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View Full Version : Lymphedema, CVI, Weight Gain even though dieting.


renita
Feb 5, 2012, 02:16 PM
I was diagnosed with Lymphedema 6 yrs. ago. I have managed it, and lost weight, but in Sept. 2010 I went into Atrial Fibrillation. So there were many new meds with my heart condition. I am still in A-Fib and they are controlling it with meds. The problem is since I've been on these meds, my weight has struggled to continue to go down. I have alot of weight to lose and have lost alot of weight, but I need to get more off of me to get better all the way around. My body started to lose again about 3 months ago and I thought things were turning around for me, but these past 2 weeks, it's not going as great. I've started to climb the ladder (Scale) and my weight has gone up by 8-9 lbs. in the past 2 weeks and it's not because of anything different I have done.
I had a Primary Dr. Appt. last Tuesday and he was a different Dr. and told me it was to be expected with the Chronic Venous Insufficiency that I suffer with. I told him I haven't ever been told I have that. He gave me some information on it, but I am really troubled now.
I have been doing exercise at least 4 times/week for 30 min. each day. I use a Swiss ball and Resistance Tubes. It has helped to tone my body, but I'm just not losing. I am very frustrated by this. The Dr. said I'm doing all the right things. Every time the scale goes up, I get worried that I will be in the same state I was 6 yrs. ago. I had to go to the ER and ended up in the hospital for 1 month. I had CHF and the worst case of Cellulitis they had ever seen. My body was "weeping" and my legs and arms,backside,hips,stomach were all affected by the Cellulitis. I had over 160+ lbs. of water on me. Within that month, they pulled 130 lbs. of that off of me, with special diet and meds. It scares me, because when I got that way, I couldn't do anything right it seemed. I was eating a low calorie, low sodium diet. I tried Weight Watchers, Low Sodium Diets, etc...Nothing worked back then.
Again, my body had been losing, but I haven't been able to lose anymore than 50 lbs. in about 18 months on Weight Watchers. I do try to watch my sodium, but I don't do very well on that as I should, but it still shouldn't cause these results. I am also Perimenopausal, so that has alot to do with it being more difficult also. Understand 6 yrs. ago I weighed 653 lbs. Now I weigh 444 lbs. Obviously, I have a ways to go and I feel like in order for my heart to get better and my overall health to progress, I need this weight off of me. My question is; is there anyone else who has Lymphedema and CVI? What do you do? Please help if you can.
Thanks so much for listening.

Trish
Feb 5, 2012, 03:40 PM
You have had quite a roller coaster ride between the A/Fib, and weight issue. I suppose it sounds like a silly question, but have you had a thorough a complete physical with a cardiologist to get the A/Fib under control and a weight specialist to try to get that down? I'm certain you've read a lot in the new suggested guidelines for controlling weight. You'll probably want to read the most recent from the National Lymphedema Network www.lymphnet.org on weight control and you'll want to study the new guidelines on exercisel

Best wishes for finding a good answer quickly.

Trish