Weight Loss Support - Physical first or give it a month???!

Log story short I've always fought with my weight but now I've really packed on the pounds in the last 7 months. I have gained 35 lbs since march. My hair has changed - falling out and no matter what shampoo I use it is greasy. I have trouble sleeping, shortness of breath, I ache and I cannot get full. It doesn't matter what I eat - I'm hungry less than an hour later. Part of me thinks it could be medical related, the other part of menknows I've not restricted my eating nd I'm wondering if a lit of this is my body freaking out fromthe massive and fast weight gain.

I'm just lost and told dh last night I wondered if it would do me good to have a physical ( haven't had a dr check up since 10 years ago other Han me having my kids) but I'm wondering if I should just commit to one hardcore month and see if it helps.

Thoughts??

If you haven't seen the doctor in ten years, it is probably a good idea to get a checkup anyway. I mean, hair falling out sounds a little unusual and maybe there is a medical concern your doctor might be able to help you with or at least discover. I'd also start on a healthier path soon as you can, whether or not you decide to go, but it's never a bad idea to be checked out.

Go to the dr. Better safe than sorry. You could have an issue that is causing the weight gain in addition to the other symptoms. Hopefully it's nothing but you will feel better knowing.

Get checked out and ask to be tested for PCOS. Testosterone can cause greasy and falling out AND the 35 lb weight gain since March.

Get checked out and ask to be tested for PCOS. Testosterone can cause greasy and falling out AND the 35 lb weight gain since March.

I was thinking of the same thing.

I put off going to the doctor for the past 6 years due to being overweight. I had to go into the office to pick up medical forms a few weeks ago, and asked to make an appointment for a physical, knowing they were booking into January, and to my surprise, the secretary asked if I could come back later that morning as there had been a cancellation. I was scared to go because I hadn't reached my goal weight yet, and was still a few pounds away from a normal BMI, but I decided that the stars had aligned like that for a reason- I'm happy I went, turns out I am vitamin D deficient (as many in the Northern Hemisphere are; you may be as well), but all other blood work came back great. It was a relief to know, and now I"m taking D supplements to straighten things out.

Go! If there are medical issues, you'll be able to get them taken care of, and if not, you'll have the relief of not having to worry about it.

Update us, please, when you've gone.

Uncontrollable hunger is a possible sign of a number of medical issues. Or you could just be addicted to sugar like me :) It is better to be safe than sorry. Getting medical tests aren't something you should postpone until you feel ready to "pass" like academicl tests. You might find something that will help you in your weight loss journey, whether it be medication you need for a vitamin deficiency or perhaps something more serious like pcos or a thyroid deficiency which may have caused you to gain weight in the first place. If nothing else, if you're numbers are bad it's just more motivation to get healthy. And just because you avoid going to the doctor and choose not to find out how your health is doing isn't going to make any possible issues not exist.

So what do I call and ask for?? I don't have a family dr because mine dropped me after I spent 4 years going to my obgyn instead. do I ask for a physical or just say I'm having some symptoms??

I had an appt Monday for a physical and they just called to tell me my insurance didn't cover the nurse practicioner and now I'm on the look again.....

Oh no. I really wish i knew what to say. insurance SUCKS

Bleh. Dealing with insurance definitely sucks! But given that you're experiencing all kinds of 'symptoms' I'd definitely get in and get it checked out. Not because I think that there's anything seriously wrong but because there may be something that is treatable that is causing your issues. Some have mentioned PCOS - also thyroid issues could cause some of the problems you've described. Both are manageable and it will help to know what you're dealing with.

I'm trying to find a doctor. - I called another one that my insurance covers and they have nurse practicioners (sp!) as well so they aren't gonna work - called my previous dr as a child and he won't see me because it's been 6 years since I went there - only my obgyn since then.

I'm wondering if I can contact my gyn? if this is hormonal maybe....

You need to have a regular doctor and your insurrance company should have a listing of all doctors in your area that they cover. If they don't cover nurse practicitioners (which is dumb as they are a cheaper alternative and work with doctors), then just say, "I can see anyone from this office but the nurse practitioner for my insurance".

Putting it off is avoiding responsibility. I didn't go for years either and it was stupid. You could be doing irrepairable damage by letting fear and shame get the best of you. BTDT myself.

I have a call into one - the nurse practicioner is the one she said that people see the most - which leads me to believe I don't want that office anyway.

I called my old family doc again - they told me no way a couple of months ago and this time she said they would try to find my chart and go ask him if he'd see me.

I called my obgyn and they were happy to set me an appt - though since it's been 2.5 years since I've been there they are actually seeing me as a new patient - monday.

I'm going to call yet another one or two to see if I can get into someone besides my obgyn.

I am all in favour of nurse practitioners for some things, but what you need here is a doctor. While hormones do sound a possible culprit, I think that what you need is a good GP here, as your symptoms are varying so much. I have no idea how the American insurance system works, so I'm just going to wish you luck.

