Well, since the prevailing wisdom that carbs are responsible for weight gain, I'd say start eating more healthy carbs in whatever form you body can tolerate. That's assuming you don't have blood sugar issues of course.

For example, eat a lot of beans, fruit, dairy, and whole grains. Bananas esp. are loaded with carbs. Likewise, sweet potatoes are loaded and are really good for you. Popcorn is a good carb-laden snack with fiber, and put butter on it! Nuts are loaded with calories, healthy fat, and some carbs. Cashews are one of the higher carb nuts.

Here's a good article from the New York Times that summarizes the results of an NIH-sponsored research study on low carb vs. low fat diets for weight loss and heart health. If you believe what the results of the study say, then to gain weight, you want to up your carbs. Of course you would want to try to do healthy carbs instead of junk and sugar-laden foods. Although personally, I would allow for nice high fat ice cream.


http://www.nytimes.com/2014/09/02/he...diet.html?_r=0

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This is all very useful information, thank you very much.

It is a real challenge to eat healthy and gain weight simultaneously but based on your great suggestions, I am going to try to incorporate more healthy (and just a few unhealthy) fats, carbs, fruit (esp. bananas), cashew and almond butters, whey protein and to eat more often. The thought of sitting upright at a table and eating a complete meal, I just can't imagine it at this point. It is the PN, no eating disorder or anything like that. Frequent, smaller amounts are going to work better for now.

Mrs D - Digestively (), I do not have gastroparesis but rather autonomic issues. My PN started in my hands and worked its way up, arms, feet, legs, central and now internal. It is really not good (then again, is any neuropathy good??) I have accumulated a mid-sized pharmacy of supplements and drugs and cannabis products (I don't smoke though).

Is casein as good as whey? This is what I am taking: http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B00...?ie=UTF8&psc=1

And could creatine help? I had a physical recently and everything tested ok and no kidney problems.

I really appreciate the support on NT. I do not have a supportive family life. They love me but they are self-absorbed and do not seem to understand just how bad my PN is or even what it is. No one has taken the time to educate themselves. I have tried explain it but have given up and now I say "I am doing just fine" as I watch my body deteriorate. Anyway, I don't know what I would do without you all here to exchange ideas, help and hope. I hope one day we can all get better.

Doesn't the cannabis increase your appetite? I'm not sure if it's related to the THC or the CBD aspect of MJ, but they use it for nausea and increasing appetite for chemo patients.

I'm not sure I understand the gastorparesis comment...it IS an autonomic issue. If you have autonomic problems, then you may have some gastroparesis as part of it.

It really doesn't. I think it would if I smoked it (like I did 20 years ago) but I am what we call a lightweight so I don't take very much. I might increasing it specifically to increase my appetite and see if I can induce the munchies.

Sorry, I meant I do not have that diagnosis, not that I know of anyway. I think my doctor tries to not overly excite me with additional diagnoses. I just looked it up though and I do have these symptoms:

- Feeling full quickly when eating
- Poor appetite and weight loss

I used to have terrible GERD (took Nexium for 10 years) but it somehow resolved itself.

Hi beatle

It might help if you saw a qualified dietitian.

Dietitians are health professionals who specialise in working with people who have food issues.

A dietitian will be able to review your diet with you and suggest ways in which it could be changed so you can gain weight in a healthy way.

If you smoked it you'd get appetite invrease in spades conpared to edibles (my phantom experiences *whistles*) however since your issue is volume is bad, adding something that more often than not increases want is not the route.

All the suggestions you are taking are marvelous and I sm noting them. I had a great eat day- rather bslanced, but mire than usual. I was actually hungry. It happens far too infrquently these days. I savored every bite.

Early satiety is the hallmark sign of gastroparesis. You really might consider talking to your GI doctor about a simple test to check for gastroparesis (eating some contrast laced scrambled eggs and lay down for a couple hours while the nuclear scanner images and track the food to see how long it takes to empty the stomach).

Even if you have it, there is not any good medication options in the US. Most of treatment is life-style changes. So it wouldn't hurt to try some of the changes even without a Dx just to see if it helps. Eating small meals more frequently is top of the list. It also helps to get up and walk after eating to help move food along. This alleviates the full feeling and and discomfort/nausea that can come with it. If the stomach gets a little help emptying (with the walking) then you'll be able to eat more at other times.

Also stay away from hard to digest foods like raw fruits and veggies and nuts. Steaming veggies is the best way to go and fruit should be in moderation anyway due to the high fructose content.

If you have any nighttime symptoms, then raising the head of your bed helps to allow gravity move food out.

If you have gastroparesis, then this would explain why you can't eat much and also why you may not be absorbing nutrients (gastroparesis can impair absorption). May be worth checking this out.

I'm glad you had a good day Jon! Yea, when I smoked many moons ago, it definitely induced appetite but I also smoked cigarettes for many years, that's why I am now trying to save my lungs as much as possible (*deep breath*).

En bloc - thank you for this great information. I've never heard the term gastroparesis which is why I was dismissive but it could be a possibility and everything you said makes sense. I have always been thin but PN took me over the edge. With that and due to osteoporosis, I cannot lose more weight. I am going to start walking around a little after the small meals and see if that helps. Currently, I eat the small amounts of food and go straight back to bed.

So many good suggestions today that I will start doing. I am on skid row.

Beatle-

I would do smoothies when you are having trouble. When my appetite is the pits, I would make a smoothie with plain high quality whey protein (whey protein BTW has been shown to possibly help neuropathy in I think chemo related neuropathies-so who knows whether or not it will help other forms-I drink it everyday, nut butter (almond), frozen berries, oats.

I also ate A LOT of avocado and high quality meats. There are great suggestions on here for good quality carbs-sweet potatoes are awesome! Chickpeas are a favorite of mine.