Hi, I've been reading comments on this thread until my eyes blurred late last night and was wondering whether you've continued to experience post meno-hell periods -- assuming you're still on met. Also, did anyone reply to your question?I could easily have missed it.I'm 56,turning57 in April, post meno-hell some years ago, and I'm about to begin taking met.If it helps me lose weight I'll buy more tampons and suffer through some periods for a while.I, quite unexpectedly, had a one night period a couple years ago, had to "borrow" a tampon from my neighbor, and bought some just in case.It hasn't happened since.
Until age 50 I weighed around 110.(I'm 5'4-- more accurately 5'3 & 3/4")I wore size zeros, some of which had to be taken in at the side seams.I went on a cruise with my mom & sister when I was 49 and looked better in my bikinis than the vast majority of much younger women.Over the next couple of years I began gaining a little weight, not unexpected at my age, but still managed to take it off by cutting back on my already paltry calorie intake.Then, over the last 5-6 years, I began gaining weight rapidly regardless of how little I eat.Walking/jogging 2-3 miles/day did NOTHING to help me take any off so I became fed up and stopped.During the last two years my weight gain has been fast and relentless.A normal day's food intake for me has petered off to one lean chicken breast or fillet of fish for dinner and my cup of hot chocolate (lowfat milk) at bedtime.Knowing I need to eat something for breakfast I have a small piece of low fat cheddar cheese when I remember.I have no appetite and often forget to eat.When I do I force myself to choke it down.I've continued to gain 2-5 lbs./month.I've gone from a 110 lb. size zero to a 150 lb. size ten and counting.I've been going up one clothing size/year.
Some background.I have a wonderful psychiatrist through a non-profit mental health clinic who is treating me for depression and PTSD.I've suffered from both for decades, it's a long, ugly story.The antidepressant I take NEVER caused weight gain in the past but things change.I'm positive I'm hypothyroid but since I don't have insurance I'm forced to go to free clinics.I have every hypothyroidism symptom on the "official" list (except problem periods and inability to become pregnant--DUH!)Drs at the free clinic are volunteers, mostly residents, patients never see the same one twice.Some agree I am hypo and prescribe levo--synthroid, others disagree.They weigh me on each visit and my weight continues to increase.When I express my concern about how fat I've become they dismiss it.Obviously, THEY THINK, I'm lying about how little I eat.One young male POS resident told me to RUN 5-6 miles/day.When I was his age I DID RUN.My knees can't handle it anymore.I know several also OLD people who haven't become FAT because of age and they're less active than me.
Fasting forward.My psychiatrist recently ran my labs and said my THS--thyroid stimulating hormone-- is slightly high but within range.I reminded her that less than two weeks earlier the last inept resident I saw took me off levo because my TSH was very low.She was shocked it has risen so quickly and so much and told me to resume taking the levo.She is limited in the kind of meds she can prescribe because of clinic rules but can prescribe levo if the stooges at the free clinic refuse.Aside from the increase in my TSH my labs, BP and EKG are excellent.My blood sugar tends to be on the high side most of the time.
Getting to my point and decision.I REFUSE to continue gaining weight.At this rate I'll reach 200 lbs. within six months.I feel like I've been swallowed by a whale.This weight is EXTREMELY uncomfortable for me and I cannot afford to buy larger sizes every few months.I refuse.Just because most women here in OklaRedneckHoma are morbidly obese does NOT mean I will accept that as my lot in life.So, having done extensive research on various options, I've decided to try metformin.I ordered some online a few days ago.I CAN'T WAIT until it arrives! Granted, I'm not a medical professional; I'm an attorney with top-notch research skills.I intend to begin slowly, the way other posters have, and increase the amount in increments.I may or may not be pre-diabetic because of this weight gain but it's only a matter of time if it continues at this rate.Fortunately, I have experience with diabetes, my dog is diabetic; I give her insulin injections twice/day and know the signs to watch for if she begins to exhibit signs of low blood sugar.Thankfully, after four years of injections she's never experienced a low.I do not intend to tell my psych or the free clinic I'm self-medicating but I'll be able to monitor myself using the labwork they run.Time will tell if met is the answer.I think being prescribed the PROPER med for hypothyroid would help immensely, and I also ordered some of it online, but first I'm giving met a chance.
I will let you know if it causes me to resume having periods; please let me know how you're doing also.It disgusts me that the majority of physicians adopt a blame the patient mindset when we've been struggling to lose weight.NO, we are NOT over-eating, nor are we sedentary couch potato gluttons lying about how little we eat; this IS a medical problem.I've lost respect for medical professionals as a whole because they refuse to treat the patient's symptoms they only treat lab results and blame us for the rest.
Continue reading here:
Metformin and weight loss - MedHelp
