Anyone gain weight from treating their ANEMIA?

cherbapp
cherbapp Posts: 322
edited December 2024 in Health and Weight Loss
So I have been anemic for quite some time and over the summer it was borderline if my doc would admit me to the hospital. He let me go home and I have been on liquid iron supplements ever since. It took about a month to feel better...but just the last couple weeks I feel actually good.

However my weight has gone up while I net between 1200 and 1600 calories...I'm 5'9" and was 195 pounds. Now I'm 199 and have been stuck there for two weeks. So I am wondering if anemia is a low blood count...and it's no longer low....would that explain this weight gain? Tomorrow is my 1 year anniversary of using MFP religiously...except 13 days of vacation. I never had to enter a gain before!

I thought it was water retention, but I did gain 6 pounds and almost three came off....this other three+ refuses to budge. Pants fit the same...etc.

So anyone else deal with correcting their anemia and then have a weight gain?

It's super frustrating...but if I know it's not a calorie issue, I can deal with it. :)

Replies

  • cherbapp
    cherbapp Posts: 322
    Apparently not...
  • fittocycle
    fittocycle Posts: 827 Member
    I've been anemic but not to that extent. I did have a hard time losing until my iron was up to a more normal level. However, my thyroid was also a little off then, which could have been part of the issue. Just curious-has your doctor check your thyroid? Anemia and hypothyroidism can go hand in hand.:flowerforyou:
    Hope you get your iron levels up soon. Having anemia can really make you feel awful! Take care!
  • lanared
    lanared Posts: 1
    Yes, I had the same problem! I didn't realize what was going on until I had gained about 15 lbs. in one month or so. Lost about 5 as soon as I went off the iron supplement & am now having to work hard for the difference! Keep working at it - at least you are feeling good now!
  • cherbapp
    cherbapp Posts: 322
    I've been anemic but not to that extent. I did have a hard time losing until my iron was up to a more normal level. However, my thyroid was also a little off then, which could have been part of the issue. Just curious-has your doctor check your thyroid? Anemia and hypothyroidism can go hand in hand.:flowerforyou:
    Hope you get your iron levels up soon. Having anemia can really make you feel awful! Take care!

    Yeah I did have my thyroid checked because I was having so much trouble losing weight at first. A lot of it was a lack of energy and feeling dizzy a lot....but no thyroid problems....at least the minor things that showed up were not worth medicating. I was al ost hoping for something solid. Or at least a reason why I was fat. Lol
  • cherbapp
    cherbapp Posts: 322
    Yes, I had the same problem! I didn't realize what was going on until I had gained about 15 lbs. in one month or so. Lost about 5 as soon as I went off the iron supplement & am now having to work hard for the difference! Keep working at it - at least you are feeling good now!

    Wow...I was all upset over my gain...but 15 would be so hard to deal with! Thanks for letting me know this is valid...I do feel so much better with my iron up but not fun when I gotta get more weight off now.
  • cbirdso
    cbirdso Posts: 465 Member
    Yes, because the medical profession thinks the only solution to anemia is extra iron. I had so much iron in my system that it: 1) made me retain water 2) caused severe muscle weakness 3) caused heart palpitations 4) caused joint pain 5) and increased hunger. It took many, MANY years before a doctor wondered if the 17 times the recommended level of iron in my system might be causing some of my health problems. Since I am very anemic (HCT of 30 to 33), I could not have phlebotomies, so I took a chleating drug called ExJade. Well, it was like an energy switch was turned on and I also started to release tons of inflammation.
    I just continued this return to health by eating right and getting in some exercise. I am still very anemic but feel better than I have in years.
  • Christy175
    Christy175 Posts: 60 Member
    I so far havent gained any weight from my anemia treatment. I have pernicious anemia so I have to get B-12 shots and take 65mg Iron supplements. Unfortunately I havent felt any benefits from my treatments. Ive been getting shots for 7 weeks now and years of Iron supplements. The lethargy from the anemia makes it hard to do anything especially exercise. Do you have any advice from your experience with anemia on dealing with feeling so tired all of the time?
  • jfsears
    jfsears Posts: 47 Member
    I have pernicious anemia as well, when first diagnosed I had to get shots every week for a month the everyother etc and get my blood checked regularly because sometimes it goes down again and I am back to square one. After being diagnosed is when I put weight on. I was first diagnosed 3 years ago and 6 months before I started to feel human again and about a year before I felt back to myself again. my only advice is it get your shots on time and dont forget your pills, and take naps :)
  • Christy175
    Christy175 Posts: 60 Member
    Thanks JF,

    I dont really know much about pernicious anemia. I didnt know that the B-12 levels can drop again-then you have to start over. The Dr said I should feel better after a month but no luck. After reading about how long it took for you to feel well I am discouraged. Sometimes I barely (or dont) have enough energy to make it through the day at work, let alone for social activities. I really dont feel like exercising. Cardio kills me, weight training is ok.

