Constant ill and weight won’t budge, what am I missing?

[Limon22]

Looking for some collective wisdom please.

I’m 39 and a mum of one 3-year-old, and for the past year or so I feel like I’m constantly catching colds / flu-type bugs. As soon as one goes, another starts — and when I do get ill it completely wipes me out for a good three weeks at a time.

I’m also absolutely knackered despite getting plenty of sleep, and my weight has completely plateaued no matter what I do.

I’ve had bloods done and the GP says they’re normal. Thyroid is fine. I had a colonoscopy before Christmas which was all clear, and I’ve been tested for coeliac — not coeliac.

Lifestyle-wise, things are actually pretty good. My child is honestly a dream — sleeps brilliantly, happy, and I absolutely love being his mum, so it doesn’t feel like parenting stress. I’m not depressed. My work is balanced and flexible, I work from home a lot and set my own hours, so stress levels are low.

I eat fairly well, try to stay active, and don’t drink much — partly because alcohol really doesn’t agree with me anymore. Even one glass (or four!) causes horrible flare-ups afterwards, so I mostly avoid it.

I’ve also always felt very sensitive to lifestyle even from when I was younger. I’ve never been able to drink much without a huge physical impact, if I have a few bad days eating I get awful bloating, and I’m very sensitive to poor sleep — I have to work hard at getting enough sleep or I feel dreadful.

I constantly crave sugar, which doesn’t help, and I have mild PCOS — but my cycles are regular and I’ve been told my hormonal health looks “good”.

I just feel run down all the time and a bit fed up if I’m honest.

Has anyone been through similar and found a cause? Immune issues? Post-viral stuff? Allergies? Gut issues? Something obvious I should be pushing the GP to look into?

I had extensive fertility and immune testing in November so I’m pretty confident it’s not an auto immune or menopause. I do have a higher number of NK killer cells but believe that’s only an issue having a baby,

Any advice, things to ask for, or “this was me and it turned out to be X” stories very welcome. I’m just tired of feeling rubbish and not knowing why.

Thanks in advance ❤️

Will keep in contact as concerned and feel the same.

Have you looked into inflammation/cortisol as I believe they are blockers for losing weight. I had a variety of tests done last year as I was struggling to lose weight and I got the gp to test (bloods) for everything I could think of. In the end I think it just needed time to settle down as I had started on thyroid meds. Once I cut right down on sugar as well the weight started coming off. No other issues (for now!) but inflammation is one I’ll go back to if things start to go backwards.

I believe you OP. But that also means there must be something underlying that is causing you to gain or hold onto weight despite a very low calorie intake and high output. Coupled with constant illnesses, those should be red flags for a doctor.
Has anyone suggested an intolerance?
Have you changed your work environment recently? I found when I switched offices I got a lot of illnesses in the first year. But that doesn't explain the weight.

Thank you so much. Not one for sharing photos of myself on here but honestly some of the replies to my post have made me feel like I was some sort of inactive ogre and I think while I have a long way to go, it’s very clear from my frame I’m fit and working at things. Appreciate the kind words.

Yes im trying the protein, some days better then done but getting there. The days I have 30g of protein with breakfast are better than others. With weight training i love it In the moment and I am quite strong and mobile; but my god I get this like post gym flu the day after and ache so badly. So im trying to build it. My hips are really weak and that’s causing a lot of pressure on my hamstrings. So working on that with deadlifts, glute lifts and rows etc.

The PCOS could be screwing over your weight loss attempts to some extent, even though you say it's mild. Do you take inositol for it? If not definitely start doing that as it will help with any underlying insulin issues you may have.

Since your blood loss with the miscarriage, what has been done to get your iron back up? Infusion? Or if you've taken iron tablets, how long did you take them for and did you do it as advised (with vit C and avoiding dairy/tea)?

It’s funny you say this, a friend suggested getting a York test done. I know dairy doesn’t agree with me and affects my sinuses if I have too much, especially milk/ yoghurt etc. It might be a start of something to look into: sometimes the way I feel feels like it could be a histamine response. So maybe it’s allergies/intolerance. I’ll look in to it thank you

So I haven’t done much on this - what would I ask for/where could I get them done? I do think I’m sensitive to sugar/refined carbs so wondering if cutting them out would help shift things. Thanks for the helpful reply ❤️

I have heard of it happening in people as they get older despite being able to eat anything beforehand.
Get as many tests as possible to rule it all out.

