wtf - sudden and dramatic weight gain

el_mustango
el_mustango Posts: 6
in Health and Weight Loss
I'm an overweight dude in my mid-30s, and I recently was diagnosed with Celiac Disease and a dairy allergy. I've eliminated gluten, dairy and (most) sugar from my diet and over the last 6 months I have lost 40 lbs. However, 14 days ago I started gaining weight. I have gained 16 lbs in the last 14 days. I have not changed anything in my diet. I have not reintroduced gluten or dairy and I have kept my sugar intake low. I have noticed that I have to urinate a lot more these last two weeks and I've also noticed that I'm not sleeping very well.

The only things I can think that have changed are:
1. I started using a new brand of sea salt (although I have not increased my use of it)
2. I reduced my probiotics from two pills down to one, daily
3. I was given a promotion at my job, and have been working a little extra during the transition. I am very happy to be taking this promotion, I don't FEEL like I've stressed much about it, and overall this job will be much less stressful than my last job.

It seems like it is physically IMPOSSIBLE to gain that much weight in that short of a period of time. Especially considering the weight came off slowly and gradually.

Does anyone have any ideas why / how this is happening? Could water retention be doing this? I'm about to lose my ****, because I honestly have stayed on the straight and narrow with my diet, and yet I've gain 16lbs in 14 days. I feel like I'm about to lose it.

Replies

  • 365andstillalive
    365andstillalive Posts: 663 Member
    Consult a doctor, not the internet.

    Significant weight gain in a short period of time could be an indication of a ton of different problems if you've really had no diet change over the past 2 weeks.

    Good luck!
  • emdeesea
    emdeesea Posts: 1,823 Member
    You need to call your doctor. That amount of weight gain in that short of time is not normal.
  • AliceDark
    AliceDark Posts: 3,886 Member
    Have you also gotten physically larger in the past 14 days, or do you clothes feel the same? The most likely explanation is that the batteries in your scale are starting to die and you need to replace them. Or, if you move your scale and don't put it in the exact same place on the floor (or if you floor isn't level), it will give you some whacked-out readings.

    EDIT: Duh, reading comprehension fail. If you're also experiencing sleep issues and increased urination, go see a doctor.
  • SarcasmIsMyLoveLanguage
    SarcasmIsMyLoveLanguage Posts: 2,668 Member
    Are you tracking calories? Gluten-free prepared foods are not lower in calories, and often are actually a lot higher in calories. Some people assume gluten-free=lower in cals.

    That being said, the excessive weight gain along with sleep issues and excessive urination are concerning. I would see your doctor asap.
  • nessa3983
    nessa3983 Posts: 34
    See a doctor, I had something similar happen. I was using a cellulite cream and I got a spare tire pretty quick as soon as I quit using the cream it went away. That's how I figured out what was happening
  • el_mustango
    el_mustango Posts: 6
    One other thing: I had a migraine about two weeks ago and I've had a few "aftershock" headaches since then. I take Advil when I have these headaches. I can't remember the last time I took advil before the migraine two weeks ago.

    I know this will prob reinforce the "go to the doctor" sentiment. BUT... could water retention do this? I've been reading that Advil can cause some serious water retention. Can it cause a gain of 16 lbs in 2 weeks?

    I really want to avoid the doctors. For years I kept asking them if all of my intense intestinal pain could be due to celiacs and several doctors told me "if you had celiacs you'd be losing weight". so essentially they just blew me off. It wasn't until I paid for a test out of pocket that my suspicions were confirmed. I suffered my entire adult life with this problem. So, I'm not to keen on doctors, nowadays.
  • vismal
    vismal Posts: 2,463 Member
    16 lbs in 14 days is 1 of 2 things, a broken scale or water weight. You'd literally have to be gorging daily to gain that much fat. If you think it's the scale then get a new one, otherwise it's water. 16 lbs is roughly two gallons of water which is quite a bit to retain. Do you appear swollen especially in your hands and feet?
  • Kalikel
    Kalikel Posts: 9,603 Member
    One other thing: I had a migraine about two weeks ago and I've had a few "aftershock" headaches since then. I take Advil when I have these headaches. I can't remember the last time I took advil before the migraine two weeks ago.

    I know this will prob reinforce the "go to the doctor" sentiment. BUT... could water retention do this? I've been reading that Advil can cause some serious water retention. Can it cause a gain of 16 lbs in 2 weeks?

    I really want to avoid the doctors. For years I kept asking them if all of my intense intestinal pain could be due to celiacs and several doctors told me "if you had celiacs you'd be losing weight". so essentially they just blew me off. It wasn't until I paid for a test out of pocket that my suspicions were confirmed. I suffered my entire adult life with this problem. So, I'm not to keen on doctors, nowadays.
    Yes, it could be water retention from salt. It could be that your heart is slowly failing. Could be too little protein in your blood. Could be LOTS of things.

    You need a doctor. If you take your medical advice from posters on the Internet, they can kill you. They don't know what they're talking about and give poor diagnoses and ridiculous treatment plans.

    You might as well go to a playground and ask the five year olds what they think you should do. Honestly. They'd be as likely to give you the right advice.

    Call the doctor. If you don't like yours, get a new one. But see yours until you can see the new one.
  • emdeesea
    emdeesea Posts: 1,823 Member
    A few of your symptoms point to the beginnings of congestive heart failure. I can't diagnose you over the internet though, and no one should, really. But it's really best if you get checked out ASAP.
  • AliceDark
    AliceDark Posts: 3,886 Member
    Advil can cause some water retention, but 16 pounds is a LOT. Does your weight typically fluctuate a lot?

