53 replies to this topic

[Zanzan]

I am a active person. I workout everyday, do house chores and tons of outside weeding/gardening...plus running after my 18 month son everyday. I agree that I was much more active before I had my son...nevertheless the nearly 100 lbs is not because I am lazy or eat all day. Please believe I have thought of both those variables.

If you are doing all those things, then I would seriously question your doctor and do some research on your own about the IUD. Everything pharmaceutical has some kind of side effect, like it or not, and if you've eliminated every other variable, then perhaps get a second opinion, because 5 lbs a month is NOT healthy at a continual, long-term weight. That will affect your health in other ways. Sounds like your doc is seriously dropping the ball here.

[wreathlady]

Nope...thyroid is fine. I have tried to eat less. It makes it worse. I've tried to eat more and i've continued to gain. I have always gained weight when using birth control. I averaged 130-140 off birth control, 160-170 while on birth control, now I weigh 260. Averaging 5 lbs every month since having my son/getting the IUD 18 months ago.

I will put in my 2 cents. I, too, have a problem since I started hormone therapy. Not as much as 5 lbs per mo, but still 30lbs in last year. I do have a thyroid problem, but am not on meds. That could be it, but all the MD's I have gone too say that hormones do not put on weight, that is is BS. Yes, they do, I worked in Pharmacy for years and this was the chief complaint. Think of it this way, when they give all the animals hormones, do they not plump up???? I think so, so I do believe it is hormonal in your case, if you have had your thryoid checked. Also, I, too started Weight Watchers and you be surprised when you start measuring your food, how much you really do eat. Plus I love wine and that is loaded with calories. So, we have 3 things here, hormones, thyroid, and lack of diet control for me. I,am not a MD, not sure which IUD you are on, but I will bet that is your problem. Just my opinion.
Good luck in your struggle, it sucks.

[doj_gal]

I will put in my 2 cents. I, too, have a problem since I started hormone therapy. Not as much as 5 lbs per mo, but still 30lbs in last year. I do have a thyroid problem, but am not on meds. That could be it, but all the MD's I have gone too say that hormones do not put on weight, that is is BS. Yes, they do, I worked in Pharmacy for years and this was the chief complaint. Think of it this way, when they give all the animals hormones, do they not plump up???? I think so, so I do believe it is hormonal in your case, if you have had your thryoid checked. Also, I, too started Weight Watchers and you be surprised when you start measuring your food, how much you really do eat. Plus I love wine and that is loaded with calories. So, we have 3 things here, hormones, thyroid, and lack of diet control for me. I,am not a MD, not sure which IUD you are on, but I will bet that is your problem. Just my opinion.
Good luck in your struggle, it sucks.

I think this is the problem. I have always had weight gain problems with BC and combine the hormone change with stress and I am just beefing up! I've always gained and lost between 30 lbs when I was off versus on bc. I thought this was going to do the same thing and I just haven't lost it. My doctor is a nut. Kaiser Elk Grove is worse. They do not have enough doctors and I would have to go to South Sacramento if I wanted to change my doctor.

[Bill Z]

I think this is the problem. I have always had weight gain problems with BC and combine the hormone change with stress and I am just beefing up! I've always gained and lost between 30 lbs when I was off versus on bc. I thought this was going to do the same thing and I just haven't lost it. My doctor is a nut. Kaiser Elk Grove is worse. They do not have enough doctors and I would have to go to South Sacramento if I wanted to change my doctor.

You can't get a doctor at Folsom Kaiser? Why?

[doj_gal]

You can't get a doctor at Folsom Kaiser? Why?

I am able to go anywhere I want I guess. They do prefere/almost require that you go near your house. I live in Galt, not Folsom. I lived in Folsom when I signed up myfolsom...sadly not anymore =(

[Bill Z]

I am able to go anywhere I want I guess. They do prefere/almost require that you go near your house. I live in Galt, not Folsom. I lived in Folsom when I signed up myfolsom...sadly not anymore =(

OK, but even then, if you don't like your doc, check availability at the beginning of each month for new doctors if you don't like your current one, as people lose / change jobs, doctors that had full practices become available once again at the beginning of the month.
It took a few months for us to change doctors for our son, we liked the previous doctor but felt as he grows older, he may feel more comfortable with a male doctor and we knew one we liked, so when his practice had an opening, we jumped on it. We told the physician we dumped that we were pleased with her care and why we decided to make the change, she was thankful for being informed and did speak highly of her colleague that we selected.

