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Mumsnet doesn't verify the qualifications of users. If you have medical concerns, please consult a healthcare professional.

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Mumsnet doesn't verify the qualifications of users. If you have medical concerns, please consult a healthcare professional.

General health

Losing too much weight.

38 replies

ItllBeLonelymumThisChristmas · 18/12/2004 16:40

I wasn't sure whether to post on the weight losing threads but it seemed to be all about losing weight there and I don't want to appear to be rubbing people's noses in the fact that I have the opposite problem. Anyway, this is my problem....

I am 5 feet 8 inches tall and have been steadily losing weight since having my fourth baby 22 months ago. Recently, the weight loss seems to have increased and I am now only 9 stone, 3 pounds. Before havig children I was about 9 stone 10 pounds. I frequently feel tired and run-down and some of you will know I have been quite depressed and stressed lately. Do you think I am losing too much weight? (I am not trying to lose any weight at all) Is that making me feel ill? Or do you think I have an illness whose side effect is weight loss? Any advice?

OP posts:

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spacedonkey · 18/12/2004 16:41

Have your eating habits changed at all LM?

ItllBeLonelymumThisChristmas · 18/12/2004 16:42

In the last few days I have not had much appetite (been very depressed) but before that, no.

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spacedonkey · 18/12/2004 16:46

I found that I lost a lot of weight when I was breastfeeding, and generally have a tendency to lose weight when I'm worried or stressed. I'd say 9 stone 3 is quite light for a person of your height (I'm 5 foot 9 and hover around the 10 stone mark). If I were you I'd see my GP, because it could be down to an underlying illness (such as an overactive thyroid perhaps). I think the depression and stress is the most likely cause though.

ItllBeLonelymumThisChristmas · 18/12/2004 16:50

Hmmm. Not keen on seeing my GP again so soon. If I try and eat loads over Christmas and then check my weight, do you think that would be OK? If I have a health problem, my weight wouldn't go up no matter what I ate, is that right?

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spacedonkey · 18/12/2004 16:51

From ivillage:

Sudden unexplained weight loss should always be investigated to find out the cause, especially if you also feel tired and shaky. Your doctor will want to check you for diabetes, overactive thyroid gland, hidden infections, and other causes of weight loss. He or she will probably arrange blood tests and a chest x-ray. Don't put off going - the sooner the cause is found, the sooner you can be treated and on the way to recovery.

Sometimes weight loss can be a sign of a depressive illness, and your doctor will want to know how you are feeling emotionally. In the meantime, try to eat a healthy diet. It can help to keep a food diary for a few days to see exactly what you are eating. Healthy between-meal-snacks such as fruit, muesli, smoked salmon sandwiches, and cheese can help you put on weight. High-carb foods such as rice, pasta and bread are also a good idea.

cranberryjampot · 18/12/2004 16:52

no offence Lonelymum but sod off

ItllBeLonelymumThisChristmas · 18/12/2004 16:54

Well, whenever I see my GP she seems to be convinced I am always depressed (not true) and need AD's (not keen) so if I went to see her, I feel she would just pursue that line and not the over-active thyroid, diabetes, etc route. I am not up to arguing with her again.

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spacedonkey · 18/12/2004 16:55

I am concerned at your GP's apparent lack of support

Do you have any other physical symptoms at all?

pregnant woman standing on scales

Weight gain in pregnancy

Weight gain during pregnancy is one of life's certainties, but studies show that many women don't know how much weight they should be putting on – and could be putting themselves and their baby at risk

ItllBeLonelymumThisChristmas · 18/12/2004 16:56

No no Cranberryjampot, it is not a boast. I thought someone would think that. Being underweight is just as difficult to do something about as being overweight IMO. However, if you have a problem losing weight, can I recommend Lonelymum's infallible diet: come and look after my 4 children for a month!

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ItllBeLonelymumThisChristmas · 18/12/2004 16:57

SD: at the moment, yes. I am tired, headachy, depressed, tearful, unable to concentrate, etc. However, is this because I am depressed or because I am ill/underweight?

