Edit*
Because most people have honed in on my weight
Let me give you some back ground not that I should have to give it.
I was a prem baby.
I was very small, underweight and very short. I was given a growth steroid because I didn’t grow for over a year and I was given another steroid through a nebuliser for my asthma at around the age of 7. It did wonders for my asthma however I put on 22kg in one month and went from being underweight to over weight. I have struggled with my weight since. I’m active I’ve been lucky enough to do 5 day hike of cradle mountain in Tasmania, I have hiked mt Oberon several times. Been on 5 day horse rides and dirt bike treks played sports represented the state in my chosen sport.
When I have my episodes I go from doing all these things to barely being able to get out of and go into auto pilot because the brain fog is horrible work, cook, clean and bed my energy levels are next to zero. When I’m not having an episode I walk and do weight training. I have had to give up sport as I’m to inconsistent for my team.
Food
I have IBS so I don’t eat fried foods or very cream foods or heavy pastas etc I use an Ap to track my calories but as I said when I go into my episodes as I call them I end up in survival mode.
My episodes are no far more frequent and last longer than the good patches.
I’m so disappointed in this community I thought it would be a save place to ask questions and vent not have people judge me based on one line in my post
Thank you to those that have given me some positive ideas to try.
……………………………………………..
This is a long one please bear with me.
I need advice please.
For the last 20 plus years I have been told that all my health issue’s are due to my endometriosis and my weight I have episodes. these episodes last for 6-12 weeks at a time I than get sometimes 2-3 of where I’m actually normal and can function at an almost everyday level walk 3-5 km a day until it all starts again.
tiredness, lethargic, constant cold skin and feeling cold, random fevers, sometimes up around 39 & 40 pain and swelling in my stomach, swelling of my lymph nodes and glands, glands turning solid, sore throat, swollen throat, restless legs, insulin resistance, weight gain, rapid weight gain 15kg in less than a month. I was told this Is all due to my endometriosis and that having my hysterectomy would improve/ fix all of these issue. We are 5mths out from having the surgery and I have all of my symptoms still other than the constant pain in my pelvis that I used to have. I have had ultra sounds weekly and monthly blood tests pet scan which showed that my some of my lymph nodes and glands have intense FDG avidity but not enough of them are enlarged for it to be considered lymphoma thank fully.
I have paid out almost $2000.00 this month alone in test doctors bill’s specialist doctors to keep getting from the doctors we don’t know what’s wrong with you go and see this doctor. I have spent time in hospital 3-4 days several times over several years with high white blood cell count. Inflammatory markers well over 100 normal is under 14. I am obese most of this is from the amount of different diets and medications I have been on and now a sedative job which I used to work in childcare and was told I had to move on from that because of the amount of viruses. I played sport three times a week up until the pain and tiredness just got too much.
I have broken down crying in the doctors office because they want me to see another specialist, which will be another $600.00. The wait time to see this doctor is 6mths. I said what am I supposed to do in the meantime. They put me on antibiotics I have been on them for 5 weeks straight and now I can’t take them because they make me feel sick I get blood in my stools and I start to shake. They said we think you should see a psychiatrist until you can get into the specialist to try and get some answers. I rang the psychiatrist the wait time to see them is longer than the wait to see the specialist. I don’t even know what I’m asking. My weight is constantly the first thing they go to. My response is now ok so how come no another single person in my immediate family or extended family is over weight. I eat less than them and I exercise more so please explain that to me. My last hospital visit was meet with. (In regards to my weight someone I had never meet before) we don’t help people who don’t help themselves.
I’m so lost
I’ve so far seen
ENT specialist
Oral and maxillofacial surgeon
Infectious Disease Specialist
Endocrinologist
All with the same answer we don’t know what’s wrong with you. Come back and see me in 3-6mths time. We then repeat the same cycle of tests etc all over again. Is there anyone who suffers from anything similar?
I’m so tired of this I have no sick leave or annual leave left at work and I’m worried I will eventually loose my job.
Thanks for reading this far
Health
Health
Posted in:
Health & Wellbeing
36 Replies
In all honesty, ask about weight loss surgery / Ozempic. They'll fall all over you and you will actually get to the bottom of your medical issues because they'll take notice once you show you're trying to lose weight.
This happened to a friend of mine with similar issues as yours. She actually had the surgery & lost over 100kg - and STILL has the symptoms - but now they take her seriously and are properly investigating.
I have completely different illness to you, but same attitude from Drs - and I'm only a size 16, so not grossly obese.
I actually said to one specialist "what would you say to me if I wasn't fat?"
And he said "I'd send you for an MRI". So I insisted on getting an MRI, and holy surprise batman, I have 4 herniated discs and tumors inside my spine, plus various other problems.
I went back to the same specialist & said "ok so now tell me again that I'm in pain just because I'm fat". He at least was honest enough to blush & apologise.
