One of those questions for the ladies....

I've started back on MFP again so I can track what I'm eating and my activity. But in the past 8months I've had changes in my monthly cycle which has me having one for 3 consecutive weeks. Which we all know how much fun that is. I have somehow gained 30lbs in about a four month time frame so I went and got checked out and had a biopsy. Which came back normal. Have you had these problems occur with either medication related or early menopause? Would it cause such weight gain? I'm 39 now and they didn't think that is what it was. The only thing I started around that time was Areva for Rhematoid Arthritis. I'm trying to figure out what could change this and cause such weight gain. It's frustrating because I'm eating better, moving more and I'm still going upwards. Any help is appreciated. Thank you. :)

Replies

  • melaniecmajors
    melaniecmajors Posts: 39 Member
    Have you had your thyroid checked? It's a simple blood test. I'm same age as you and whereas I haven't had weight gain, I have had major mood changes. I take complex B and my husband has mandated that I take Maca for energy. I also take 4.4 CLA a day which is an excellent anti-oxident but also promotes lean muscle thereby burning more calories on average keeping my weight down. You can get it at Costco. In sum - research some natural supplements to see if any will help you. They've helped me immensely. Good luck and hope this helps!
  • bpwparents
    bpwparents Posts: 359 Member
    I would check the side effects of the medication. My GP put me in an anti-deppressent for migraine preventative. Yes it took care of the migraines but made me gain 25 lbs quickly. Luckily my GYN had warned me of this side effect so I was aware of it beforehand. I had to make the choice at the time to deal with the pain or the weight. I dealt with the pain as I got the migraines to get my weight under control. With arthritis pain this may not be an option. Keep on talking to the drs about it and log your food religiously. Start with logging religiously and see if that helps or not. Good luck.
  • Thank you for the suggestions. I appreciate it. I was wondering if any of this is food related regarding the pain as well. I suffer migraines too. I have seen my Rhem yesterday and tapered off one med to another to see if that will help with the problem. She said she doesn't think that is the issue, but it's not unheard of with other meds. I hate to go completely off since I'm finally getting some relief, but I am gaining at too rapid of a speed for my liking. Appreciate your help. Good luck to you as well on your journeys. :)
  • CMGoodie
    CMGoodie Posts: 93 Member
    If your cycles are changing since you started working out or eating healthier and everything else has been ruled out, it is normal. Your body reacts to the changes both chemically and physically. This is why being healthy or starting a healthier lifestyle is so important to everyone. Exercise minimizes the effects of some diseases and can even eliminate some weight/diet triggered ones.

    My cycles are weird to begin with but have always stabilized to some sense of normalicy when I started exercising. I noticed this early on in school during sport season. The more active I was, the less the pain, the cycle would regulate to an almost set schedule and PMS was easier to detect. During the summer break, it would go to haites in a handbasket.

    As I get older, I now notice that now that perimenopause setting in, my cycles are off. Before I got back into working out, i was achy, starving, and the cycles were "weird"....got back into it, not so much. The cycles are still off (normal), but the hormones are in check.

    Good luck.
  • Britt_Duffy
    Britt_Duffy Posts: 40 Member
    Sounds like it could be PCOS.