So I have ovasitol but haven’t been taking it as we’ve decided to not have move children. But I probably should go back to it.

I just had iron tablets no infusions. I was thinking of booking a private infusion.

A couple of thoughts;
Can your PT accurately measure your body fat percentage vs muscle? You may be plateauing weight wise but still dropping fat.
PCOS is an autoimmune disease and simplifying massively, autoimmune diseases and inflammation are very happy bedfellows, along with insulin resistance. It’s no fun but the Keto diet, followed to the letter would be the next thing to try (assuming you haven’t already).
I’ve ended up on WLIs because all the things that used to work for me (Keto and weightlifting basically) were no longer working over 40.
I’ve been on the starter dose for 7 months and lost 25kg with a slightly less restrictive diet than I was on previously!
I feel like it’s reset me back to a body that I recognise and understand

You said 'flare up' from drinking - what kind of flare up?

Also, wfh, I sit for hours and that really slows my digestion AND makes me feel exhausted.

What’s your Effexor dose? My dd is on vensir and she’s had a hard time with her weight which we think is because of this she went on the glp1 and has successfully lost weight.
Also not sure if it makes her more tired as she has chronic fatigue anyway, but being late with the dose is not good it makes her quite ill.

I'm thinking weight and anaemia??

You are the same height as me, and end of last year I was 14st 4 and felt tired all the time. I have lost nearly a stone in 3 months using Wegovy, which I was quite reluctant to do but actually it's been great! I feel loads better, much more energy! My problem is that I just love Sugar and it's really helped me cut down!

I also get anaemic, which makes me tired and cold! When I went to give blood last time I was borderlien. I like the spatone supplements

You know something I think I need to bite the bullet with WLI. How did you decide on Wegovy? And how have the side effects been?

Also yes I think my anemia is back. I am freezing and shattered and I ache all the time.

75mg. I did think this… but im only on it a month. It’s something to think about and monitor though thanks for flagging!

You know this science isn’t actually true for everyone, especially for woman as they approach 40 plus. It’s actually not that simple. But I am considering WLI to see would dropping two stone help.

Awh will keep you updated. Hope you’re ok ❤️

You say your thyroid is ‘fine’ but do you know the actual results and what they tested? You can be within what a GP might consider normal but still feel bad. I feel worlds better when my TSH is at the lower end of normal rather than just within the range.

I’ve been thinking about Keto or WLI. What WLI are you on? How have you found them:

I’ll speak to my PT about the measurements, they have a machine at my gym that can do that I believe.

So after any kind of alcohol be it a glass of wine or gin and tonic or say a special occasion where I might have a few (rarely wine as the hangovers not worth it). I will get swollen glands; exhaustion and like a low grade flu/cold like illness for a week or two. Happens every time which is why I don’t drink much as it stalls progress with fitness etc.

This is a good point; I could need to go back on a low dose of lthyroxine. Have bloods tomorrow so will see.

I was talking to my (gym going, very active) boss about this, as I was also feeling very tired. The more exercise I did, the more tired I got.
He said something I would never have thought of - are you eating enough?

I’d be quite good for getting out. I walk my little fella to and from preschool, I take the dog out, run to the gym, do house stuff etc. generally walk everywhere we can.

If you’ve got low iron or anaemia that will definitely impact immunity. I had the doctor test me for fasting blood glucose - for insulin sensitivity and serum CRP which is a measure for inflammation. Since I was diagnosed hypothyroid I’ve done quite a lot to try and improve my health so it’s difficult to know which of the things I’m doing has made the most difference. I do think my gut health has improved a lot which I believe impacts immunity and I am putting that down to the higher protein diet I’m eating and much less sugar. Someone else suggested trying to address feeling better and hopefully the rest will follow. My sleep quality is better as I don’t eat after 6.30 and don’t have any sugar after dinner. If I want a piece of chocolate I have something small at lunchtime. I won’t stick to this rigidly forever but I feel so much better that I want to create a habit that I can stick to in tie long term so I’m keeping going for now.