Significant Weight Loss & NMOSD?

Hi Richard. It's the opposite with me. I wonder if there is a difference of how NMOSD affects males and females when it comes to weight. I have never had such a hard time losing weight. I come from a background of working out and eating healthy. Now, if I look at a carrot, I will gain 10 lbs. Frustrating! LOL

Hu Shekita, LOL about the carrot adding 20 pounds, Ive been there. I think having NMO or NMOSD is like riding d rollercoaster, ups and downs, sometimes terrifyingly, sometimes exhilarating (like, 'hey, I did that, I can actually do that, yay for me!'😉. When I was in a wheelchair years ago, not long after the beginning of serious paralysis, I got big, really big. I wwas always a big guy, tall and muscular, but I put on a lot of weight over the years while in a wheelchair. I got up to around 260 pounds, and kept breaking the frames of my Quickie wheelchairs because I was so heavy. Then when I started to diet and exercise my legs with the little movement i had, the weight dropped pretty quickly. Then as I began walking with a cane again I got very thin over the years, down to just under 125 pounds at the lowest a little over 20 years ago. Then I slowly put weight back on over the years, untill it all started to fade away about 3 or 4 years ago. I think there are two factors deriving the weight loss now: my inefficient movement ealking with a cane consumes a lot of energy, and my NMOSD has now made me unable to feel hunger. I think these two factors also led to the extreme weight loss 20 years ago. I can now go almost 60 hours without the need to eat. I don't actually feel hungry at that point either of but feel ill, and eating makes it better. I usually only eat once a day now, sometimes once every other day to and I feel ill after I eat. The appetite issue is probably the NMOSD having an impact on my brain, and it will probably subside in a few months or a year. My advice to others with this disease is to eat a healthy diet and to avoud getting too heavy, as that will negatively impact your mobility and stamina. If you are in as wheelchair at the moment to keep in mind that it may not be permanent, it may only be temporary, so keep your leg muscles strong by regularly using what lottle movement you have at the moment to exercise. Slso, watch the volume of food and calories you consume. Realize that reduced mobility usually means reduced calorie burning, so don't eat too much. If tou are ealking with a cane or with crutches, a walker, etc., Good for you, keep it up. Bi matter how badly you walk as or how little you do, you are exerting tremendous effort and this is keeping your legs strong. Ev we n of you just walk around your home a little every day, or just practice standing and sitting, this is great exercise. NMO and NMOSD are not constant, they do change and can get better. You have to do tour best to be your best si you can live your best and be ready for what happens next in your life. The pandemic will be over soon, so it's time to get ready to have fun again, this is goung to be a great summer. One last note: Machiavelli wrote in his Second Discourse th was t you make your own fortune in this world by putting yourself in a position to take advantage of the opportunities that come your way. By fortune Machiavelli meant luck, so stay positive, stay healthy, and be ready to participate in all the good things coming your way.


Take care,


richard