Weight Gain

[Patti]

I had single dose radiation 6 months ago.  I am getting some head and face bursts of pain but that is not the topic here.  I have noticed an ever so slow weight gain of 8 pounds.  I am pretty active and eat pretty well.  I haven't had the need to take steroids yet.  Has anyone else had this problem?  Patti

[arizonajack]

  I have noticed an ever so slow weight gain of 8 pounds.  I am pretty active and eat pretty well.

Maybe too well. 

I lost 100 lbs in the 12 month period after GK (2013). It had nothing to do with the GK and I'm guessing your weight gain doesn't either.

I did it by writing down everything I ate, including portion size, and then looked up the calories. When I determined how many calories I was eating daily I was able to cut back successfully.

I'm still writing it all down.

I suggest you do the same. You'll be surprised at how many calories a day you actually eat.

[PaulW]

I gained 30lb after Cyberknife and I do blame it on the radiation I have since lost it all again and back down to 198lb.
After CK my balance got worse, it was a bit like having a permanant hangover.
I had slight nausea on and off for about 6 months. During that time I could not stop eating... It was like my brain was telling me to eat to stop the dizziness and settle the stomach. Eventually the dizziness went away and my balance returned to near normal... The cravings went away and the pounds disappeared without any effort on my part. Over the course of the first two years symptoms continued to fluctuate and with it the cravings came and went.. So I put down weight gain for myself to be caused by balance issues.

[Echo]

I agree 100% with Paul!  I had the same issue with balance as well as an ocular motor problem that developed 6 months post GK.  My issues lasted roughly the first year and the discomfort was similar to what Paul describes - a mild nausea.  Eating helped!  I gained 12 lbs. a year after treatment.  It really had nothing to do with the radiation, it was just how I handled the symptoms that developed post treatment.  Eating did take away the nausea and helped with the wonky head.  Compounding the issue was that both the ocular motor issue and the balance problems made exercise difficult, so everything slowed down including burning the calories.

Like Paul, I'm now almost 3 years post treatment and feeling great.  Nausea, wonky head, balance and ocular motor issues almost completely gone.  The 12 extra lbs., well they're still hanging around and will be the next thing I plan to take care of.

Cathie

[Patti]

Thanks everyone!  I do have very mild nausea at time and eating helps!  And sometimes eating helps my headaches.  I'm sure with the nice weather (if it ever gets here) that I will walk more. I've already started watching my carbs.  They always get me!