Meanwhile, it's probably a good idea to keep a diary of your symptoms for a week, marking how severe they are, and also a diary of how you eat. You may have put on weight purely through eating more (which could be caused by the excessive hunger), or it might not be just that, or it might not be that at all. Keep a food diary, and work out how many calories it comes to. Don't change your eating habits just yet, but do start thinking about them and looking for problem areas. These diaries will be useful for both you and the doctor. The doctor may not be interested in the food diary, but at least it will help them work out what's going on with the weight gain, even if they just ask you how many calories you've been eating and you confirm that you've been recording them accurately rather than taking wild guesses (many people hugely underestimate).

By the way, I know you're panicking, I too have experienced rapid unexplained weight gain that was probably hormone-related, but "hardcore" is not the way you want to be going. Slow, gentle weight loss, a diet and exercise plan which are pleasant to follow and which you can live with long term, that's what works the best

Go ahead and see your ob-gyn and see what they say and also see if they will reccommend a primary physician for you.

I'd go to a doctor first. I did and it helped me discover that I have hypothyroidism. If something is wrong, then you'll know how to fix it and you can work around weight loss techniques.

I'd go with a GP and I'd ask for a full set of bloodwork, basically a full physical.

Like a few other people have said, your symptoms sound more like a hormonal imbalance of some sort (thyroid came to mind right away when I read your symptoms - I am on thyroid replacement for life so they were quite familiar to me!) rather than just a symptom of your weight gain.

GL, I know it sucks to see a doctor as a heavy person. but there are many many great ones out there who will immediately be 'on your side' instead of judging you. Keep looking until you have one of those.

Don't be foolish.

Go get a physical.

In the meanwhile educate yourself as much as you can and eliminate processed foods asap.

I went yesterday. Interestingly enough, I got sent to the lab this morning. He's concerned about diabetes and yes, thyroid function. In addition to that I have a horrid yeast infection AND I also have uterine polyps and they've scheduled me for surgery on Tuesday the 18th for a D&C and then a uterine ablation. Great, right? Yuck.

Labwork should come back tomorrow or Thursday.

I went yesterday. Interestingly enough, I got sent to the lab this morning. He's concerned about diabetes and yes, thyroid function. In addition to that I have a horrid yeast infection AND I also have uterine polyps and they've scheduled me for surgery on Tuesday the 18th for a D&C and then a uterine ablation. Great, right? Yuck.

Labwork should come back tomorrow or Thursday.

Wow, I'm really glad you went in for a check up! I'm sorry that you're going to have to do a lot now to get everything settled but I'm glad you're getting help and I imagine it will actually aid you quite a bit in your weight loss journey. :hug: :hug: :hug:

Soo glad you went to the doctor. I'm sorry you're having some health problems, but am really thankful you didn't continue to put off the visit!

How did the labs come out? I hope you get some answers and good luck with everything on Tuesday

DEFINITELY see a doctor first. It sounds like you have a hormonal imbalance. Untreated, you will find that losing weight with a hormonal imbalance will be difficult if not impossible. I have hypothyroidism and literally could NOT lose weight until I got treated.

You need to have a regular doctor and your insurrance company should have a listing of all doctors in your area that they cover. If they don't cover nurse practicitioners (which is dumb as they are a cheaper alternative and work with doctors), then just say, "I can see anyone from this office but the nurse practitioner for my insurance".



Seriously - it sounds like you need a doctor. If you explain to the office that your insurance won't cover the NP, they should be able to work with you. You can also call your insurance company (or go online) and look for a listing of PCP's in your area.

Considering the fact that you said you haven't been to the doctor for a checkup in 10 years, I think it would be a great idea to do that first. :) Especially since you're thinking about setting forth on your weight loss journey -- it's always a smart idea to get the okay from your doctor to start, especially if you've not embarked on a fitness regime before. Plus, you'll want to make sure you're not diabetic or anything like that.

Good luck! :)

All labs came back within healthy ranges. Not sure how but it's true. Thyroid function is ok, fasting glucose was great - now to just focus on the surgery.

I'm going to spend the next two weeks being brutally honest and making sure I write every calorie down and see where that gets me.

Best of luck with the surgery, hon. I know endometrial ablation means that you no longer have periods and can't carry a pregnancy; is the same true of uterine ablation?

Best of luck with the surgery, hon. I know endometrial ablation means that you no longer have periods and can't carry a pregnancy; is the same true of uterine ablation?

yes that's true - we're done having children though and I had my tubes tied two years ago.

Well - there is a chance that I could have a period still but it's supposed to seriously reduce them and currently they're the type that put me flat on my back for three days.

Weirdly good timing, then. Were the polyps what was causing the monster periods? I've only had cervical polyps, which are pretty minor in the grand scheme of things.

I am so very glad you went to the doctor, by the way. Starting a healthier lifestyle is always great, but don't go for anything too extreme. Your body will be under enough stress already, and weight loss tends to mess with hormones a bit too.