Intestinal issues and hair loss from weight loss

Love_Is_My_Fuel

I've been on this weight loss journey for a little over a year and I find I have more health issues than before I lost the weight. I have had testing for everything and been to specialists, they can find nothing wrong. I am not malnourished and eat very well, drink lots of water and active regularly. Had allergy testing and all is normal. The doctor says it's my body adjusting to the weight loss but to come back if I still have the problems in a few months. My main complaint is my digestion. It doesn't matter what I eat I feel nauseous and gassy after and it feels like my body isn't digesting food properly. Anyone experience these symptoms and found something that worked for the discomfort.

maracuya23

I had that bloated, horrible, dysfunction digestion feeling. I tried cutting out gluten as an experiment, hoping that nothing would be different. Turns out, after a day or so, no more bloating after meals. I've cut it out completely now, and feel vastly better on that front. My doctor did a belated Celiac's antibody test (I'd already stopped eating gluten, which makes the test inconclusive), and it came back negative. Now, whenever I accidentally have any gluten, all those digestive symptoms come back with a vengence, so I'm definitely sensitive to it even if it didn't technically show up on the Celiac's test.

Might be worth a two-week experiment to see if you're sensitive to gluten or dairy or some other kinds of food. No harm trying cutting out one thing at a time from your diet to see. If there's no difference, then you'll know. If there is, the up side is you'll feel a lot better!

ETA: Congrats on your amazing loss!

klyn7788

I have experienced a significant increase in hair loss ... it's fortunately not noticeable on my head (because I have a ton of hair) but I'm definitely seeing it in the drain. I have a friend that experienced a lot of weight loss and had the same experience. Now that she is maintaining, it's quit falling out and started to grow back. I've decided not to be too concerned because I am eating appropriately.

rach503

Look into the virgin diet, its a temporary meal plan that can help identify food allergies.

fificrazy

There has been a studied connection between IBS and anorexia. Not that you're anorexic !!! just saying there has been scientific research done studying the effect of large caloric deficits on a person's digestive health.

So because your experiencing the warning signs of malnourishment (which may not show up on lab tests if your body breaking down it's own muscles and tissues,releasing the nutrients into your blood stream giving a false healthy blood test reading!), I would definitely switch to a diet-recovery amount for awhile (2,500 calories) until your body trusts that it's getting adequate amounts of energy and nutrition to resume making hair, repairing your digestive system, etc.

seltzermint555

I think you just have to figure out what works for you.

I've not experienced the nausea or gas pains.

I have experienced severe stomach pain after 2 different times when I went out with my girlfriends and ate a burger and two ales. I think it was a combo of the greasy burger and alcohol which my body's not used to. Normal for me (now that I am on MFP) would be 1-2 ales with a regular healthier dinner or a burger with lots of water...either way as an occasional "treat" meal, but never greasy food AND alcohol at the same time. So I learned my lesson there.

I have noticed more hair in the drain than ever before in my life, especially around my first 3-4 months on MFP, but for me that wasn't an issue because I have very thick hair and before I lost like NO hair it seemed so to find 20-50 hairs every day in the shower was alarming but probably normal for many people.

The biggest problem I have encountered is constipation. I never had that before the past year. Like NEVER. Now I experience it once in awhile but last Fall and up to the end of 2013 it was fairly bad at times. Really upsetting to me and I worried for awhile that I might have something serious going on, but I've noticed by upping my fat intake a little (letting it go "into the red" a few times a week for example) and drinking even more water and hot tea, things have improved about 80% over how it was last Fall. My husband and I do a lot of road trips and I used to be the type who wouldn't drink much while on the road because I didn't want to have to stop at rest areas and stuff...but now I bring along like 2 water bottles and/or a refillable cup with straw, and I drink the whole time even if it means stopping more often. Sorry if this is all TMI, but for me it means the difference between terrible constipation for days surrounding a trip, and using the bathroom normally.

I have circulation issues as well. Nothing serious, but my fingers and toes get really numb when the weather is cold and I'm outdoors...I used to not really bother with gloves and now I MUST or I will have lingering numbness in my extremities for up to 30 minutes. Basically, classic Raynaud's type symptoms. I know a LOT of people who have similar issues after weight loss but I've also heard a lot of them say it improves over time as your body readjusts to the 'new' weight. I am hoping that is the case for me also.

Again, just wanted to say that I feel your pain (so to speak) about having what seems like more health problems during and after losing a lot of weight. At one time I weighed a bit over 300 lb and didn't have any of these issues, so it seems unfair somehow that I have them at 190 lb. But in the long run, for most of us our long-term health is so much improved by the loss that it is worth it. I hope you find solutions to what ails you!