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spacedonkey · 18/12/2004 16:59

I'm not medically qualified, so can only speak from my own experience. I would say that, in my experience at least, all of those symptoms can be attributed to depression. However, I do think that if you continue to lose weight, you should bite the bullet and go back to the doctor, because, if there is an underlying medical condition, depression may actually be one of its symptoms!

RudyDudy · 18/12/2004 17:00

Hello Lonelymum - I'm sorry your GP is not supportive but I do think it would be a good idea to be checked out. I don't know the situation but would it be possible to see another GP in the practice?

Have you noticed a loss of appetitie at all? Or do you think you are eating the same and just losing weight?

cranberryjampot · 18/12/2004 17:01

I know LM - i was joking - it must be worse losing too much than no being able to lose like me.

spacedonkey · 18/12/2004 17:01

You have only lost 7lbs - has this been a steady weight loss over the last 22 months or has it been a sudden, recent weight loss?

ItllBeLonelymumThisChristmas · 18/12/2004 17:01

Yes, it's difficult to know isn't it, which came first the depression or the weight loss. I just feel so ill today without having any definite symptoms and decided to weigh myself and was horified what I weighed. Thanks for your words of wisdom.

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spacedonkey · 18/12/2004 17:03

Keep an eye on your weight and try to make sure you eat well (should be a bit easier to do that at this time of year!). It's easy to not look after yourself properly when you are depressed.

RudyDudy · 18/12/2004 17:06

perhaps it might be an idea to record your weight over the next few weeks (months?). that way at least you will have some facts to take to the Dr if you need to. If you are having difficulty eating lots and would like some ideas for how to fortify your food to make it higher in energy then you could post a thread.

ItllBeLonelymumThisChristmas · 18/12/2004 17:06

My appetite comes and goes. Cover your eyes Cranberryjampot, but I have always prided myself on eating what I liked when I liked. Normally my weight stayed fairly constant. I suppose I lost some weight b/fing ds3 for 13 months, but since then, the weight has continued to decrease. We haven't had a pair of bathroom scales for long (a few months only) and I don't weigh myself regularly, but last time I weighed a few weeks ago, I was 9 stone 7 pounds, so the last 4 lbs have come off in the last few weeks with no effort on my part to lose weight.

I don't know if this is significant, but quite a few comments have been made to me recently about my weight loss/figure and all my clothes are too big for me now.

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spacedonkey · 18/12/2004 17:10

I agree with RudyDudy - keep a written record of your weight so that, if you continue to lose weight despite efforts to eat more, you have some "ammunition" when you go to the GP about it.

ItllBeLonelymumThisChristmas · 18/12/2004 17:12

Right. I'll have to have a regular weigh-in then.

On another topic, if anyone is reading this, trying to lose weight, my advice (FWIW) is to drink lots of water before every meal and inbetween too. That will definitely fill your stomach a bit and mean you feel less hungry. Just my idea.

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brusselbeansprouts · 18/12/2004 17:12

Hope I'm not butting in here LM but just wanted to say that if you are going for the eat more over Xmas option to not do what I do and eat way too much rubbish! Xmas for most of us is the exception not the norm - more stress, less nutritous food etc, so if you do see your GP it might be better to go along in a "typical" time rather than an "atypical" one, IYSWIM.

I've weighed too little in the past too, so I do sympathise. Hope you feel better soon.

cranberryjampot · 18/12/2004 17:13

LM - i do drink lots of water and my prob is that I actually dont eat lots at all and dont have a big appetite.

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ItllBeLonelymumThisChristmas · 18/12/2004 17:15

Well the offer of looking after my children still remains!!

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RudyDudy · 18/12/2004 17:15

LM - just a suggestion but...as you have always been able to eat with worry combined with the depression might this mean that you eat less than you realise? I don't mean that you are stupid just that if you are not paying that much attention to food and your appetite fluctuates you might skip meals occasionally? I don't want to turn you into a diary junkie recording your whole life but it might also help to keep a record of what you eat and when to act as a kind of reminder. If you do need to build up your weight then you should be aiming to eat snacks during the day in addition to your meals.

BTW - I am training to be a dietitian and doing my placements in hospital I was surprised to find that dietitians spend as much time seeing people who need to put on weight as the oppositve. You are not alone and it is just as much a PITA as the other.

RudyDudy · 18/12/2004 17:16

*without worry!

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