    Does anyone know if being anemic causes food cravings?
  • jfsears
    jfsears Posts: 47 Member
    for me after treatment i crave carbs for about 24 hours after, the doc thinks im crazy but it never fails all i want to eat is bread and pasta. dont be discouraged, if cardio is hard then just stick to weights for now and try and get in some low paced walks in on break at work for example. i understand not having to energy i used to have to get right back into bed after making it. i didnt mean to discourage you :( it will get better it is just a slow process if your levels were really low. as for them going back down that could just be a part of my specific amiema :) on the upside before my relapse i went from a size 18 to a 10 after everything was working properly it came off fairly easily im back to working it off again now because my levels droped and my thyroid is a problem now. you could still have a thyroid problem even if its not showing up on blood work my doc sent me to a natural path doc because i had all the symptoms all i had to do was take my temp for three days during my cycle and record the numbers and it showed that my thyroid was low functioning which can go hand in hand with anemia, i have accupuncture eveyother week now for my thyroid and after 2 months i can already notice a BIG difference.
  • Nomi923
    Nomi923 Posts: 43 Member
    Its funny that you ask this at this, I'm studying this currently in Med school.

    Iron Deficiency Anemia is due to low Iron in the body due to, in your case it seems, malabsorption of Iron. Now this Anemia typically isn't really characterized with the amount of weight gain that your reporting. 6 pounds? I would get my self checked out. A pound or 2 could be allocated to replenishing Iron stores + the raised RBC count + a little extra water retention. I would see advise you to see a doctor.

    NOTE: someone above said something about Pernicious Anemia. Its not the same thing as Iron Deficiency Anemia and the treatment and results would be different. Pernicious Anemia occurs due to Lack of cobalamin ( Vit B12).
  • cherbapp
    cherbapp Posts: 322
    Its funny that you ask this at this, I'm studying this currently in Med school.

    Iron Deficiency Anemia is due to low Iron in the body due to, in your case it seems, malabsorption of Iron. Now this Anemia typically isn't really characterized with the amount of weight gain that your reporting. 6 pounds? I would get my self checked out. A pound or 2 could be allocated to replenishing Iron stores + the raised RBC count + a little extra water retention. I would see advise you to see a doctor.


    Yep my anemia was iron deficiency...from an old gastric bypass and then aggravated by a low calorie diet in which I would skip meat in order to lower calories just because I don't like meat. I have since found other sources of protein and iron and with the supplements my iron is ok. Not good yet but ok.

    So really it could only be 2 pounds of gain? Ugh. Thanks...I guess I gotta figure this out. I seriously haven't eatern enough to gain an ounce of fat. Was hoping for a simple explanation but that never happens. Lol
  • WillUAre
    WillUAre Posts: 81 Member
    I had blood transfusion into my system since i was anemic and I think my 2lbs gain was due to the blood transfusion.
  • ALH1981
    ALH1981 Posts: 538 Member
    I have chronic severe anemia

    Every 3 montsh i go into hostpital and have iron infusions. I also have weekly B12 shots.

    I have NO weight gain associated with it and no excuses for not exceisiing or eating right.... Actually when i get additional iron and B12 i get more engery and can work out longer and harder and i feel better and LOSE weight!!
  • eylia
    eylia Posts: 200 Member
    I've had a number of iron transfusions and a couple of B12 injections over the a period of a few years. I have chronic anemia, I can cope most of the time, but if it runs too low I am hospitalised. I've got Crohn's and I'm also coeliac, so bloodloss and absorption are both terrible for me. I do often gain a little after a transfusion, but I've only ever related it to the improvement in my health-my appetite drops when I'm unwell, and so does my weight. Once I've been 'topped up' I improve on all fronts. So mines just an overall gain, and I don't so much see it as a side-effect, because it means I'm improving, and I have an appetite again-and my body is more able to cope with the nutrients I give it.
  • brnsuga1
    brnsuga1 Posts: 1
    Hello. I know this post is kinda old but I still wanted to comment. I have been anemic basically all of my life. I was around 125lbs when I finally was set up to iron infusions. I went through 4 sessions at 3-4 hrs a session. That was about 5 months ago. Today I currently weigh 132 lbs (I fluctuate between 129-132) and I noticed that I am now stuck there. That's not really bad being as I was 154 lbs 4 years ago and I lost the weight by diet and excercise, but my pants are a tad bit snugger and I'm making changes to try and lose the 6-7 lbs that I've gained.
  • SezxyStef
    SezxyStef Posts: 15,267 Member
    if you are gaining weight you are eating over maintenance.

    you are probably eating more than you think.....

    Do you weigh your food?

    I had high iron last year then it slowly plummeted through the year to being anemic I am back to normal and I have lost 41lbs through all that
  • darizona7099
    darizona7099 Posts: 1 Member
    I know this is an old thread, but just wanted to say that I also am gaining weight with iron supplements. And I can assure you, absolutely nothing has changed in my eating or exercise. And I Already take thyroid medication which is at a great dose for me right now, so it’s not thyroid.
    So you are not alone, they can cause weight gain and water retention. :)
  • kshama2001
    kshama2001 Posts: 28,052 Member
    I'm anemic, take iron supplements, and gain weight when my calories in exceed my calories out.

    Some forms of iron can be constipating, so for short term weight gain that's the first thing I'd look at. For long term, I'd take a hard look at my food and exercise log. If I suspected excessive water retention not due to normal fluctuations, I would discuss with my doctor.
This discussion has been closed.

Categories