I'm so huge and fat, I'll be dead in five years

[AppleJuiceAvid]

In my early 30s, 5ft4 and last time I got on the scales, I weighed 26 and a half stone. Currently on the antipsychotic Aripiprazole (15mg daily) and Fluoxetine (20mg daily). Before that, I was on Olanzapine and Paroxetine. Before that I was on Sertraline. Before that I was on Mirtazapine. Before that I was on Citalopram. Got a parent who has hypothyroidism. At the beginning of the year, I had blood tests after a stomach bug and got told I am deficient in Vitamin D and B12. I was prescribed some Vitamin D to take twice a week, but I have not been taking it consistently. My face is puffy and I get hairs on my chin and a few on my chest. Periods are irregular and when I do get them, they get quite heavy. I'm tired all the time and the house is a mess, but I just have no energy to do anything. I barely manage to get up for work. Got left pelvic pain and left hip hurts when walking. Ankles seem swollen and feel sore when I lie down in bed at night. Get out of breath going up the stairs and too fat to reach my toenails to cut them. I want to lose weight, but just feel hopeless.

I think I'm going to look up private endocrinologists now and look into getting some bloods taken for tests.

Go see your GP hun
Write down all your symptoms and ask them to test for hypothyroidism and pcos and enquire about referrals to the gym and tier 3 bariatric service

I have both thyroid disease and pcos, at my biggest i was 27 and a half stone. I was referred to tier 3 bariatric services (who asked why no one was treating my ever worsening thyroid)
They were pretty blunt and told me I had just 5 years to live if I didnt do anything
Im down over 10 stone and its been 13 years since that do made his guess on my life expectancy

Sounds like PCOS and maybe a thyroid condition too. I have PCOS and Hashimoto’s. It’s very difficult to lose weight. However, I do recommend that you look at your diet. You need to focus on protein and fiber and cutting out UPFs and sugar. That’s what I’m doing. I also don’t drink alcohol. I’m prescribed metformin from a private endocrinologist. If I wasn’t ttc, I’d be on a weight loss injection like mounjaro (I qualify privately due to PCOS).

You’d definitely qualify via the NHS, I’m sure of it. So you could look into that, but I’d focus on what I’ve recommended first.

I also supplement with Vitamin D, Folic Acid, Zinc currently. I previously took Vitamin B12 & Omega 3.

Good luck x

Have you been on merformin? B12 deficiency can be a side effect and will make you feel rubbish cognitively. Whatever the reason, the deficiency needs correcting, maybe by injection via the GP if it is low enough.

This absolutely……wise words x

if I were you I’d consider WLS gastric sleeve or GLP1 to help you. They are tools that will aid in weightloss, which will in tern help with your MH

AppleJuiceAvid Would you consider weight loss surgery? I see-sawed for 40 years and my fatty liver consultant told me I’ve got 5 years of life left.

i went to Irmet clinic in Istanbul for a gastric bypass, im 11 stone down and im loving life 🤗

Yep. It’s been prescribed here for that for at least 5 years and helps adherence to the psych meds

I'm 5 ft 10. On my wedding day in October 2021 I weighed 31 stone. That December I had a gastric sleeve (I was fortunate in receiving some inheritance so went private) and then I started mounjaro on April 2025 due to my diabetes. I'm now 21 stone. Honestly it feels so fucking good. I have Lipoedema and POTS among other things which makes life really difficult to move, but I do what I can. My mood is much improved as is my outlook on life and my life expectancy.

Would you be open to tier 3 weight loss programs with the view to surgery? My BMI was 70 when I was admitted. I'm now 40 something. Not great but so much better.

Team RH is also a good approach. Works out your calories based on how many steps you can manage each day. I've been doing that with my MJ and it's so helpful.

You don't have to be stuck on this rut. Please ask your GP for help. They can also offer referrals to you local council gym for a period of time too to get you started. I've used it for swimming before now. Just getting dressed was more of a workout than actually swimming though 🙈

Good luck 🍀

Oh and also, if you're on aripiprazole they should have you on a statin as it can cause increased cholesterol. I didn't know that until this year and I've been on it for 8 years!! Helps my bipolar but my cholesterol is just above 6

Fuck all that you need ozempic and to get yourself on the weight loss surgery waiting list with your gp

Best of luck x

You would be surprised how difficult that can be to qualify for. You have to meet all 5 of various health conditions

Try to get Mounjaro. I'm in my 70's, 5'2" and lost 80 pounds in 10 months. I'm still losing on a maintenance dose, and in the normal/healthy weight range now. I can't say enough good things about it. It will change your life for the better.

