What kind of tests/doctors should I see?

Mr_Knight

This is what "permanent starvation mode" looks like. If you don't look like this, you haven't been starving your body.

Kalikel

The only way to answer your question is to tell you to go see a doctor. If he can't find the problem, see another and another until one does. Without insurance, that will be difficult. But we can't diagnose you, much less treat you. Even if you opened your diary, lol, we couldn't diagnose you.

Don't be bullied into opening it if you don't feel like it.

GA_belle

I have PCOS. When you said you don't have periods without birth control, that was the first thing I thought of. You can find a lot more information about it online and it is a collection of symptoms so you can still have it even if you only have some and not all the symptoms. I was originally diagnosed by a gynecologist

Years later I went to see an endocrinologist. He ran more tests to confirm and also did a cortisol test to rule out Cushing's Syndrome, which has similar symptoms. I would expect any doctor you see to test for both. I would try to see an endocrinologist if I were you unless it is easier to get coverage under your insurance with a gyno. I know some insurance will cover most if not all of the annual wellness visit with a gyno compared to the higher copay of another specialist.

Hope you find answers. I know how frustrating it can be.

cosmo_momo

I didn't read all the responses, so I apologize if this has already been mentioned. When I was around 9 years old I had my thyroid tested for hypothyroidism. My mother found out years later that I had been in a double blind study for it and I was never put on medication. I saw a new endocrinologist and they tested my TSH and free T4 levels. They were on the high end of the spectrum, but not considered "abnormal". I then had my thyroid antibodies tested and they were in the thousands (normal is 0-34). This is VERY BAD and I was put on synthroid after being diagnosed officially with Hashimoto's Thyroiditis. When I was 16 however, my levels started leveling out on their own and I have been able to be off of the medication. Though recently I've had some unexplained weight gain so I had my TSH and free T4 tested again, both right on the edge of the high end. I'm switching birth controls first to see if that helps, but I will probably end up seeing and endocrinologist again to have my antibodies checked. I would suggest talking with your doctor about doing the antibody levels checked. Best of luck.

Sarauk2sf

Are you eating a net approx. 1,800 or gross (i.e. are you eating your exercise calories back).

On average, what are your daily macros like? Protein, fats and carbs, by grams?

jenifr818

Agreeing with what several other posters have said, have an endocrinologist check for PCOS. There's a chance you might be insulin resistant, and if that's the case, Metformin and lowering your carbs will probably do wonders. (Not a doctor, so don't take that as gospel, but many women with PCOS find that the case).

Good luck!

Kalikel

Correct me if I'm wrong, but even with a PCOS or thyroid diagnosis, the answer is still going to be "you burn less than you think and need to eat less?"

Yes. But that "less" is usually so low it's impossible (unless medicated).

I average less than 1,000 calories a day and exercise and I gain. I have to keep my intake (regardless of exercise) between 500 and 700 calories a day -- gross, not net -- in order to lose right now.

A lot of women who are 5'2" on this site lose eating 1,800. You also have to understand that the extra 100 pounds is some muscle. Carrying around so much extra weight will cause muscle build-up simply due to having to support it. It isn't all fat.

I get thyroid problems. I so get it. Soooo. Get it. Me. I do.

I've grown weary of trying to explain it to people who either cannot understand it or refuse to believe that they don't know everything there is to know.

But not everyone can eat 1500 cals a day and lose weight. I know it.

If I never exercised and ate 1200 cals/day, I'd slowly gain weight. At 1200, with exercise, I lose. But I lose slower than many here. And my problem has been fixed! This is as good as it gets for me.

Other people are worse off than me and I know that. I feel for them.

Hang in there, peeps with problems.

rml_16

Correct me if I'm wrong, but even with a PCOS or thyroid diagnosis, the answer is still going to be "you burn less than you think and need to eat less?"

Yes. But that "less" is usually so low it's impossible (unless medicated).

I average less than 1,000 calories a day and exercise and I gain. I have to keep my intake (regardless of exercise) between 500 and 700 calories a day -- gross, not net -- in order to lose right now.

A lot of women who are 5'2" on this site lose eating 1,800. You also have to understand that the extra 100 pounds is some muscle. Carrying around so much extra weight will cause muscle build-up simply due to having to support it. It isn't all fat.

Although I do believe that milage mage vary when it comes to maintenance calories, even without a medical condition, something here is not right. What you are basically saying is that you gain weight when you eat 1000 calories and exercise, which puts your maintenance without exercise at around 500 calories(or less), and unless you're the height of a toddler, what you are saying is physically impossible. No matter how efficient or adaptable the body is, it cannot pull energy out of thin air.

Is your doctor on board with you eating 500 calories?

I DON'T eat 500 calories. I experimented for a few weeks and found this was the case but it isn't sustainable so instead I've just been slowly gaining weight. I just saw an endocrinologist today and got an official diagnosis and will start on Synthroid first thing tomorrow morning. She was not even a little surprised when I told her I was gaining on 1,000 to 1,500 calories a day. I use a food scale, weigh and measure EVERYTHING, exercise and track.

I agree that the body can't manufacture energy out of nothing. What I'm saying is that my condition is so bad that my metabolism has slowed down by that much. It's awful and frustrating.