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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

I feel like I’m losing control of my body - what is wrong with me?!

27 replies

Whatiswrongwithmeeee · 06/05/2022 22:23

I’ve always been naturally curvy, around a size 10. My happy weight is around 9.5-10 stone.

I gave birth to my son in 2020 and had terrible postnatal depression, and ballooned up to a size 22. I’ve never been one to gain weight, so I don’t know where it came from. I don’t eat great, but I don’t eat super badly, and I don’t eat enough to justify the amount of weight I’ve gained. Not in denial, just the truth!

Fast forward to 2022 and I now haven’t had a period in six months, I am heavily fatigued all of the time, always feeling so, so tired.

The past couple of days I’ve had horrendous stomach cramps, and I just feel like I’ve lost control of my body. I feel like there’s something wrong but I don’t know what.

I’ve had bloods done and it’s not a thyroid issue.

I know MN isn’t a doctor but I can’t get an appointment for weeks and I’m really worried and feel like I’ve completely lost control of my once healthy, active body.

Any thoughts or advice? This is getting me so down.

OP posts:
Snorkellingaround · 06/05/2022 22:27

Tired, weight gain, periods stopped. . . Is there any chance you could be pregnant?

Thetoasterhasbroken · 06/05/2022 22:28

Have you been checked for polycystic ovaries?

MrsDoraDumble · 06/05/2022 22:30

Did they say why your tsh Scores were for your thyroid… some clinics won’t treat under 10 but for some people they need to be under 2 to feel well.

Whatiswrongwithmeeee · 06/05/2022 22:30

I’ve been taking a pregnancy test every month and they’re all negative - took one last week also. So I don’t think so.

I haven’t been checked for PCOS, no, though I have questioned it.

OP posts:
Whatiswrongwithmeeee · 06/05/2022 22:30

@MrsDoraDumble Nope, they just said no further action!

OP posts:
Squigglesonthebear · 06/05/2022 22:33

I can't offer any insight into potential health issues, but I would urge you to speak to a gp as soon as you can. Does your practice offer phone appointments? Or could going private be an option?

Hope you get some answers soon 💐

JonSnowedUnder · 06/05/2022 22:39

Did you take any medication for the pnd?

MrsDoraDumble · 06/05/2022 22:39

Ok I think you can request a copy of your blood test results from your gp surgery.

Sillysausagesally · 06/05/2022 23:20

I feel the same and I think it’s obesity and depression

bridgetreilly · 07/05/2022 00:01

It might be worth trying a low-carb diet?

LicoricePizza · 07/05/2022 06:38

Definitely ask for copies of your blood test results. If they say GP will have to ok them & try to fob you off that’s fine. Ask them to let you know when they will be ready to collect. Every practice has to make the available - as part of Patient Access.

See if everything you were told has been tested for. Check results & that the action advised correlates with the action you were given. Ie Repeat 3months etc. I was insufficient for Ferritin & Vitamin D. Action advised on printed blood test instructions had NFA in pen against it - mistakes are common. Even when politely brought up with a female doctor, in view of my ongoing fatigue & other problems, she got defensive & reluctant to give me the now lifelong supplementation, I need & benefit from.

B12, Vit D, B12, ferritin (needs to be tested separately not just iron) magnesium all essential for mood/fatigue. Thyroid cannot function optimally if all these not optimal either.

Women lose so much ferritin via periods that often not replenished via western diet. Before you start supplementing yourself look at your results first to get a baseline & see if anything going on against what they should be for your age etc. GP’s tend to view these very poorly IME. Probably not seen as that much of a concern - but can make a huge difference in people’s quality of life. If you need to be medically supplemented they should be doing this not yourself.

Thyroid - check if full Thyroid testing been done. Mostly only basic tests are that don’t cover full Thyroid function.
Thyroid UK great source for explaining tests, ranges, results & how to ask to be taken seriously by GP. And what other tests to request.

Blood sugar /diabetes - I resorted to a private Endo as not listened to by GP. Didn’t like to come across as being a nuisance & thought I will pay the cost for quicker stress free help. They couldn’t believe I wasn’t offered correct testing in view of test results & symptoms & wrote to GP to request they do them. Like why?!

I’d also be asking about hormonal & endocrine function in view of weight gain & your periods stopping too - although found this (hormone testing) impossible via my GP for which along with the above the private Endocrinologist had to request it be done.

These investigations were therefore legitimately required, yielded clinical conditions, diagnoses & treatment, yet were extremely difficult to be obtained.

Am absolutely not a doctor but have learned the hard way to take health into my own hands more, out of sheer necessity. And not trust the blanket “all bloods are back as fine”.

Don’t give up.

PS that’s not to say am ungrateful for the NHS & realise the unprecedented pressure it is under. Just that it has a lot of systemic issues to answer for, women’s health being one of them. Within the system & on an individual level, there are equally amazing, caring & committed workers who deserve our utmost respect & gratitude.

maddening · 07/05/2022 06:59

The thyroid check the NHS do does not automatically scan for hashimoto (autoimmune issue impacting thyroid) and even if a gp asks for it the lab won't do it unless thyroid levels indicate. I was showing borderline for ages, it was only when an endocrinologist requested it that it was done, and I do have hashimoto, so although only borderline I do have symptoms and they won't treat. And I do have an awful time losing weight and it goes on super easy.

LicoricePizza · 07/05/2022 07:08

Exactly what @maddening is saying

KangarooKenny · 07/05/2022 07:12

PCOS ?