You can read biographies of the doctors for selecting new ones, find out where they were educated, where they are from, etc.

[doj_gal]

So...I found out what was wrong. I have Vitamin D deficiency. My level is 17 and the normal range is between 30-100. This is what has been causing all my symptoms that I thought were due to a hormonal imbalance. FYI this occurs a lot and should be looked at as a symptom. I have been living with these symptoms for nearly four years which have progressively gotten worse. Lately, I have been craving milk, yogurt, ice cream and cheese. I thought I was going crazy and now I know why. My body was in need of the vitamin D...

[Bill Z]

So...I found out what was wrong. I have Vitamin D deficiency. My level is 17 and the normal range is between 30-100. This is what has been causing all my symptoms that I thought were due to a hormonal imbalance. FYI this occurs a lot and should be looked at as a symptom. I have been living with these symptoms for nearly four years which have progressively gotten worse. Lately, I have been craving milk, yogurt, ice cream and cheese. I thought I was going crazy and now I know why. My body was in need of the vitamin D...

Your body is supposed to manufacture Vitamin D. Do you get enough UVB exposure?

[doj_gal]

Your body is supposed to manufacture Vitamin D. Do you get enough UVB exposure?

I wear sunblock everyday, dress covering my full body and I am over cautious when it comes to sun exposure. I go outside but I wear a hat, sunglasses and sun block. I do not drink milk regularly or eat any vitamin D rich foods or drinks. So, I am lacking in the natural ways in which you normally get/make vitamin D.

[terelli]

You can get your recommended daily allowance of sunlight for vitamin D production and still be in a deficit. Drinking milk isn't gonna do it either...not enough vitamin D in milk to make a difference according to my Dr. I think you need to look at your diet holistically. In other words is there something in the the food you consume that is preventing your body from absorbing/producing vitamin D.

No expert here just a suggestion from someone who is trying to alter her diet. Have you look at what is in the food we buy from the grocery store? It is amazing that people aren't dropping dead left and right. I just learned yesterday that most farm-raised fish are fed a diet of chicken bones, feathers and skin! Gross!!!!

Then there is the debate over High Fructose Corn Syrup. Your body processes this type of sugar very differently than say sucrose. More HFCS is spit out of your liver as fat instead of being stored as glycogen which the body burns for energy. HFCS is in everything from ketchup to hot dog buns to Campbell's Tomato Soup and soda.

It's enough to make your head spin!

Good luck and just know that you are not alone in the struggle to lose weight and become more healthy! Maybe we should start a group for that.

[aztransplant]

I wear sunblock everyday, dress covering my full body and I am over cautious when it comes to sun exposure. I go outside but I wear a hat, sunglasses and sun block. I do not drink milk regularly or eat any vitamin D rich foods or drinks. So, I am lacking in the natural ways in which you normally get/make vitamin D.

Hi dojgal,

Sorry I didn't see this issue until now (wasn't really interested in the blood-type diet topic, but happened to accidentally click on it just now). Anyway, I had the same Vitamin D issue as you -- mine was an EIGHT!!! My symptoms were bone/joint pain. I thought perhaps I might be getting rheumatoid arthritis, as my mother and aunt both suffer(ed) from this. After a year on high dosage vitamin d3 supps, my levels are finally near normal and all my bone/joint pain is GONE. Amazing.

I too am extremely vigilant about protecting myself from the sun. I am the gal you will see running and cycling, even in the heat of summer, with UPF 30 long sleeves and long tights and with the pale white face due to zinc oxide/titanium dioxide sunblock copiously slathered on any exposed skin.

I am allergic to dairy (causes skin rash), and although I consume plenty of salmon and sardines, those do not provide enough D for me.

Good luck to you and hope you start feeling better soon!

P.S. I didn't have any weight symptoms . . . if the vitamin d doesn't help with that, you may want to look for a specialist knowledgeable about PCOS and see if that isn't an issue. You can read up on it at www.incyst.com.