Also I went to a rheumatologist who diagnosed me with fibromyalgia and chronic fatigue, and now I get NO noise from other Drs because I have an excuse to be fat.
Honestly the entire medical system is 100% fatophobic & it's disgraceful they way they dismiss all illnesses due to weight. You could go in with a broken leg & they'd tell you it wouldn't hurt to walk if you lost weight.
I went to a random GP once for reflux medication, and he immediately told me the reflux would go away if I lost weight - first visit, no history, no questions .
I said "that's funny, because I was born with a malfunctioning oesophagus valve and I've been treated for it my whole life, and also your receptionist at the front desk would have to weigh 3 times what I do, isn't that your wife?"
He told me not to be so rude. 🙄🙄😂😂
I have been on ozempic but can’t get it anymore due to the shortage
I’ve lost 10kg and the symptoms are worse
It's true that obesity exasperates symptoms of other unrelated illnesses . Get on top of losing weight first of all. No one will take you seriously unless you do and thats because being overweight has risks all of its own and unless you learn to control your food, you'll find these issues will continue to follow you around. There's no way you're eating less than your family and yet your bigger than them. I'm not buying it .
Unless her symptoms are not weight related, idiot.
No , YOU'RE the fucken idiot. Probably a large cunt yourself. Expect to be spoken to like a dog right back if you need to resort to name calling.. I'm entitled to my opinion and wasn't taking to you. and I was not abusive till you walked in with your name calling mouth. I'm not interested in hearing you name call about my personal opinion, moronic bitch, so run along. You just got what you delivered.
Thanks for the confirmation, you proved my point whilst simultaneously proving the ops point in the post.
It's "fucking" idiot lol
I once saw a man doubling down in pain in the mental health unit, they said it was in his head, he was having a heart attack. So op it isn't just discrimination against obese people, also the mentally ill. It no doubt happens with the elderly too. Hugs to you, hope you get answers soon. Everyone deserves proper healthcare, no matter their size x
Imagine zoning in on small simplicities such as Aussie slang assuming it needs correcting; then laughing about how clever you think you just were because you just dont really know any better. Oh, the small mindedness in what you have seen as an exciting pinpoint is, what's actually, hilarious. 🤣
Not commented previously but this is incorrect. You can eat less and gain weight. Your body can go into 'starvation mode'. Your metabolism slows down to store the small amount it does get. Which is why you see people going on about small regular meals throughout the day. Some people do not eat enough. Which makes perfect sense if you are in famine and need to survive long periods of time without food.
It really is best to see a Dietician and go over what you are consuming and how much ;)
Don't forget inflammation in the body can cause weight gain too. So many possible reasons.
Well it is the truth. I also was not obese until I was put on a type of steroid for my endometriosis hence the 15kg weight gain in less than a month. I haven’t been able to shift it since even after PT session up to 3 times a week and a dietician doing my meal plan and helping me prepare my food.
Although I have I also didn’t need to justify myself to someone who has ignored the facts of my post
Sorry I hope you are not referring to my comment re other reasons for weight gain. I found that persons comment re not believing OP eat less to be very rude. I simply wanted to explain that she was incorrect in her assumption re overweight people. Of course there can be other reasons. So many women with hormonal problems especially during perimenopause and menopause as well. The list goes on. I really dislike judgey people.
I didn't have a weight problem until I went on ketamine, my god it packs on the weight. I have a choice, fat or crazy, as a single mum, I choose fat. My cousin had cancer, was on high dose testosterone, was gaining 2kgs per day! Hadn't seen her for 2 months,nwent to visit her in hospital, walked straight past, didn't recognise her. Some people are void of empathy, unless it's happened to them, they have no sympathy or ability to undetstand. They're the ones who should be ashamed, not you lovely lady x
Unexplained weight gain/loss are literally symptoms of certain diseases and listed side effects of certain medications. Don't listen to this ignorant woman.
No I was replying to the person who made this comment.
There's no way you're eating less than your family and yet you’re bigger than them. I'm not buying it .
Thank you for your comment.
No I was replying to the person who made this comment.
There's no way you're eating less than your family and yet you’re bigger than them. I'm not buying it .
Thank you for your comment.
I eat less than my partner and I'm overweight, he isn't.
I gained weight, along with a myriad of other symptoms and I had GP after GP misdiagnose me with anxiety. I was so sick I was vomiting regularly.
I finally visited a reputable naturopath in my area. She told me to get off gluten right away and helped me to work on healing my gut. Within six months I felt ten years younger and my symptoms had gone. She said because my weight dropped so rapidly she feels alot of it was caused by inflammation.
Unfortunately it was an ongoing journey as I did not realise the damage to the stomach lining could also interfere with vitamin absorption. I started getting headaches and fatigue, again GP said anxiety grrrr!!!
Went to my naturopath and she immediately picked up on Vit B deficiency. I went and asked for bloods and I was B12 deficient and was overloading on Iron.
