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What Causes Sudden Weight Gain Around Mid Section Of Body While On Narcotic Drugs?
Question: Hi, So Iv'e experimented with a lot of drugs (Cocaine,heroin, alcohol, weed, acid, shrooms ect.) for about 3 years but this post is mostly concerning meth. After my final meth experiment I smoked and snorted it, trying to keep up with tweakers who were used to it. Istarted getting a headache like a hammer was pounding me, throwing up, sweats, shaking, and just feeling like shit. I stopped cold turkey after that.
I started noticing I gained weight around my mid section and it was like that for a couple months, people said it messes up your metabolism and just to wait it out, because like I said in my other post I could eat whatever I wanted and not gain any weight. and it went away and now I'm back to normal. The problem is now my legs mainly my calves are very painful, it feels like my whole weight is on my calves as if they're connected to anchors, it feels very heavy just standing. I heard meth causes hypertrophy is this whats happening to my body? plus it feels like my calves are getting unusually bulky and I have a pulsating,burning pain and it feels like theres some sort of liquid moving in my legs similar to your stomach burping. Do you think a weak core has something to do with this too? my stomach is flat and back to normal now it was a pot belly months ago after the drug use and it went away by itself without any exercise or dieting. but it just feels like my legs are carrying way too much.
Also my face looks like a gaunt holocaust victim. I had very baby chubby cheeks before and soft skin. Now my cheeks and face bones are very prominent and my skin is thin and sagging showing facial muscles . I heard meth causes facial muscle and fat wasting does it ever go back to the way it was before I ever touched drugs? it's also very dry and breaks out too and Iv'e never had that problem before. Also my eyebrows are almost gone... I also have what doctors diagnosed as TMJ syndrome and I know for fact it was because of the drug use and my legs the doctors didn't really have anything to say just to take pain meds.
I don't know what to do I feel ive fucked myself permanently although a lot of symptoms Ive stated in my in my post are getting better. I'm going to try to take maca and collagen supplements is this a good idea? Do you think I should also get my hormones checked too?
I started noticing I gained weight around my mid section and it was like that for a couple months, people said it messes up your metabolism and just to wait it out, because like I said in my other post I could eat whatever I wanted and not gain any weight. and it went away and now I'm back to normal. The problem is now my legs mainly my calves are very painful, it feels like my whole weight is on my calves as if they're connected to anchors, it feels very heavy just standing. I heard meth causes hypertrophy is this whats happening to my body? plus it feels like my calves are getting unusually bulky and I have a pulsating,burning pain and it feels like theres some sort of liquid moving in my legs similar to your stomach burping. Do you think a weak core has something to do with this too? my stomach is flat and back to normal now it was a pot belly months ago after the drug use and it went away by itself without any exercise or dieting. but it just feels like my legs are carrying way too much.
Also my face looks like a gaunt holocaust victim. I had very baby chubby cheeks before and soft skin. Now my cheeks and face bones are very prominent and my skin is thin and sagging showing facial muscles . I heard meth causes facial muscle and fat wasting does it ever go back to the way it was before I ever touched drugs? it's also very dry and breaks out too and Iv'e never had that problem before. Also my eyebrows are almost gone... I also have what doctors diagnosed as TMJ syndrome and I know for fact it was because of the drug use and my legs the doctors didn't really have anything to say just to take pain meds.
I don't know what to do I feel ive fucked myself permanently although a lot of symptoms Ive stated in my in my post are getting better. I'm going to try to take maca and collagen supplements is this a good idea? Do you think I should also get my hormones checked too?
Brief Answer:
Methamphetamine is known to cause rhabdomyolysis or muscle wasting
Detailed Answer:
Hello thanks for asking from HCM for your health related queries
I have read your query and I can understand your problem. I also appreciate your efforts to quit methamphetamine by self. Meth salts are basically stimulant salts and when an individual start abusing them they cause suppression of appetite. Chronic suppression of appetite results in malnutrition and body start utilising its own muscles and muscle swellings occurs especially in calf muscles. The muscles become weak and this is the reason you have developed hypertrophy of calf muscles and also having pain in that region because of weakness of these muscles.
Rhabdomyolysis caused by Meth along with chronic malnutrition results in dissolution of facial muscles. Loss of tone of muscles occurs resulting in lysis of muscle fibres and this causes deposition of fat in areas of muscle. This result in typical facial appearance with weak muscles and chubby face and some times individuals may suffer pain in face.
Fortunately as you have stopped the use of drug, these changes are reversible. As meth cause suppression of appetite and metabolism it would take some months for metabolism to come in normal levels.
