I literally can not loose weight

[ArtfulLimeUser]

Since I had my daughter in 2023 my health has declined rapidly.
my weight as steadily gone up to 14 stone (I’m 5 ft 3), my hair is thinning, I’ve been diagnosed wit adenomyosis, pelvic congestion syndrome, chronic tonsiltiis, I’m awaiting a tonsillectomy and a hysterectomy. That’s just the back story. I am waiting to see endocrinology in August and the lymphedema nurses for my leg swelling.
when my daughter was about 1, I rapidly lost 2 stone and was very poorly, my gp thought I had cancer. I had so many tests and nothing was ever found. Then I just started piling the weight on. I’ve tried EVERYTHING. I am so so active and have a very healthy diet. But my weight won’t stop increasing. I absolutely eat in a calorie deficit. I know it is something medical related but does anyone have any insight on what this could be? Up to now for my various symptoms I have seen 2 gastro doctors, vascular as my legs are very swollen, rheumatology as I had gout symptoms but it was arthritis, haematology for constant infections, weight loss in the beginning and swollen lymph nodes and ent for my tonsils. I also saw cardiology as I was having chest pain and shortness of breath. Everything from these doctors have been okay.
I am at breaking point

hey just wanted to share solidarity to you. I was in a very similar position. I went on Mounjaro in March and haven’t looked back. It’s slow, and I’ve had to do a lot of work and exercise so it’s by no means been a miracle fix, but I have lost two stone and counting. If you can over on jabs I highly recommend. They’ve changed my life, my energy and my health.

Thank you. I will discuss with the endocrinologist in August. I am truly at breaking point :(

Thyroid issues can cause heavy weight gain and other medical issues. It's scary how pregnancy can affect your body for the rest of your life.

Because weight cannot be loosened only lost (or gained)

Did that make you feel any better?

OP, I'm sorry you're going through this it sounds rough. I hope the endocrinologists can give you answers. I would definitely make a timeline of everything like when specifically symptoms started, pregnancy / pp milestones, weight gain, menstrual changes, when you started certain medications, blood work results, family history etc. Go prepared.

I see you have time on your hands

Just how many kcal/day are you consuming, OP?

Sorry to hear you are unwell. I don't think I can understand what OP meant to say.

If someone says "I am so so active" I imagine that means they exceed the 150 minutes (per week) of moderate-vigorous exercise that CMOs recommend.

OP says that she is also suffering with a load of chronic health problems: shortness of breath, not slight but moderate or severe both legs being swollen, tonsilitus, symptoms of gout (which is painful & can be exhausting) but was actually arthritis (also painful & debilitating), chest pain. If I had all that going on I would not meet much less exceed the CMO guidelines. If OP is pushing thru to do lots of exercise in spite of all those things, she may be pushing herself too hard & making the health issues worse.

Well aren't you a joy? 🙄

My endo (Graves Disease) raves about Mounjaro due to the positive effects they're seeing in patients across the board in terms of symptom reduction.

I really struggle to lose weight even on the jabs but I feel so much better in myself when on them.

Don't get your hopes up at getting it on the NHS, though. Many areas don't offer it at all and those that do require you to be morbidly obese and have 2 co-morbidities (eg high blood pressure & Diabetes) to qualify.

Let your gp investigate. Hopefully they'll get yo the bottom of it.

I am also unable to lose weight unless extremely restricted, which makes me tired and obsessed with food. A small dose of wegovy has fixed that, I still have my appetite and food noise but I can eat sensibly and still lose weight - it's probably insulin sensitivity or inflammation.

