Not much support from friends... including fiance

Abusser

I'm frustrated b/c I was diagnoses with Hypothyroidism and PCOS this year and I've had negative feedback/no support by my fiance and some friends. They think I just need to eat less and exercise... well of course my diet and exercising more would help me lose weight and have more energy but... I have gained about 80 lbs over the last 15 years and I have NO energy. I have exercised consistently and eaten well in the past and it didn't help. I have tried cutting my calories and at one point I was only eating 1000 calories a day. The only time I lost weight successfully is when I worked with a Naturopathic doctor and he put me on a cleansing Macrobiotic diet. I went off the plan after having to move back to the US and live with my family for a few months... gained all the weight back. I had lost 25 lbs in 3 months.

Doctors have tested my thyroid many times over the last 10 years and finally diagnosed me this year. Then I went to a endocrinologist and he said I don't have Hypothyroidism after the previous doctor said I did.

Well I'm still trying to figure out what is going on with my body. I pretty much have all the symptoms. I haven't been put on any medication yet. I plan to go to another endocrinologist and do more tests.

My fiance and some friends (mainly men) think that Hypothyroidism is not a "real" health issue. They think that if I just eat better and exercise that will fix my symptoms. Well I realize that will help I was trying to explain that is harder for me to lose weight and keep weight off. I also tried to point out that there are other people that don't exercise and eat worse than me and are still skinny.... well it became a huge debate. My fiance eats like crap and hardly exercises and he still looks like Adonis.

Have any of you experienced these issues and how did you deal with it?

BTW Just joined the group and look forward to sharing and learning from each other.

Amanda

bahorne74

Hello Amanda, I hear where you are coming from. It is very frustrating when there is no support from friends or family. My mom tells me if I would just exercise I will feel better. I can do all the exercises I want and not loose anything. I've been on my meds for about 3 months now and it seems like the symptoms are getting worse for me. For a while there I was loosing the weight, not much but it made me feel good. NOW I'm not loosing anything, my periods are irregular and I'm always cold again. I don't go into the dr. for blood work till Dec. 13.

Please don't think you are alone we are here to give you support even if your close friends or family are not there. WE here at MFP are here for you. Stay strong and together we can do this!!

Best of luck, Brenda.

lmelangley

Well, we'll hope your fiance and his buddies don't develop hypothyroidism. Let me guess - they also think PMS is bunk, right?

Anyway, see a different endocrynologist. Find a person with hypothyroidism in your area (we're everywhere) and find out who they see and go to that doctor. "Old school" docs don't treat when they should.

Here's the one thing you need to know/face upfront. Once you get medicated, it will take up to 3 - yes, 3 - months before you really see any benefits. I remember waking up almost 3 months to the day and feeling like a fog had lifted. You just need to find the right doctor.

Abusser

Thanks for you encouragement! I am going to get another opinion. Drs kept putting me on anti-depressants but nothing has helped me. I was on 4 anti-depressants at one point. I was still tired. I actually brought up that maybe I have a medical condition then I started getting diagnosed with all sorts of things (Sleep Apnea, High Blood Pressure, High Cholesterol, PCOS and now hypothyroidism). I've been prescribed a CPAP, high blood pressure meds, ibuprofen for pain, High Cholesterol meds, B-Complex and D vitamins plus but nothing for hypothyroidism yet) Well I am still so tired all the time. It's been such a vicious cycle...

Well at least I haven't rally gained any more weight over the last 4 years. I just have to do something. I'm definitely going to drag myself to the gym again. I started Zumba last week. I love it!

Thanks again!

Amanda