized agent permission to publish, reproduce, record and use your stories as Crohn's & Colitis Community or the authorized agent sees fit in any medium or forum in a manner which helps to further the Crohn's & Colitis Community mission. You agree to release and hold harmless Crohn's & Colitis Community from any and all liability by any third party that may arise from the release of information to any third party or by any third party and agree that all text and other content made by you, for you or the person for whom you are the parent/guardian, shall be the exclusive property of Crohn's & Colitis Community. The Crohn's & Colitis Community cannot verify every claim made by a third party contributor to our Community and is not responsible for the authenticity of information posted.

Thank you! The Crohn's & Colitis Community is successful because of members like you!

Thanks!
The Crohn's & Colitis Community Team

*Any postings on the Crohn's & Colitis Community site should not replace your physician's advice. Always check with your personal physician before taking any action regarding your health.