    I totally get wanting to avoid doctors -- a few people in my family have celiac disease, and they got fed the same BS "if you had celiac you would be losing weight" line too. But you should go in for this.
  • el_mustango
    el_mustango Posts: 6
    I should have noted that it's NOT the scale. first I thought was "dying batteries" but got the same reading after I changed the batteries.

    I don't think my hands or feet are swelling, and 16 lbs of water does seem implausible. But, honestly, I've never even thought about water retention so I have no clue what is normal.

    Since the general consensus seems to be that I should go to the doctors, then I will. Like I said, I had no idea if water retention could be that significant so I thought I'd ask to see if other have experienced anything like this.

    Congrats to vismal - 118 lbs lost. That's freaking awesome!
  • SarcasmIsMyLoveLanguage
    SarcasmIsMyLoveLanguage Posts: 2,668 Member
    Good luck. Let us know how you make out with this. If Advil causes excessive water retention, I'd like to know

    Edited: reading comprehension fail :blushing:
  • tulips_and_tea
    tulips_and_tea Posts: 5,744 Member
    16 lbs in 14 days is 1 of 2 things, a broken scale or water weight. You'd literally have to be gorging daily to gain that much fat. If you think it's the scale then get a new one, otherwise it's water. 16 lbs is roughly two gallons of water which is quite a bit to retain. Do you appear swollen especially in your hands and feet?
    THIS. In your OP you said you changed brands of sea salt. Have you compared the labels on the 2? Even if it is still sea salt, ingredients can vary vastly between brands. I'd look into that if I were you.
  • AliceDark
    AliceDark Posts: 3,886 Member
    Good luck. Let us know how you make out with this. If Advil causes excessive water retention, I'd like to know

    Edited: reading comprehension fail :blushing:
    It does for me, but it "behaves" like typical water retention (1-2 pounds, jumps up suddenly, then jumps down again after a day or two).
  • Mr_Knight
    Mr_Knight Posts: 9,532 Member
    Open your diary.
  • astartig
    astartig Posts: 549 Member
    press down on your arms with a couple of your fingers for a few seconds and see if it leaves a dent. same with your lower leg/ankle.

    If it does that's a sign of water retention. (And it's a serious sign of water retention, the kind that needs medical attention pronto) regardless if it leaves dents or not though, with those symptoms get to a doctor.
  • el_mustango
    el_mustango Posts: 6
    Update: I called the doctor and the soonest they could get me in is Tuesday. This morning when I weighed myself I was down 6lbs. So, I will continue to monitor the whole situation. Hopefully it is just water retention, and I will continue to lose the weight over the next few days. I honestly don't feel like it's anything too serious, but I plan on going to the appointment on Tuesday, even if I lose all or most of the weight I gained over the last few days, just to be on the safe side.

    Mr. Knight - what did you mean "Open your diary." ?
  • SarcasmIsMyLoveLanguage
    SarcasmIsMyLoveLanguage Posts: 2,668 Member
    Good to hear.
  • el_mustango
    el_mustango Posts: 6
    Lost another 2.8 lbs

    7.2 lbs to go to back to where I was two weeks ago.
  • I_Will_End_You
    I_Will_End_You Posts: 4,397 Member
    Lost another 2.8 lbs

    7.2 lbs to go to back to where I was two weeks ago.


    Sounds like it could have been water retention then. Good luck at the doctor.

    And "open your diary" means go into your settings, and change your diary to public instead of private. Then people can look at your intake and give better advice.
  • el_mustango
    el_mustango Posts: 6
    Just a final follow up: today I stepped on the scale and my weight is back to where it was before all of this craziness. In other words- I've lost the 16 lbs that I inexplicably gained in just two weeks. It took about 10 days to lose the 16 lbs of water.

    I feel fine (much better than I did 6 months ago) and my wife has told me numerous times over the last few weeks that it def looks like I am losing weight. So, my official self-diagnosis is that the 16 lbs were due to water retention, prob caused by taking high doses of Advil over a short period of time.
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  • SarcasmIsMyLoveLanguage
    SarcasmIsMyLoveLanguage Posts: 2,668 Member
    Just a final follow up: today I stepped on the scale and my weight is back to where it was before all of this craziness. In other words- I've lost the 16 lbs that I inexplicably gained in just two weeks. It took about 10 days to lose the 16 lbs of water.

    I feel fine (much better than I did 6 months ago) and my wife has told me numerous times over the last few weeks that it def looks like I am losing weight. So, my official self-diagnosis is that the 16 lbs were due to water retention, prob caused by taking high doses of Advil over a short period of time.
    curious if you kept your doctor's appointment and what he/she said about this?
  • Sophiareed218
    Sophiareed218 Posts: 145 Member
    Sudden weight gain is a medical concern. Could be related to CHF or something. See your doctor to get checked out- soon!
  • justalittlecrazy
    justalittlecrazy Posts: 88 Member
    Not be disgusting, but water isn't the only thing that gets retained with Advil usage. Stool softeners are often prescribed to folks using lots of ibuprofen/Advil.
  • hearthwood
    hearthwood Posts: 794 Member
    I agree go to a doctor to see what's going on.
  • FaylinaMeir
    FaylinaMeir Posts: 661 Member
    I can gain 5 pounds in water weight just after eating something salty like sushi. Honestly if in the next couple days the water goes away and you feel fine I would say you're fine and not to worry . If you would feel more comfortable going to a doctor then do that.
    But normally 16 pounds over 2 weeks is VERY weird and if it happens again definitely go to the doctor. Could be a sign of an impending heart attack or stroke. At the very least the water retention could indicate something with blood pressure.

    I wish you luck :flowerforyou:
  • chadya07
    chadya07 Posts: 627 Member
    16 pounds is excessive for just water weight. i would keep your appointment. my husband had similar issues and ended up in the ER and with a new heart valve.

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