Went to Dr. on Thursday...kinda long..need suggestions

[mom23boyz]

I changed drs because I just wasn't happy with my Dr I have been seeing for the past 9-10 yrs anymore. I also really wanted to switch to a female Dr. well....she said I am obese and I HAVE to lose weight! This is the heaviest I have EVER been even more than any of my pregnancies. Its pretty depressing. I am really unsure why of the 10 lb gain...I really don't feel anything has changed in my life but what ever the reason...I need to make some serious changes!! Heres my problem...I am finding myself wanting more to eat than ever! How am I ever gonna lose if I don't cut back?!?
I actually went because I have not been feeling...right. I have been getting bad headaches that result in me having weakness in my legs that upon standing I can hardly walk and at times my toes curl under when I stand. I have weakness and my hands cramp up when I use them...like squeezing a sponge out. Its sometimes so bad I can hardly pull my pants up. My blood pressure was also a lil high when I went. She is doing a thorough blood workup and pap and then I go back in 2 weeks. She said I am too young to be having such issues...so she is testing for autoimmune diseases as well as my thyroid and whatever else. She checked my muscle strength and said it looked good and normal.
So any thoughts on how I can get my head back on track for weightloss?!? TIA

[porembam]

Good luck - I was 30 when I was diagnosed with MS and 1 year later they added hypothyroid.
I had also gained weight(more than pregnant) and while thyroid medicine isn't a miracle drug I had more energy and therefore wasn't sitting around as much.
Your doctor listened to you and did a complete blood work and that is good.
Hopefully there will be an answer and of course they are going to tell you to lose a little weight : )

[frooz]

Do you have any family history of diabetes? I remember my mother having similar symptoms before she was diagnosed.

[mom23boyz]

Do you have any family history of diabetes? I remember my mother having similar symptoms before she was diagnosed.

No diabetes...I am concerned about neuro issues. I was diagnosed 2 yrs ago with complex patial seizures that are thought to be caused by a bad car accident. I suffered 6 yrs before they figured it out. I have also had chronic migraines since high school...they got worse about 4 yrs ago. 2 yrs ago I had an EEG,CatScan and MRI done and no tumors etc were found. I really just wanna be "normal" again!

[mauimagic]

sounds as if you have found a good match in your new doctor. Once you have the results of your blood tests, you probably will have more answers to what is going on in your body.

In the meantime, please do not beat up on yourself - you (as most of us are) are involved in a lifelong process - nothing will change overrnight, and yet there are still steps that you can take to optimize your health.

The first thing I would do is make sure I drink enough water each and every day. You can do this.

The next thing I would do is make sure that I am eating fruits and veggies at each meal before anything else. You can do this.

The last thing I would do is make sure I am moving my body more everyday - even if all this means is doing seated stretches and muscle contractions and releases. You can do this.

Start small and build on the strong base you are created = pathway to success.

Please make sre to let us know what's going on - if you want to share. We'll cheer/help you along the way!!

[2ndGenGranola]

My dr put me on a low fat vegan diet.

He said that since our meats and dairy are loaded with antibiotics and hormones, many women start reacting to them as if they were taking excessive antibiotics and hormones themselves.

Even though my mind rebelled, my body is loving it!! The best thing is that I don't have to restrict myself to a little doll sized plate at each meal. I can eat all the potatoes, corn, fruits, veggies that I want provided they aren't loaded with oil, dairy or the like. I'm having fun trying new spices, salsa on potatoes, curries etc.

[hotprincesscm]

I would say water and get moving in some form. I know when I dont' exercise, I lose all my energy and could sleep all day. even going for a small walk after dinner each night or each morning....will really help get your metabolism working...water is essential to everything from keeping you hydrated to keeping you from eating too much....water, water, water! Good luck! You will be in my prayers!

[Contrary Housewife]

It sure sounds like something is out of whack. If you're hungry and wanting to eat all the time then your body is craving something it needs .... and it's not calories.

What you might do is start some internet research. There is so much out there now on all kinds of conditions. Just start looking up the symptoms you are having and read. If you find some connections that you think describe how you feel, have a talk with your new doctor.

You might also find some natural remedies that will help you feel better, like yoga, vitamins, or herbal supplements which are relatively cheap and easy to do by yourself.

As for loosing weight, I find the best approach is an attitude change. Instead of telling yourself that you are fat and hungry all the time, and you don't know how you got here, tell yourself that you need to be healthy and get 'back on track' with nutritious eating.

Pick a plan to follow (counting carbs, calories, points or whatever) and start assessing your meal plan. I think if you take a real serious look at what you eat you'll find you can 're-balance' your menus by making cuts here and there, yet still eat the things you love.

[Neeley]

A lot of your symptoms sound similar to what I deal with (I was diagnosed at a young age - 30). I have peripheral neuropathy (not diabetic neuropathy as it involves all four extremities, not just my feet) and diabetes. I experience headaches when my glucose levels are too high, or take a fast drop, which is pretty common among diabetics. Drastic changes in glucose levels will often times trigger horrible headaches.

The neuropathy leaves me with a tingling, weakness and numbness all rolled in one in my hands, feet and legs. It is a weird feeling and hard to explain. My neuropathy has progressed to the point where I am unable to open jars, ziplock baggies, button up a shirt, etc...Clapping is also difficult. I wouldn't call it painful, but it is uncomfortable. I drop things because I think I have a grip on them and really don't. My hands get cramps and shots of pain in them, even when I am not doing anything. It just hits whenever.

When I put my shoes on, I cannot get my feet to turn like my mind is telling them to. I have to have DH turn the shoe and wrangle my foot into it. My toes will also curl under. And my feet, when at rest, will turn inward. There is a lot more to the foot/leg issue, but I hate to bore you with the details.

These are just a very brief overview of what I experience and I am not sure if what you are experiencing is similar or not. But just in case you want to ask your doctor to check into it further, there is a stimulation test they can do to see if what you are experiencing is neuropathy or not. Here is a link to the peripheral neuropathy center's website and an explanation of the testing. It is non-invasive, done in office (if they have the testing machine) and virtually painless.

Big hugs!

[frugalfranny]

Along with getting the results of the lab work back........pay attention..........CLOSE ATTENTION to what you eat.....read the labels for what is in the food.........if three items that you can't pronounce, don't eat it........get it down to ANY THING that you can't pronounce...then don't eat.

Along with the other suggestions about water and exercise......only suggest just to watch the things you are eating...it can cause some major problems.

Take care of yourself........and let us know what you find out.

[shoiji]

Definately get rid of all the processed foods in your house containing things like hydrogenated oils and high fructose syrups. These just make you want to eat more.

Try to eat only unprocessed foods. If they are processed make sure you can read all the ingredients without a degree in chemistry. If you can't then don't buy the product.

It will take a while for your body to get used to the new diet. But let you body get all the crummy ingredients out of your body. Eat small snack size meals throughtout the day to help you feel full. Try drinking more water or flavored teas that you brew yourself. It usually takes me a week to get used to eating foods that have not been processed if I eat to many of them. Also try to slow down when eating. It is amazing how much food I can shovel into my mouth in a few minutes.

Hopefully if there is anything going on physically it will show up in the lab work. That way you can figure out how to deal with the situation. Try to get yourself moving. If you can walk a little then walk a little. If you have a indoor pool you can try swimming. The adult night school near me holds a class called water exercise. I have taken it and you really get a work out without realizing it until you are out of the pool. Plus the class only cost $35 for eight classes.

Try relaxation techniques to help you fight the urge to eat.

[Palooka]

I second the low fat Vegan diet. Google Dr. McDougall. Lots of good info and he has several books at the library worth reading.