Sorry I should of clarified, the health issues have been over almost 3 years, so I don’t have the chest pain or shortness of breath anymore, the gout scare was osteoarthritis and I’ve since had a steroid injection.
i walk over 10,000 steps daily, I use the nhs active 10 and do at least 30 minutes of brisk walking every day (but usually around 45). I am never sat down during the day, always on the go. When my children are asleep I do a workout to increase my fitness levels. I consume around 1600 calories a day (calculated but not actually what I consume as I don’t actually really feel hungry or am ever in the mood to eat, I never finish my meals).
I just want to know what’s going on with me, my body has changed completley and it’s really scaring me to be honest

Thank you. I am fortunate that all my care has been private. So I’m going the endocrinologist will have some good advice after investigations

I'd be getting your thyroid checked. Weight loss happens with an overactive thyroid and weight gain with an under active one. I ended up with an overactive thyroid after having my DS. I didn't know that it's quite common for women to develop thyroid issues after pregnancy and birth

When I originally dropped 2 stone in about a month, I had everything checked, thyroid and blood tests for diabetes, chest X-rays etc. then when it came back on it absolutely piled on rapidly. Now has been steadily raising again ever since. Nothing had changed it’s just soul destroying. Will ask endocrinologist about thyroid

I definitely would because that kind of weight loss/gain isn't normal. I really hope you get it sorted 😊

It really isn’t :(
what has brought this on today is I went shopping today, bought lots of lovely clothes, to be safe I bought an 18, and they were skin tight around my stomach. My mum who is very slim has said that I eat so much less than her and am active so she can’t fathom it (in a supportive way, not her being nasty)

Well, they're correct. It's as well to get it right! Almost as frustrating as 'should of', instead of 'should have'. Definitely ask for blood tests to see if anything is hampering your weight loss.

I genuinely could not give less of a shit if I type something wrong. Do you think I’ll be thinking on my death bed ‘oh fuck, I said loose instead of lose on mumsnet’. No I won’t.

Weight loss post partum followed by weight gain? Plus shortness of breath, hair thinning etc? And arthritis (autoimmune)?

I’d take a punt that it’s Hashimotos / postpartum thyroiditis putting you into a hyperthyroid phase then hypothyroid phase. It can be triggered when the immune system rebounds after birth - something that also triggers autoimmune issues like arthritis.

I am not a doctor though. Weird that thyroid test was normal. EDIT: Just checked and standard T3/T4 thyroid tests can miss Hashimotos as you need a thyroid antibodies test.

I would be asking GP to test thyroid (including antibodies) and also for inflammation.

That is so helpful. I googled it and it says about cold intolerance. I was in A&E twice earlier this year as I was so cold my lips and fingers turned blue. My oxygen levels were normal and everything normal. My gp sent me as it could indicate cyanosis, low oxygen etc. I still get it now and I get freezing cold to the bone

Are you not seeing NHS Endo's but jumping the waiting list via private?

Usually the case with private health care in the UK.

Or do you mean for the jabs, should you choose to use them?

Not all health policies cover it so it's worth checking your policy.

Please try iodine drops!

I had my 2nd child a year ago and like you am very active and not over eating and couldn’t shift the weight, I kept reading about iodine and how most people in the west but specifically pregnant and breast feeding woman are usually deficient and finally got round to ordering some and I’ve been taking it for 2 months and it’s genuinely changed my life! The weight started coming off and it made me less sensitive to cold and I also noticed a lot of my anxiety went away.

i did get my thyroid checked when I was pregnant with my 2nd but was told it was low but within normal range and nothing came from it but I wish I’d known about iodine sooner.

i now take 2 - 4 drops Lugals 12% iodine in a glass of juice or squash every day (it doesn’t taste very nice) and have found that along with intermittent fasting have really helped me lose weight.

theres some books you can read or just search the benefits of iodine to support your thyroid and the symptoms of low thyroid, there’s no harm in trying at least. Hope that helps x

https://amzn.eu/d/0dgyT6pJ

amzn.eu/d/0aowfkdJ

No I’m seeing endocrinology privately, I was referred by a private gp, I have private healthcare through my husbands work. This is how I’ve seen all the consultants

The health insurance company have given me a full investigation package. If my tests are all normal and I do decide to try the jabs I will have to pay for it myself, like with any take home medication my insurance provider doesn’t cover it