Collagen fibres and Maca will help to reduce the wrinkled face. But I would advise you to take food rich in proteins and carbohydrates and low in fats. This will help in building up the muscles again. Take Vitamin C and Vitamin B12 supplement. Vitamin C will restore the balance of body and you will feel better again. Exercise daily and target the areas of calf muscles and facial muscles. This will result in building of muscles at that areas and your tone will increase.
As per my opinion no need to get your hormones checked. The problems of hormone balance may occur due to crystal meth use but the problems you have mentioned are due to other reasons and not due to hormone imbalance. Continue to stick to your decision and keep your motivation alive, you will become like normal in some months. These changes are not permanent and you will improve.
Thanks, hope this helps you. Please don't hesitate to ask agin for more doubts.
Methamphetamine is known to cause rhabdomyolysis or muscle wasting
Detailed Answer:
Hello thanks for asking from HCM for your health related queries
I have read your query and I can understand your problem. I also appreciate your efforts to quit methamphetamine by self. Meth salts are basically stimulant salts and when an individual start abusing them they cause suppression of appetite. Chronic suppression of appetite results in malnutrition and body start utilising its own muscles and muscle swellings occurs especially in calf muscles. The muscles become weak and this is the reason you have developed hypertrophy of calf muscles and also having pain in that region because of weakness of these muscles.
Rhabdomyolysis caused by Meth along with chronic malnutrition results in dissolution of facial muscles. Loss of tone of muscles occurs resulting in lysis of muscle fibres and this causes deposition of fat in areas of muscle. This result in typical facial appearance with weak muscles and chubby face and some times individuals may suffer pain in face.
Fortunately as you have stopped the use of drug, these changes are reversible. As meth cause suppression of appetite and metabolism it would take some months for metabolism to come in normal levels.
Collagen fibres and Maca will help to reduce the wrinkled face. But I would advise you to take food rich in proteins and carbohydrates and low in fats. This will help in building up the muscles again. Take Vitamin C and Vitamin B12 supplement. Vitamin C will restore the balance of body and you will feel better again. Exercise daily and target the areas of calf muscles and facial muscles. This will result in building of muscles at that areas and your tone will increase.
As per my opinion no need to get your hormones checked. The problems of hormone balance may occur due to crystal meth use but the problems you have mentioned are due to other reasons and not due to hormone imbalance. Continue to stick to your decision and keep your motivation alive, you will become like normal in some months. These changes are not permanent and you will improve.
Thanks, hope this helps you. Please don't hesitate to ask agin for more doubts.
Above answer was peer-reviewed by :
Dr. Yogesh D
Thankyou for the detailed answer compared to the other doctor... I have already stopped cold turkey since July of last year and I started feeling the symptoms a few months after... Do you think I need to see a specialist of sort? Do you think I'll ever look and feel as normal as I was before I did drugs? How do I exercise my facial muscles and what do I do about my jaw hurting? thanks for your help
Brief Answer:
No need to see a specialist for now
Detailed Answer:
Hello again and thanks for asking a follow up question
As per my opinion as 5-6 months have passed since you stopped the drug cold turkey so there is no need to see a specialist. Except the problem of pain in calves, hypertrophy of calf muscles and facial changed there are no other significant symptoms. As I have mentioned in earlier question also take Vitamin C and B12 supplements and also take diets rich in proteins and complex carbs and low in fats. This will help in building the muscles again.
Exercise daily to build new muscles. For face there are no specific exercises but daily start from forehead and to neck, alternately contact the muscles of forehead and then hold in contracted position by counting 1 to 10 and then release. In the same manner close eyes and then release, follower by blowing cheek muscles and then release them after contracting for about 10 seconds, then lips as if you are whistling and followed by other muscles of face and then neck. Exercise daily at least twice a day in three steps and your face will regain the tone.
Don't take stress about this, you will be alright in some months. Don't take drugs again as they cause significant harm.
Thanks, please ask again if you have more doubts.
No need to see a specialist for now
Detailed Answer:
Hello again and thanks for asking a follow up question
As per my opinion as 5-6 months have passed since you stopped the drug cold turkey so there is no need to see a specialist. Except the problem of pain in calves, hypertrophy of calf muscles and facial changed there are no other significant symptoms. As I have mentioned in earlier question also take Vitamin C and B12 supplements and also take diets rich in proteins and complex carbs and low in fats. This will help in building the muscles again.
