I think I just need to vent a little, illness and weight loss

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Pantsu
Pantsu Posts: 4 Member
in Motivation and Support
Hey all. Been trying to lose weight since I was a teen and had varying levels of success over the years, losing then gaining again, I'm sure plenty of people here can relate. I've had a lot more "success" lately but it's really come with a price. About two years ago I got to my highest weight of around 270lbs after a particularly bad year of losing my dad and moving to another country, I was just not feeling good at all and spent the whole time in a depressive slump indoors. Then suddenly I started losing weight unintentionally which was welcome at first but soon became intrusive.

I went to the doctor who shrugged it off because I needed to lose weight anyway. Two years on I'm only just starting to be taken seriously because I'm now 100lbs down, losing muscle mass and fatigued constantly... I've been waiting for the hospital to get back to me about adrenal gland and thyroid tests for months now and I guess it's just getting to me. I feel like I was ignored because I was obese and it was seen as the best thing for me to be losing weight even though I was so dizzy that I nearly pass out when I stand up. I just feel really hopeless. I was obese for the majority of my life and I spent so long imagining how good it would feel to finally not be and it just feels like such a hollow victory when it's at the expense of my quality of life. It took me this long to get someone to listen and I feel like if they'd found what was wrong in the beginning then I could already be on my way to fitness, not thinness, as it is I'm 23 years old and I can barely stand anymore...

This is super negative and I'm sorry for that, I know it probably comes across as really ungrateful as well. I'm just kind of at my wit's end. I just want to be strong again but I don't have the energy to get out of bed half the time. People always tell you you'll feel better when you lose weight no matter what but that's definitely not true for everyone.

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  • one235
    one235 Posts: 70 Member
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    Sorry to hear of your struggles, but your weight loss does sound like a medical problem. I'm not a doctor, but maybe your sugar or thyroid is off.. did you call the hospital for results, sounds like a long time for results.
    Hope you find out soon.
  • FGTisme
    FGTisme Posts: 87 Member
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    Call the hospital and or Doctor everyday until you get the results. If they do not have results, have the tests taken again. You have to become your own advocate. I understand that illness and depression can sap your motivation to do anything, but you sound like you are in a circumstance where you have no choice but to make it your top priority. Call them tomorrow. You won't feel better by continuing to wait. God bless you.
  • pewpewkapow
    pewpewkapow Posts: 13 Member
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    I think you definitely need to go to the doctor and get some blood tests done to determine if there's anything wrong with you.

    I had something similar happen to me - I lost 30kgs (however it was on purpose thru diet and exercise) and expected to feel great and awesome but instead felt weak and sickly, exactly as you described. I ended up fainting on the train on my way to work one morning and then again the next day at home. I went to the doctor and after 3 months of tests, different doctors and specialists I was diagnosed with Pernicious Anemia, an autoimmune disease. I have a few online friends I've met thru a PA community and a lot of them lost a huge amount of weight unexpectedly when they weren't trying to before having their first PA symptoms show.

    So there could by something similarly wrong with you, so you should get to a doctor as soon as you can so it doesn't get worse.
  • Pantsu
    Pantsu Posts: 4 Member
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    I've been insistant on getting tests done and they've bounced me back and forth over the last 2 years. First of all I convinced my GP to send me to a cardiologist after months of making repeat appointments and he was the only one who seems to actually give a crap. He's been pushing for my next set of tests with an endocrinologist since my heart is fine and he can't do anything for me but the hospital in my town is underfunded and I'm just left here in limbo until there's a free slot. They called me 3 weeks ago saying "hey, we'll send out an appointment ASAP!" And I'm still waiting. It's the only hospital here and I don't really have any other options. Every time I call them or make an appointment to ask for them to hurry up they brush me off again, it's soul crushing.
  • dblaacker
    dblaacker Posts: 153 Member
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    I don't think you sound ungrateful at all. It sounds like there are some serious issues that need to be addressed, both physical and psychological. You said you were in a "depressive slump" after experiencing some really dramatic/traumatic changes to your life. Have you considered therapy? I find it to be very helpful. I agree with the above post about seeing a medical doctor to examine possible thyroid issues, etc... There's a strong relationship between the mind and body, so I recommend that you take a holistic approach toward wellness. PM me if you'd like to talk more. I wish you the best!
  • cmriverside
    cmriverside Posts: 33,945 Member
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    Oh, wow. Bless your heart, I hope you have found a good medical team and that you are soon on good treatment. I agree that we have to be our own advocates with doctors. I'm impressed that you learned this at such a young age.