RumpleDumple · 07/05/2022 07:28

I had exactly the same symptoms after my DD was born. Horrendous spasms and felt fatigued and almost like I was permanently hungover. I have Coeliac disease and I think from memory, that pregnancy can bring it on. Worth getting it checked out but don't go gluten free before hand as that can lead to a false negative ( your body starts to heal as soon as you go gluten free). Hope you get to the bottom of it soon

CrunchyCarrot · 07/05/2022 07:31

You really need to get a more comprehensive thyroid check, that includes antibodies. Pregnancy/childbirth can trigger hypothyroidism. Does anyone in your family have any autoimmune diseases?

You can get a thyroid fingerprick blood test from Medichecks (other companies are available!) that includes antibody tests. That's how my autoimmune thyroid disease was picked up. Also, you are entitled to get a free printout of your lab results, so please do ask for those.

You may have low ferritin, so also could do with getting that checked out as well.

spidersenses · 07/05/2022 08:12

This sounds similar to what happened to me. The periods stopping is also a huge sign of this. Have you ever had your prolactin checked? It’s another one of the pituitary hormones. When it’s extremely high your body almost thinks it’s pregnant. I had a small benign tumour on my pituitary gland that was causing it. It’s easily treatable with medication/referral to an endocrinologist. Your GP can check your prolactin or if they won’t, Medichecks do an affordable test.

spidersenses · 07/05/2022 08:16

Just to add, huge weight gain, exhaustion, lack of mental clarity, emotions all over the place lack of periods are all symptoms. Mine came on after pregnancy.

PermanentTemporary · 07/05/2022 08:19

I had an ovarian ultrasound and was diagnosed with PCOS after one missed period. I would definitely have that in mind as a possibility.

SmiledWtherisingsun · 07/05/2022 10:25

How old are you?
Could it be peri?

SausageFox · 08/05/2022 02:15

Could you get checked for coeliac disease? Pregnancy can trigger it, so to speak. You can have the gene and it can sort of... lie dormant, if that makes sense? I'm coeliac and stress (severe stress) triggered it into action about seven years ago.

IncessantNameChanger · 08/05/2022 02:28

I have similar symptoms to you so following to see if you get any answers. I would download the nhs app and ask your go to give you access to view your blood test results. I had low vitamin d at one point. I have also put on about three stone without eating more in a short space of 3-6 months.

im trying two weeks of very sick calorie monitoring to see if I can loose weight. It’s very hard being fatigued/ swelling up and not finding the reasons

ChampagneLassie · 08/05/2022 03:02

LicoricePizza · 07/05/2022 06:38

Definitely ask for copies of your blood test results. If they say GP will have to ok them & try to fob you off that’s fine. Ask them to let you know when they will be ready to collect. Every practice has to make the available - as part of Patient Access.

See if everything you were told has been tested for. Check results & that the action advised correlates with the action you were given. Ie Repeat 3months etc. I was insufficient for Ferritin & Vitamin D. Action advised on printed blood test instructions had NFA in pen against it - mistakes are common. Even when politely brought up with a female doctor, in view of my ongoing fatigue & other problems, she got defensive & reluctant to give me the now lifelong supplementation, I need & benefit from.

B12, Vit D, B12, ferritin (needs to be tested separately not just iron) magnesium all essential for mood/fatigue. Thyroid cannot function optimally if all these not optimal either.

Women lose so much ferritin via periods that often not replenished via western diet. Before you start supplementing yourself look at your results first to get a baseline & see if anything going on against what they should be for your age etc. GP’s tend to view these very poorly IME. Probably not seen as that much of a concern - but can make a huge difference in people’s quality of life. If you need to be medically supplemented they should be doing this not yourself.

Thyroid - check if full Thyroid testing been done. Mostly only basic tests are that don’t cover full Thyroid function.
Thyroid UK great source for explaining tests, ranges, results & how to ask to be taken seriously by GP. And what other tests to request.

Blood sugar /diabetes - I resorted to a private Endo as not listened to by GP. Didn’t like to come across as being a nuisance & thought I will pay the cost for quicker stress free help. They couldn’t believe I wasn’t offered correct testing in view of test results & symptoms & wrote to GP to request they do them. Like why?!

I’d also be asking about hormonal & endocrine function in view of weight gain & your periods stopping too - although found this (hormone testing) impossible via my GP for which along with the above the private Endocrinologist had to request it be done.

These investigations were therefore legitimately required, yielded clinical conditions, diagnoses & treatment, yet were extremely difficult to be obtained.

Am absolutely not a doctor but have learned the hard way to take health into my own hands more, out of sheer necessity. And not trust the blanket “all bloods are back as fine”.

Don’t give up.

PS that’s not to say am ungrateful for the NHS & realise the unprecedented pressure it is under. Just that it has a lot of systemic issues to answer for, women’s health being one of them. Within the system & on an individual level, there are equally amazing, caring & committed workers who deserve our utmost respect & gratitude.

Your post is sad and shocking. I've had a few health issues and I simmilary had to go private to get correct checks and diagnosis when GP just considered me hyoercondraic. Sorry @Whatiswrongwithmeeee i hope you can get to bottom of it. Xx

starrynight21 · 08/05/2022 05:17

I gained a lot of weight after taking anti depressants - are you taking any ?

Whatiswrongwithmeeee · 13/05/2022 18:01

hi everyone, had doc appointment today - it is PCOS xx

OP posts: