Can't lose weight, tired all the time - Thyroid?

[scotsgirl23]

Hi

Just wanted to ask a few opinions. I have a doctors appointment booked to get myself checked out, but I'm not sure what I should be asking for, or if I'm just being daft.

I had a baby 13 weeks ago, following the pregnancy from hell! I had hyperemesis for 16 weeks, followed by SPD from week 20 onwards. Fun fun fun. Anyway, during the course of this, I gained a ridiculous 4 stone. I wasn't pigging out or eating for Britain, heck, first 16 weeks all I did was throw up, so all of that weight gain happened in just over 20 weeks. Which is mad.

I used to be heavier a few years ago and successfully lost over 4 stone, so I know how to lose weight. However, I can't shift this baby weight at all. Despite a constant calorie deficit (been keeping a food diary so I'm not kidding myself) and lots of exercise, I've been the exact same weight for 8 weeks. I'm also exhausted, i.e. sleeping 14-16 hours a day on average. I have random aches in my joints (ankles and thumbs in particular)which don't correspond to exercise, and my hair has started falling out.

I'm wondering if pregnancy and birth has damaged my thyroid? Do these symptoms sound right to anyone who has thyroid problems? Alternatively, any suggestions as to what the heck else could be wrong?

Umm if you have a young baby and had a shit pregnancy plus gained four stone, I'm not surprised you are knackered and feel like crap.

Hair falling out, all normal. God knows how you are getting 16 hours sleep a day. Could you possibly be depressed?

By all means have a thyroid test but pregnancy itself takes it out of you. Also the aching joints - have you had a bad cold recently, a post viral arthritis often presents which can feel like this.

Hope you feel better soon. You may find time does the trick. I didn't lose much weight till DD was 10 months and then it just seemed to drop off overnight.

Thanks for replying. No cold (thankfully), baby girl is great, already sleeps through the night pretty much all the time (10-7 last night) plus still naps a lot in the day! DH is also doing any night feeds that do happen as I can barely wake up.

I don't feel depressed (except for when I hop on ths scales!), I've been getting out a lot, seeing more of friends than normal, and hubby has now started working part time so I'm not at home on my own all the time with the littlie either.

I'm just getting very fed up when I know I have been trying really hard to be healthy etc, and I feel rubbish instead of better!

It may just be timing - as I said I was remarkably healthy in the post partum period but didn't lose anything at all, then it went in two months. If you continue to eat sensibly and exercise three time a week, at some point your body will start to notice!

And it is normal to be really knackered when you've had a baby - even when you sleep, I bet you don't sleep very well. It does get easier though. :)

To me, it sounds totally like thyroid. I had a thyroid issue pre-preg which was just like that. I was constantly exhausted, cold, couldn't lose weight, never hungry, aching body, generally miserable. With treatment it got better. However, it got worse again post partum and I actually put on weight about 3 weeks after DS was born! My medication is at the right level now and I am back to my normal weight.

I would ask your GP for a thyroid test. Post partum thyroiditis is v common. If your TSH is above 3, that is likely why you feel terrible. Also ask for an anaemia test. Don't let them fob you off and tell you that you are depressed and have PPD if you don't feel that way. Good luck!

scotsgirl, are you me? I started reading your post and actually thought I must have written it in my sleep. 'cept I am still 4 stone heavier and DD is 9 months now

Please let me know how you get on.

hi i had exactly the same problenms - couldbt lose weight, hair falling out, always cold and always constipated ..

presented dr with a list and asked for thyroid check...sure enough it was just slightly low but low enough..i got a 50mcg dose of levothyroxine i take everry day - problems solved in a couple weeks..i mean it could be other things, sure - but a quick thyroid test wil let you know for sure..

but yes, pregnancy, new baby, that could be enoug in itself and it is really hard to lose weight after wards - so it could just be that (i say 'just' but i dont mean it like that iykwim!!! i remember what its like though my dcs are 11 and 13 now)

the symptoms do relate to thyroid as well though - hope your dr appointment resolves it for you - get anaemia check too cos symptoms also the same for that you could be low on iron and you can get lots of different supplements that can help there too :)