Major health problems and weight, please help!

Hello,
27, female, 5'2, 166lb.

I started gaining weight around 05 when I went off to college. I gained almost 50lb. I have a lot of problems health wise and am trying to deal with them, but I am sure several are not helping me.

I have POTS which means whenever I have a body level change my body thinks I’m fainting. Luckily my bp does not drop, so I don’t faint, but it still makes me feel horrible. This also causes my body to not retain water properly and I dehydrate very quickly. I actually HAVE to be on an increased sodium diet to retain water, which drives me nuts.
I also suffer from major depression, stress, anxiety and sleep issues.

My mom passed 2 years ago and I live with my grandparents. Their health is not well and is a constant stressor as I worry about them.

I’ve always been a chronic insomniac but I am fighting with my health insurance to get a PSG MSLT to see if I have Narcolepsy, as I match a lot of the symptoms. After waking up I repeatedly fall asleep, multiple times a day. It does not matter how much caffeine I have or do not have. Because of the above mentioned heart condition, I cannot take stimulants. I am currently on 400mg modafinil/Provigil and doing okay. I typically get 6- 6 1/2 hours of sleep. While on weekends that can move up to 10-12 hours.

It’s rough because when I started on Adderall I was going to the gym every morning and weightlifting. I would get up at 3, go to gym, they open at 4. Work out about 30-40 min, grab a shower, drive back across town and onward my hour commute. The meds only worked for 4 hours so about that time I would start falling asleep (yes driving, not okay).
I was yanked off Adderall because even once a day, it shot my bp through the roof. I’m doing better, but some days are better than others. I can’t get myself to sleep earlier, and getting up is difficult. I have little energy, going to the gym is rather laughable at the moment, as unless I go in the morning, by the time I get home I have 3 hours before bed. I don’t have the energy for the 20 min back and forth to the gym.

When I was in the good zone with the gym, I gained 10lb (my current 165/6 is the weight after this). I’m pretty sure it was muscle, but my clothes really did not change how they fit. My pants actually got tighter. I was being careful to eat good things, especially with lots of protein etc.

I’m trying to eat a 1200 calorie diet right now. It’s going okay, my issue is not feeling full a lot of the time. I also have wheat intolerance so wheat is out of the options. Lots of decent gluten free food, but not good calorie wise. I’m trying to kick soda again, but that is also in the not happening zone. My blood sugar likes to drop as well. So something small will only hold me over for about an hour or two. I’m spreading out my snacks/meals the best I can and drinking lots of water.
Does anyone have any advice?

Replies

  • Ready2Rock206
    Ready2Rock206 Posts: 9,487 Member
    1200 calories is so low - I'd be completely miserable. I'd either change your goals to lose less than 2 lbs a week or calculate your calories at http://iifym.com/ or scoobysworkshop

    With everything else going on sounds like making things harder by restricting calories so much might not be the best option for you.
  • BrennaReistad
    BrennaReistad Posts: 9 Member
    At this point I just want to see results. I've been trying for years to have something work. I know there is no magic fix or any kind, being careful and working hard. Some days I eat more than others, especially if the stress is bad or if someone is in the hospital. Cafeteria food has horrid gluten free options :(

    The really weird thing, is when my mom passed, I just totally lost it. Major binge eating, soda, ice cream, pho, (I was craving pho and a vermacelli dish I love), for at least a week. I was terrified to get on the scale, but when I did I was baffled, I had dropped 10lb. I quickly gained it back, but yeah, hormoes and stress are very weird on your body :(

    My weight is a huge part of my depression. I used to be super tiny and having this extra weight mentally and physically feels wrong. I'm trying hard now to at least calorie count because its the only thing I have energy to do.