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

From my experience, I'm am 40, and the only way I can now lose weight is by eating extremely small amounts of food. So, I will have <800kcal in a day. This is alongside a relatively active lifestyle, e.g. walking, padel, and the odd gym weights session too. I know this is too low, and it involves me only eating 1.5 meals a day. But nothing else works that I've tried. (I used to be able to lose weight through calorie counting around 1500-2000 a day and gym training - doesn't work now). I am aware this probably isn't healthy advice.

I agree - taking iodine would quite likely have killed me!

No, steroid injections don't cause an increase in appetite. They are injected locally into the affected joints.

Hi OP, Man that sounds rough. I cant advise medically, but I know with me holding on to weight its been inflammation. The way that Ive found thats reduced it for me is cutting out sugar and grains. Honestly it sounds mad but within 48 hours my face which had been looking so puffy and inflated, looked back to a much nicer shape again with a defined jaw not an extra chin. I know its not the right thing for everyone but for me my body just really wasn't tolerating sugar.

10k of steps per day isn’t a huge amount. Are you doing any other exercise? High impact etc? Weights?

I have Graves and RA i keep hearing the benefits but my consultant ls are reluctant to prescribe so its interesting to hear that some are advocates.

OP I initially thought thyroid reading your post.

Pregnancy is a joy and a curse isnt it.

I'll be another one to suggest giving Mounjaro a try. Before that, I just couldn't lose weight. I was eating healthily and staying strictly within my calorie allowance, but my weight was still creeping up and I just got more tired and drained. It was as if my body was holding on to every scrap of energy instead of burning it.

Started Mounjaro, didn't change my eating/exercise habits, but the weight started falling off and my energy levels improved. It was like my body suddenly realised how to properly use the energy from the food I was eating, and the fat I had stored. I never needed to go above a 5mg dose.

Might be worth looking up about connective tissue disorders, particularly with the autoimmune stuff you describe. They can cause all kinds of issues that (ironically) doctors are notoriously bad at connecting together.

Like you, I had adenomyosis, now resolved with a hysterectomy. HRT was a PITA to get right (as I don't absorb anything through my skin), but I got there in the end. I was tested for thyroid issues (including antibodies) and all was fine, so my suspicion is insulin resistance.

Sadly, I've still not found a solution for the thinning hair!

OP this all sounds absolutely typical for a thyroid problem, so I wonder what your results were and if they have tested you for antibodies? It’s very common to have a period of being hyperactive, with weight loss, and then flip into hypothyroidism with pretty much all the symptoms you are describing.

OP, have a look at PMOS symptoms. Do you have any others apart from the weight gain?

With PMOS (old name was PCOS), many women develop insulin resistance which makes weight loss near impossible. It’s NOT the same as high blood sugar. Endocrinology should be able to give tests and assess whether you might have it.

It’s a really complex metabolic condition which doesn’t only affect the ovaries as previously thought. It mostly affects your hormone production and insulin function, so worth checking out.

I’ve had to actually increase my calorie intake and swap cardio training for strength in order to see small, but there, effects.

It is also possible that at 5ft3 you are not in a calorie deficit with 1600.

My consultant never offered to prescribe, I pay for it.

Apologies for not making that clearer.x.

Aside from calorie counting, what are you actually eating? I’d definitely be looking at that side of things. 1600 a day isn’t much - it’s approximately what I eat (maybe a tad more), but I’m only just over 8 stone and a size 10-12 (still put in weight easily as post-menopausal).

Id also have the thyroid panel rechecked - apparently the thresholds are very high in UK labs so you could have issues even if borderline.

it’s horrible when you don’t have answers to medical issues, been there & got the t-shirt, so I sympathise.

Yes, i am 5 4 with both PCOS and hashimotos and to lose I need to do a strict 1,200 to lose and that’s with exercise. Also need to pivot towards protein and veg (and away from processed food / grains / fruit / carbs).

Wow. Someone posts about their very many challenges and all you can comment on is a commonly mistaken word? I'm a huge grammar pedant but there's a time and a place and this is not it...unless you are a massive dick of course....

She’s had no end of tests. @ArtfulLimeUserthe only thing that worked for me was Mounjaro.

Iodene in the UK is in all dairy products (it’s in the cattle feed).

In the same post you have commented on she mentions doing an exercise video every night.

This is true. But it ignores the fact that certain conditions, especially thyroid which regulates metabolism, can massively change your BMR rate so that even getting to a deficit is incredibly difficult. It’s also not sustainable when it’s too low and needs to be treated.

Thanks everyone for the replies.
In really do think it’s some kind of insulin resistance or thyroid issue. This morning I woke up full of energy, did my jobs early and took the dog for a walk, came home and had some porridge with fruit, it went downhill grom
there. As soon as I finished eating I became exhausted, heart pounding, just felt generally unwell all day. Fell asleep when my toddler did. This just isn’t me at all, I don’t understand why I feel like this all the time

My appointment is 3rd August. So not long to wait now

Could be reactive hypoglycaemia - Hashimoto's is closely linked to insulin resistance and impaired blood sugar management. When you eat a meal high in refined carbohydrates or simple sugars, your body can overcompensate by producing too much insulin and causing a blood sugar crash.

I was gaining so much weight and was only consuming about 1600 calories a day.

I saw a private endocrinologist and they worked out I had to be below 1340 calories to lose weight. I was put on Mounjaro and I lost five and a half stone in a year.

My BMI is 21 and I feel fantastic. I take a maintenance dose to maintain my health. The cost is mostly offset by the reduction in my food bills, plus I am totally off booze which also saves me money.

See what your endocrinologist recommends. Mine said he wished he could prescribe it on NHS for most of his patients.

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

Alternatively, she is alleviating the NHS waiting list by removing herself from it and being seen privately!

Hi, please buy and read the book the autoimmune fix. If you want a coach I can recommend one. The weight will be inflammation and water. Be kind to yourself your body is clearly in a stressed/ poorly state. Meditation app called insight timer is wonderful. Do all you can on that front to get your body in the best state you can & the doctors will do their bit. Dr chattergee has a good book you’d benefit from.

Yes @Ocelotfeet27, two pregnancies messed up my thyroid, it barely works.

I'd recommend pushing for further tests @ArtfulLimeUser, your symptoms really do sound like an underactive thyroid. The good news is that medication can really help, I've been on it for 15 years.