Gaining weight for years after one lupron depot shot!

allyv305
allyv305 Posts: 5 Member
edited November 2024 in Health and Weight Loss
Hello all, I seem to be having a real serious weight gain issue and it's making me feel utterly hopeless, but I have to figure this out because I am gaining too much weight and it seems nothing I do can stop it!

In 2013, I took a shot called lupron depot to see if it would stop the massive tumor in my uterus from getting any bigger. The doc told me I will gain weight, but it felt necessary, since the only other option was to remove my uterus. Shortly after the 3 months of period free happiness, I started bleeding and I started gaining. I went from 135 to 145 in 6 months. So I started exercising and counting calories. I kept my calories under 2000 and ran 3 miles every other day. I also did a lot of HIIT exercises and weight lifting. Well, I gained muscle, but the fat did NOT come off. I gained a couple pounds and stop weight lifting and then maintained my weight. Well, started my career shortly after (teaching) and so I had to stop running for a bit (stopped for 1 year). During this year, I gained a massive 10 pounds! I have never seen myself gain so FAST! And I feel like I didn't eat any more than I did before.

Well here I am now, 2 months into dieting and exercising again. At first, I was running and eating 2000 calories a day so I continued to gain another 5 pounds. I reduced calories to 1500 and running continues, but now I am maintaining my weight at 160 (25 pounds more than before the shot). No gain, no loss. I feel like there is something terribly wrong with my body and that no amount of diet or exercise is going to help! I cant starve myself, 1500 is hard enough as it is!

I am almost wondering if the only way to stop this is to remove my uterus, but I haven't had a child yet. Only problem is, I have a orange sized tumor in my uterus preventing pregnancy, and they cannot remove it because there is a possibility I could bleed to death from its removal.... So, what now? Accept my weight gain? Remove my uterus? Is there any hope for me?

Replies

  • MarziPanda95
    MarziPanda95 Posts: 1,326 Member
    allyv305 wrote: »
    I feel like I didn't eat any more than I did before.

    You can't gain weight without eating more calories than you burn. Since you weren't tracking, you likely did eat more than you thought. As for the medical issues over what you should do, that's not really something to be asking an internet forum... I very much doubt if your uterus problems are what's causing your weight gain - it's far more likely that you aren't losing for a different reason, such as not weighing your food and therefore eating more than you think. I very, very much doubt that the depot shot had any effect other than the initial 10lb gain... even then, most medications actually make you gain weight because they make you very hungry. Good luck :)
  • editorgrrl
    editorgrrl Posts: 7,060 Member
    allyv305 wrote: »
    In 2013, I took a shot called lupron depot.

    I was running and eating 2000 calories a day so I continued to gain another 5 pounds. I reduced calories to 1500 and running continues, but now I am maintaining my weight at 160 (25 pounds more than before the shot). No gain, no loss. I feel like there is something terribly wrong with my body and that no amount of diet or exercise is going to help!

    According to the manufacturer, side effects last six months.

    Open your diary for personalized advice, but you lose weight by eating fewer calories than you burn. Set your goal to .5 lb. for every 25 lbs. you're overweight, and learn to log everything you eat & drink accurately & honestly. Exercise for fitness; log to lose weight.

    Hands down, the best weight-loss advice I ever received was to read the Sexypants post: https://community.myfitnesspal.com/en/discussion/1080242/a-guide-to-get-you-started-on-your-path-to-sexypants/p1
  • futuresize8
    futuresize8 Posts: 476 Member
    I am so sorry you're experiencing female issues...I'm all too familiar with them. My first recommendation is to get a second opinion from another doctor/surgeon. Find someone that the friends or colleagues you trust most would recommend. Doing this literally changed my life for the better...my first doctor was an idiot. Second recommendation is to be sure you're weighing and measuring accurately. I say this only because I don't think that Lupron/Depo is permanent, so there may to be something else amiss with counting what you're taking in. It certainly sounds like your output (exercise) is great and very healthy, so I'd make sure your intake is accurate. (Not saying it's not, just double check!) I wish you all the best!!
  • allyv305
    allyv305 Posts: 5 Member
    edited July 2015
    Marzipanda, It's possible I was eating more than I thought at that time, yes, however I do watch what I eat, whether I am counting or not, and I didn't notice myself eating more than I did before. The only thing that changed was I stopped exercising. But that shouldn't make a person gain so much weight in such a short period of time, especially someone who already had an athletic build to begin with. Regardless, the depot shot caused some type of change in my body, and although I know I won't be able to gain any professional medical advice here, it would be nice to see if someone has had a similar experience to me and to get their honest opinions, so thanks for your time.
  • jemhh
    jemhh Posts: 14,260 Member
    It is extremely easy to do the calorie creep, adding in a few more calories and a few more calories here and there, while simultaneously reducing your activity level, thereby resulting in weight gain. It can happen to anybody but I think it's really common when making the college to real work or college to first job transition. My guess is that is what happened to you. You've gotten good advice about logging. I would follow that for now and not look to the Lupron as the source of your weight gain.
  • allyv305
    allyv305 Posts: 5 Member
    editorgrrl wrote: »
    but you lose weight by eating fewer calories than you burn.

    with that said, I am wondering if it's possible that the shot caused my body's calorie burn amount to lower, so maybe now I am burning fewer calories than I was before being on the shot. If that's a possibility, I am wondering if I could test this by eating less than 1500 calories a day, but that would be torture! :/
    futuresize8 wrote: »
    I am so sorry you're experiencing female issues...I'm all too familiar with them. My first recommendation is to get a second opinion from another doctor/surgeon. Find someone that the friends or colleagues you trust most would recommend. Doing this literally changed my life for the better...my first doctor was an idiot. Second recommendation is to be sure you're weighing and measuring accurately. I say this only because I don't think that Lupron/Depo is permanent, so there may to be something else amiss with counting what you're taking in. It certainly sounds like your output (exercise) is great and very healthy, so I'd make sure your intake is accurate. (Not saying it's not, just double check!) I wish you all the best!!