Exercise daily to build new muscles. For face there are no specific exercises but daily start from forehead and to neck, alternately contact the muscles of forehead and then hold in contracted position by counting 1 to 10 and then release. In the same manner close eyes and then release, follower by blowing cheek muscles and then release them after contracting for about 10 seconds, then lips as if you are whistling and followed by other muscles of face and then neck. Exercise daily at least twice a day in three steps and your face will regain the tone.
Don't take stress about this, you will be alright in some months. Don't take drugs again as they cause significant harm.
Thanks, please ask again if you have more doubts.
Above answer was peer-reviewed by :
Dr. Prasad
What do I do about my jaw hurting everytime I open and close it?Oh and is there aanyway to regain the facial fat in my face as well will my body know how to heal itself properly?
I just went to see the doctor they just told me to take potassium and a lot of fluids, they told me I didn't have Rhabdomyolysis, because if I did I would've had kidney failure already...
I just went to see the doctor they just told me to take potassium and a lot of fluids, they told me I didn't have Rhabdomyolysis, because if I did I would've had kidney failure already...
Brief Answer:
For pain medicines like Amitryptiline or Pregabalin can help
Detailed Answer:
Hello thanks for asking again
If the face is hurting then in such situations medicines like Pregabalin can help to reduce pain. Probably is is some pain from neuronal irritation which is occurring while moving the jaw. Pregabalin will also reduce the anxiety and any symptoms of drug withdrawal if any. You can discuss with your doctor regarding these medicines. Amitryptoline can also help in such situation.
It will heal in due course of time. With proper nutrition and facial exercises you will start seeing improvement. It could occur due to lysis of muscles and as per my opinion there is no prerequisite of renal failure. You were taking Meth and it is known to cause lysis of muscle fibres. Potassium and lot of fluids will restore XXXXXXX of face and you will improve.
Thanks, please don't fear about this side effect, your face will gain fat in some time.
For pain medicines like Amitryptiline or Pregabalin can help
Detailed Answer:
Hello thanks for asking again
If the face is hurting then in such situations medicines like Pregabalin can help to reduce pain. Probably is is some pain from neuronal irritation which is occurring while moving the jaw. Pregabalin will also reduce the anxiety and any symptoms of drug withdrawal if any. You can discuss with your doctor regarding these medicines. Amitryptoline can also help in such situation.
It will heal in due course of time. With proper nutrition and facial exercises you will start seeing improvement. It could occur due to lysis of muscles and as per my opinion there is no prerequisite of renal failure. You were taking Meth and it is known to cause lysis of muscle fibres. Potassium and lot of fluids will restore XXXXXXX of face and you will improve.
Thanks, please don't fear about this side effect, your face will gain fat in some time.
Above answer was peer-reviewed by :
Dr. Chakravarthy Mazumdar
Hi, but how you know for sure I'm gonna be alright? I'm really paranoid I'd did a lot of damage and I don't know how to forgive myself. also now it feels like my joints are hurting could I be missing some kind of supplement?
Brief Answer:
Hurting joints may occur due to calcium and Vitamin D deficiency.
Detailed Answer:
Hello thanks for asking from HCM
I can say with confidence because I have seen some patients with these clinical symptoms in my clinic and they showed improvement over time. Many patients with history of drug intake (especially cocaine) presented with similar complaints and they regained their appearance.
You have done damage but it doesn't mean that the damage cant be reversed. Hurting of joints could be due to nutritional deficiency probably due to calcium and vitamin D3 but examination is required to ascertain cause.
As mentioned earlier also start taking Vitamin C, B12 supplements. Also take Calcium tablets daily and Vitamin D3 doses every week. Keep your self relaxed and have high protein diet and you will seen improvement.
Thanks, hope this helps you.
Hurting joints may occur due to calcium and Vitamin D deficiency.
Detailed Answer:
Hello thanks for asking from HCM
I can say with confidence because I have seen some patients with these clinical symptoms in my clinic and they showed improvement over time. Many patients with history of drug intake (especially cocaine) presented with similar complaints and they regained their appearance.
You have done damage but it doesn't mean that the damage cant be reversed. Hurting of joints could be due to nutritional deficiency probably due to calcium and vitamin D3 but examination is required to ascertain cause.
As mentioned earlier also start taking Vitamin C, B12 supplements. Also take Calcium tablets daily and Vitamin D3 doses every week. Keep your self relaxed and have high protein diet and you will seen improvement.
Thanks, hope this helps you.
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Above answer was peer-reviewed by :
Dr. Chakravarthy Mazumdar
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