So my suggestion is to try a naturopath.. even for some support around weight loss, what have you got to lose at this stage ;)
Start by being honest with yourself, seriously. Everything you put in your mouth is contributing to your weight gain. Time to be a grown up and look at your diet and eating patterns. I know this might not be nice to read, but stop spending money on medications and specialists and start spending money on clean food, less crap, less sugar. Only you can fix this, not doctors or psychiatrists. Good luck.
100% !!
Wow, can I clean eat my way out of bipolar? Can cancer sufferers clean eat their way out of cancer? Really dangerous advice if this woman has underlying mental health or medical issues. Weight issues are not usually about the potato chips, there's always sn underlying reason people over eat, when you solve that, the weight takes care of itself. By the sounds of this post, maybe you didn't read all the symptoms this woman has, there is def some type of hormone imbalance/auto immune type disease happening and I think when op gets the right diagnosis and treatment, the weight will take care of itself. Given the long list of symptoms the op has, telling her to eat less is just setting her up for failure, the weight is just a symptom of whatever underlying issue she has. Really ignorant and dangerous advice.
I'm pretty sure the commenter was just referring to the weight gain part, not all her other illnesses. Did you miss that? . Did you read the part on OP's post where her Doctors actually recommended her to lose weight too so they can try to assist her ? A lot of illnesses are eased with weight loss, even reversed, such as diabetes.
You don't think it's all related? Based on OP saying she doesn't eat much and all the other symptoms?
How ignorant can you be? OP has listed several things happening to her that has contributed to her weight gain and also how its difficult to lose it and you're over here like Captain Genius "Just looth weight"🤪. You're the one that needs to grow up and read posts properly.
It's like they literally read, I'm overweight and not the rest of the story. And they tell me to read the post, I agree ignorant people with no brain or heart.
Poster here I have not gained weight in a long time in fact I have lost 10kg and I am sicker than I have ever been.
The ignorance around hormonal problems and weight gain is rife in these comments. Demonstrating they have not only a lack of knowledge on the subject but also a complete lack of empathy.
Get yourself off to a naturopath lovely. Mine did look at my hormone imbalance and the only thing I can complain about is she kick-started back off my menses haha.
Take care and ignore those who want to criticise because being helpful and kind is foreign to them.
Specific nutrients, dietary patterns, and overall nutrition are known to play detrimental roles in hormonal imbalance issues. It's a scientific fact. Hormones absolutely respond negatively to what we consume. Please Google it. You're calling others' ignorant regarding hormonal problems. I think you should educate yourself too. Yes, there are many vast reasons. Diet is one of the biggest reasons and one can't possibly know until that part is under control first, as her doctors have suggested
We are what we eat.
Let me guess, you believe diet can cure autism? I bet you give poor mums with kids wired differently suggestions to change their diet?
I'm talking about the impact of diet on 'weight' ffs. Stop going off in some twisted direction all made up in your head.
My sister eats nothing but junk, smokes, drinks and is 5kg underweight at 44kg. I am the same height have to watch everything I eat and how much, don't smoke or drink and I am twice her size. Both of us have issues that contribute to our sizes but its so funny that out of the 2 of us she is considered healthy and me unhealthy.
Poster here this is 100% my sister and I she’s smokes drinks and eats most nights at the pub. I’m counting calories going to a dietitian and doing pt and my weight will fluctuate between a 1kg loss and a 5kg gain each week.
Endometriosis = immune dysfunction
You need to get away from the doctors and specialists.
Go see a holistic practitioner (Naturopath or clinical nutritionist)
I’d recommend you look up Dr Libby Weaver.
She addresses diet, hormones, thyroid issues etc
Diet information isn’t always about weight loss goals either. But learning about what foods can enhance or trigger our different symptoms and systems.
Unfortunately it’s unlikely that there is one magic fix - just start down one path at a time.
Do try to get moving though - Not for the weight loss for the endorphins, the digestive help and the bone density improvements. Simple as a walk or a gentle swim.
Definitely acknowledge your mental health are you stressed? Can you lower your mental load? Self care!!
Drink plenty of water.
Lastly I’m so sorry to hear that your going through all this. I hope that you find the cause.
It's time to see a good naturopath, that will look at you wholistically to work out what the problem is and what your body needs to fix itself.
Fibromyalgia ADHD - this was me! Since diagnosis and starting vyvanse I can function and have regained health. Fixed my sleep issues which helped my mental issues.
Drs constantly wanted me to try antidepressants and I’d worked really hard to have a good relationship with my brain, I can’t take hormones or contraceptives as it messes with me badly - anxiety, depression, no sex drive at all, dry vagina - they sure worked because no way I was getting pregnant because I wasn’t having sex!! Adding other meds didn’t make sense. I discovered my adhd when I was given duramine for weight loss and all of a sudden I could sleep normally, I could have a focussed conversation, people made sense!
My pain is also almost non existent now! I’m considering taking up sport again at nearly 40 and have held a physical job that I love for 12 months.