    Thanks for your words, it's good to know others who understand! I have an appt with a doc tomorrow and I am planning on bringing this up to her. I really hope you are right about Lupron not being permanent! I read online that some women experienced their symptoms even 5 years after the shot! ): I may be off by a few numbers here and there, but so far, I count every single thing that goes in me, even my cup of black coffee, and so far I am in the 1500 range. For a week, I kept it at the 1300 range, but figured that since I am running, I am going to increase my protein intake. Maybe I can just go back down to 1300? Anyway, thanks for your input!
  • allyv305
    allyv305 Posts: 5 Member
    jemhh wrote: »
    It is extremely easy to do the calorie creep, adding in a few more calories and a few more calories here and there, while simultaneously reducing your activity level, thereby resulting in weight gain. It can happen to anybody but I think it's really common when making the college to real work or college to first job transition. My guess is that is what happened to you. You've gotten good advice about logging. I would follow that for now and not look to the Lupron as the source of your weight gain.

    I understand, but I highly doubt this happened to me. I was not an unhealthy/unfit person to begin with. I have always been good about diet and exercise. It was only after this shot that I gained weight.
  • SLLRunner
    SLLRunner Posts: 12,942 Member
    Ally,

    Welcome. Have you gotten a second opinion regarding your tumor? Has it shrunk or disappeared?

    What are your stats?

    Do you log food? If so, are you willing to open your diary?

    I suggest weighing your food, logging everything you eat, and working to stay within your calorie goals. If you aren't doing this you don't know how much you are eating. Chances are you are simply eating more than you realize, and it's so easy to do.
  • galgenstrick
    galgenstrick Posts: 2,086 Member
    you can get your BMR measures at a university or some fitness centers. I doubt getting the shot lowered it and it's more likely a calorie problem. But if you're really worried about it, then get it tested and you can find out where it's at.
  • editorgrrl
    editorgrrl Posts: 7,060 Member
    edited July 2015
    allyv305 wrote: »
    I am wondering if it's possible that the shot caused my body's calorie burn amount to lower, so maybe now I am burning fewer calories than I was before being on the shot.

    I have Hashimoto's (autoimmune thyroid disease), and I honestly thought I lost (and then gained) a lot of weight for no good reason. I was eventually diagnosed and treated, but I still kept gaining.

    Then I learned to log everything I eat & drink accurately & honestly. What a wake-up call! Set your goal to .5 lb. for every 25 lbs. you're overweight, and get a digital kitchen scale. If you weigh everything you eat (including packaged food), you will lose weight—I promise you.
  • allyv305
    allyv305 Posts: 5 Member
    SLLRunner wrote: »
    Ally,

    Welcome. Have you gotten a second opinion regarding your tumor? Has it shrunk or disappeared?

    What are your stats?

    Do you log food? If so, are you willing to open your diary?

    I suggest weighing your food, logging everything you eat, and working to stay within your calorie goals. If you aren't doing this you don't know how much you are eating. Chances are you are simply eating more than you realize, and it's so easy to do.

    I have, and they all say the same thing: it's too big for your age, too big to remove by itself, your only option is an hysterectomy or some other dangerous procedure that insurance won't cover.
    editorgrrl wrote: »
    allyv305 wrote: »
    I am wondering if it's possible that the shot caused my body's calorie burn amount to lower, so maybe now I am burning fewer calories than I was before being on the shot.

    Then I learned to log everything I eat & drink accurately & honestly. What a wake-up call! Set your goal to .5 lb. for every 25 lbs. you're overweight, and get a digital kitchen scale. You will lose weight—I promise you.

    I log my food every day, I thought I already mentioned this a few times???? Why does everyone keep saying I am not??? I log every thing that goes into my mouth, even a peanut. I once ate 1800 calories but I doubt one day is going to make a difference. I doubt I am eating more than I realize.
    galgenstrick wrote: »
    you can get your BMR measures at a university or some fitness centers. I doubt getting the shot lowered it and it's more likely a calorie problem. But if you're really worried about it, then get it tested and you can find out where it's at.

    Well this sounds like a good idea. Can a general doctor do this or do I need to see a specialist in nutrition and weight loss?
  • editorgrrl
    editorgrrl Posts: 7,060 Member
    allyv305 wrote: »
    I log my food every day, I thought I already mentioned this a few times???? Why does everyone keep saying I am not??? I log every thing that goes into my mouth, even a peanut. I doubt I am eating more than I realize.

    Please don't be defensive—we're all trying to help you! What you're doing right now is not working for you, so if you want a different result, you need to try something else.

    Accurate logging is not as easy as you might think. For example, anyone can put anything in the database, so it's important to learn to recognize reliable entries.

    It's human nature to underestimate your food &/or overestimate your burns. Open your diary for personalized advice.
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