I'm in the U.S. and take Zepbound, which is the same thing - differnet name. There are many people who have discovered it cured or helped other conditions, such as sleep apnea, Polycystic Ovary Syndrome (PCOS) and more. Try to pay for it yourself if the NHS won't. It has extended and improved my life.

The injections stop you from thinking about food all the time and when you do eat, just a tiny portion fills you up. It frees your mind. I really hope you can get it prescribed. Good luck.

OP i think to break this cycle you need WLI or surgery and it needs to be your priority. I sympathise so much as obesity is a viscous cycle but its one only you can really break

Unbelievable. I’m so angry on behalf of your friend. Good for her for taking control but what about those who can’t afford it? That said, a former college of mine got prescribed Mounjaro on the NHS without co-morbidities, I think it depends where you live.

1 in 8 adults in the US is on a GLP-1. 1 in 5 women over 35 are. And this is before the oral meds were released this year which have been very popular. The UK needs to look again at what they’re offering. Surely it’s a massive money-saver in the long run?

The guidelines quoted are to get the medication directly from the GP. There are services which can prescribe it for you with lower thresholds - I went this route and qualified. You also get dietitian support though these services, so that might be helpful OP - its been a great support for me.

I have been on Mounjaro for 19 months and have lost 9 stone 6 lbs. Its been an absolute game changer and as someone who started off at over 23 stone i can feel where you are coming from.

The GP wouldn't give it to me so I do but it privately the GP did refer me for weight loss surgery which was approved but I had lost 6 stone on Mounjaro by that point and was happy on my journey.

Im not saying weight loss will solve all your problems but it is a game changer. If you are considering it feel free to ask any questions

Right. You can sort this out. It’s not too late.

have you ever seriously considered weight loss surgery? I had it a few years ago and it fixed my whole life. I lost weight, my mental health improved significantly. I can’t recommend it enough for significant, fast weight loss.

I paid for it privately which is not always an option for everyone, I get that. And I know not everyone has the same experience. But so many of us do. It literally saved my life, in more ways than one. Happy to speak privately (to anyone) about it.

Sending you a hug OP. I know there are lots of factors at play here, and I also don’t know if anyone has mentioned it yet, but you could try a weight watchers or slimming world group because they can be really supportive for a weekly check-in. You need in person support and it is not too late so please don’t give up.

Sweetheart, if you have ever saved for a rainy day - its here and now

If the NHS is failing you, then go private

However with the WLI's leading the way a lot more Gp's are more willing to be open and have the conversations you need. I think for so long, where all they had in guidance was diet and exercise, that became their mantra. Now Gps having to understand WLI's and how hormones, gut health, sugar etc have such an impact on our bodies, they are beginning to listen , and understand it not just less in and exercise more

So go back to you GP, and if that GP isnt receptive to what you are saying, see another in the practice

Ive a GP in my practice, I could go to her with shingles lets say and she will tell me its down to my drinking and shrug it off , she cant get past the fact that I drink, everything is drink related as far as she is concerned. Another GP hears I drink, then listens to history and symptoms and then starts a ball rolling

A lot of GPs see a fat person and think - too much food, too little exercise and won't delve deeper and we know now that there is so much at play and not everyone is equal

You deserve a good quality of life. You dont deserve to feel how you are right now . You are important. Go get heard . Dont walk away, if the NHS arent listening, go private

It's funny that most of the people posting think that they are Doctors and know what medication should be prescribed

Some people on mumsnet do have medical-type backgrounds and know something about weight management.

@suki1964 Ive a GP in my practice, I could go to her with shingles lets say and she will tell me its down to my drinking and shrug it off , she cant get past the fact that I drink, everything is drink related as far as she is concerned. Another GP hears I drink, then listens to history and symptoms and then starts a ball rolling
A lot of GPs see a fat person and think - too much food, too little exercise and won't delve deeper and we know now that there is so much at play and not everyone is equal

While this is frustrating, it's somewhat understandable. Many people go to the GP with non-specific and unusual symptoms. GPs look for the interventions that are most likely to rectify the issue and have the highest benefit. That usually means eliminating alcohol, stop people smoking, and weight loss.

@AppleJuiceAvid Please don't give up OP. I think you seem like a nice person and it sounds like you are having a lot of difficulty. Seeing a medical professional is definitely the right first step.

Maybe some are doctors ?