[doj_gal]

Hi dojgal,

Sorry I didn't see this issue until now (wasn't really interested in the blood-type diet topic, but happened to accidentally click on it just now). Anyway, I had the same Vitamin D issue as you -- mine was an EIGHT!!! My symptoms were bone/joint pain. I thought perhaps I might be getting rheumatoid arthritis, as my mother and aunt both suffer(ed) from this. After a year on high dosage vitamin d3 supps, my levels are finally near normal and all my bone/joint pain is GONE. Amazing.

I too am extremely vigilant about protecting myself from the sun. I am the gal you will see running and cycling, even in the heat of summer, with UPF 30 long sleeves and long tights and with the pale white face due to zinc oxide/titanium dioxide sunblock copiously slathered on any exposed skin.

I am allergic to dairy (causes skin rash), and although I consume plenty of salmon and sardines, those do not provide enough D for me.

Good luck to you and hope you start feeling better soon!

P.S. I didn't have any weight symptoms . . . if the vitamin d doesn't help with that, you may want to look for a specialist knowledgeable about PCOS and see if that isn't an issue. You can read up on it at www.incyst.com.

Thanks...I have been dealing with these issues for the last 4 years which has progressively gotten worse. In the last 2 months, I have been craving milk type products like no other. Normally, I do not eat them so the 17 is probably the high end for me. I have pretty bad joint pain and have been taking a fibromyalgia medicine for it. I started just randomly throwing up, not sleeping, or over sleeping and feeling exhausted and just overall run down and upset. I finally would not take no for an answer. I felt like I was 75 or 80 and I am only 28.

I finally got my doctor to agree to test my blood after I gained 90 lbs in 18 months. I am really starting to watch what and how much I eat and take the high dose d vitamins. Hopefully, adding the sun will help too. I thought I had everything from ADD, to bi polar, to hormone imbalance. I am so glad it's something as simple as this. I took my vitamin D pill today. My doctor said I should notice a change in a week or so.

PCOS? What is that?...edited I think I was checked for this hormone imbalance and I do not have that issue. I really think my lack of energy is effecting my weight. I normally have to workout 5+ days a week to keep a healthy weight. I have not been doing this as much and hopefully it will get better!

[Thinkingoutloud]

I took my vitamin D pill today. My doctor said I should notice a change in a week or so.

There was a news story a few weeks back about this exact topic. They said that Doctors are seeing more and more Vit D deficient people as we have gotten more careful about the sun and made the switch away from whole milk (where it's added). They were actually encouraging people to go out into sunshine without sunscreen for a few minutes a day to counteract teh imbalance. Funny how the pendulum swings.
As I recall, they mentioned in that same story that lack of iodine is also becoming a worry...

[Bill Z]

There was a news story a few weeks back about this exact topic. They said that Doctors are seeing more and more Vit D deficient people as we have gotten more careful about the sun and made the switch away from whole milk (where it's added). They were actually encouraging people to go out into sunshine without sunscreen for a few minutes a day to counteract teh imbalance. Funny how the pendulum swings.
As I recall, they mentioned in that same story that lack of iodine is also becoming a worry...

That's why I buy Iodized Salt, that's the reason they make Iodized Salt.

[doj_gal]

There was a news story a few weeks back about this exact topic. They said that Doctors are seeing more and more Vit D deficient people as we have gotten more careful about the sun and made the switch away from whole milk (where it's added). They were actually encouraging people to go out into sunshine without sunscreen for a few minutes a day to counteract teh imbalance. Funny how the pendulum swings.
As I recall, they mentioned in that same story that lack of iodine is also becoming a worry...

Yeah, I am a sunblock smothering, hat and sunglass wearing, anti-sun-fair & freckled lady. I had been tanning since I was 12. I decided to start this current nuttiness after reading many skin cancer cases. I also do not drink much milk with the exception of the last two months or when I was pregnant. I have been feeling this horrible for years. Everything else I was tested for was normal. My doctor told me that this is most likely the primary cause for my issues and many people are VIT D deficient.

I feel a bit better today. I am really taking this seriously and I can't wait to finally feel like my old (younger) self!