    May you have a long and happy life. :)
  • nikkipoooo
    nikkipoooo Posts: 33 Member
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    Pantsu wrote: »
    Not sure how rude it is to bump threads after this long, but I was thinking about these posts recently and just wanted to add a conclusion in case anyone else has a similar situation and finds it. Turns out I have Addison's disease and need to be on corticosteroids for life. My unintentional weight loss immediately stopped when they put me on them and I'm a lot more stable now. I also have an under active thyroid which I'm being medicated for now which combined with the steroids means I'm a few kilos up (a lot of it is fluid retention, unfortunately) and struggling to get healthy again. I had a lot of muscle loss from being sick for so long which could have been prevented if they'd listened to me in the first place.

    Still have trouble with my doctors. Only got diagnosed in January even though they started me on the steroids spring 2016. They just kind of left me to it without informing me I had a life threatening condition. Basically, screw doctors. I survived despite their negligence but I know other people weren't as lucky. Listen to fat people when they tell you there's something wrong, please. It's not just laziness and we know our bodies better than you do.

    Oh! I sort of know the feeling... it took over 4 years before I was diagnosed with MS when I was not quite 25. They never took me seriously at all until I told my Dr. that my hand had been asleep for 3 days, and if she thought that was all in my head too then she'd better just have me committed because I must be really crazy and it needed to be addressed. She sighed and ordered a test for carpal tunnel and the Dr. doing a test said "You don't have carpal tunnel... you don't even really have symptoms of carpal tunnel. This result is definitely not normal though... you need an MRI". Within 2 months I was diagnosed, and I'd found the neurologist I still see 12 years later. I also found a new primary care Dr. who is incredible and doesn't blow everything off as "probably just an MS thing" like many are inclined to do.

    It's really all about finding the right doctor. It's easy to blame them all, but I know there's one out there who will be amazing for you.
  • rheddmobile
    rheddmobile Posts: 6,840 Member
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    I'm glad you have a diagnosis - just wanted to thank you for follow up post, you never know who might be helped by your experience, and wish you well. It took ten years for doctors to diagnose my lupus, I sympathize with your attitude towards doctors who blow you off.
  • Leenizi129
    Leenizi129 Posts: 133 Member
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    Ok, first I am sorry they made you feel that way. Second, why don't you do some research your own, call the Dr get a diagnosis and then again research ways you can help yourself and you can. It took me 5 doctors and going out of state to find someone who would help! It is an uphill battle but seek and you will find and the most important thing is finding what works for you, makes you feel better! Stay strong.
  • hekla90
    hekla90 Posts: 595 Member
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    Nurse here- hell ya for sticking to your guns and being persistent. A lot of medical conditions have overlapping symptoms and when there seems to be a horse clomping around it's easy to ignore the hooves you hear are sometimes zebras so to speak. Anyways, I'm happy you were empowered enough to get answers and they figured it out!
  • azulvioleta6
    azulvioleta6 Posts: 4,196 Member
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    Wow...Addison's seems like a very obvious diagnosis given your symptoms.

    I have kind of the opposite endocrine problem--pan hypopituitarism. It took a long time to get a diagnosis.

    My advice would be to see the top endocrine specialist at the best teaching hospital that you can get to, even if that means you have to travel to see a doctor. Don't mess around with generalists.

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