just back from doc's- upset because I can't get anywhere

Pollycat

OK.

First of all, take deep breaths, calm down and make yourself a cup of tea.

ALL the replies you've had are in support of you and in condemnation of that insensitive GP.
So what does that tell you?

You may well be a failure if you're sat stuffing your face with cream buns and eating takeaways every night.
But you're not, are you?
You're trying to lose weight but aren't.

Keep the results of the tests you've already had in the front of your mind.
THEY are scientific proof that you have a medical condition that is probably affecting your weight.
It's just this visit to a stupid GP that's thrown you.

Re the job interview - seize this opportunity with both hands - if you really want the job.
It's a separate issue to your health and weight.
Go to the interview and do the very best you can.
It's unlikely that they would have asked you for interview if they didn't think you had the qualities they were looking for.
Can you find time tonight to have a relaxing bath, decide what you're going to wear and say tomorrow?

Good luck

flea72

ok, a few Qs. you say you are feeling tired, how tired?

do you fall asleep if sitting in a chair for a while, can you nod off in front of the tv, do you wake in the morning, feeling as though you have had no sleep?

Now the final Q - do you snore?

if you are answering yes, to my questions above, then your symptoms to me, sound more like sleep apnoea, than thyroid (which is most peoples first diagnosis, if you are overweight, and dieting isnt working)

but as you say, the thyroid tests have all come back ok

Is there another Dr at your surgery? dont let them get you upset - go back in there and reinforce the problems you are having. maybe even take him up on a 1000 calorie a day diet plan, he should be able to refer you to a dietician at the hospital, because with your BMI, you would be classed as obese - although 1000 calories a day, is a bit extreme, even by most peoples standards

just keep persisting. it took me about 3yrs to get my diagnosis. i went through all the thyroid, vitamin, blood tests, etc. they quite often tried to label it as depression, as i just didnt have the energy to do anything. then one day, by chance i got a locum, and they asked whether i snored. within a couple of months, i was properly diagnosed with sleep apnoea, was given a machine to help me breathe at night, and since then, im more or less back to normal (ok weight it slowly going, but im not having to diet to do it), and i have energy, and havent slept during the day in over a year now - its fab

so please, go back to your GP, and start suggesting other symptoms to him, that might not mean anything to you, but could just ring some bells with them

hth F

jellymid

I have PM'd you. Can you get a nap when your little one does this afternoon? If not, be kind to yourself, put on a dvd for your two year old and put your feet up. I think you shouldn't worry too much about your weight at the moment, but aim to get yourself diagnosed properly and then it will be easier to get the weight loss addressed later.
Good luck with the interview,
Jelly

timberflake

What are your diet and exercise habbits like? Sometimes a good diet (plenty of fruit and veg) together with regular exercise (3-4 times a week for 45 a time) will rid you of the tiredness and may have an effect on the weight?

I'm not saying this is the cause of the problem, but could be one possible solution?

boltonangel

Hi

I eat a healthy diet with loads of fruit and veg in it and also started slimming world last week, which has worked in the past but this week I have put weight ON.
I am very conscious that what I eat is what my children will grow up to eat and think is normal so I do eat a healthy diet.

With regards to excercise. I run around all day after my 2 year old and 7 year old when he gets home from school. I don't go to the gym because I can't afford it and don't have anyone to look after the kids anyway.
In the spring/summer I regularly go for long walks with the pram. I haven't done that for a while mainly due to the weather and the recent house move.
I am responsible for the full childcare and upkeep of the house as my dh is hardly ever at home due to work.

When I explained this to the GP he said that healthy eating is not the be all and end all because I could just be eating loads of fruit and veg but eating too much of it. He also said that excercise will not make me lose weight because marathon runners aren't waifs.

grey_lady

Why don't you make another appointment to see a different GP at the practise?

boltonangel

flea72 wrote: »

Is there another Dr at your surgery? dont let them get you upset - go back in there and reinforce the problems you are having. maybe even take him up on a 1000 calorie a day diet plan, he should be able to refer you to a dietician at the hospital, because with your BMI, you would be classed as obese - although 1000 calories a day, is a bit extreme, even by most peoples standards

hth F

Hi, thanks.

I didn't realise I was obese, feel even worse now! :rotfl:

Thanks I will look into perhaps getting a referral to a dietician, I think that might help.

sarah

Kay_Peel

Don't necessarily blame the GP - they are under a lot of pressure to deal with the obesity crisis in the UK and are getting conflicting advice about whether its a medical problem to be treated by medication or a social problem where the onus is on the individual to help themselves first.

It's the chicken and egg conundrum: which came first - the obesity or the medical condition? Which should you treat first: the obesity or the medical condition? If you treat the medical condition won't this reinforce the patient's belief that their obesity will be cured without having to change their lifestyle? Will you be doing more harm than good?

I think, before you see another GP, that you have to be in a position to demonstrate that you are motivated to control your weight. Ask for a referral to a dietician. Get some exercise, whatever you can manage - for instance:.

Walk out of your door every day and pretend that you are rushing for a bus. Get your heart pumping. After 5 minutes, turn around and walk home as though you have left a saucepan on the hob. Try to build up your walking time over a couple of months until you're doing at least 30 minutes of fast walking at least 3 times a week. This may seem unlikely in your present state but it's a life-saver.

If you still have symptoms after dieting and exercising then no GP is going to deny you treatment for your condition.

So my advice is not to feel self-pity, not to put your feet up and feel hard-done to, and to take some control over your own recovery.

Good luck.

boltonangel

Hi Kay

Thank you for your message.

I hope I am not coming across as not taking any action towards my weight, because I am and always have done.

I am not some slovenly idiot who sits eating creamcakes whilst moaning about not knowing how I have gained so much weight. For a start I'm allergic to dairy! lol

I am well aware of what a healthy diet is and believe that I am eating a healthy diet. I work part time as a waitress so believe me running around is what I do because when I am not working I am running around after my toddler and 7 year old.
I am a size 12 and to be completely honest do not consider this to be 'obese'. I am more than aware that I am an unhealthy weight and want to get this sorted and know that self pity will just make the feeling worse.

However, I am at a loss as to what to do next. I have tried dieting and it isn't working. At the moment I am looking at where I can buy ephedrine (a pill that reduces appetite) in a desperate attempt to lose the weight. I have not eaten anything today for fear of gaining yet more weight and i know this is unhealthy but I can'yt see any other way forward.

Mrs_P_Pincher

Welcome to my world!

Try this:

1. Join www.thyroid-disease.org.uk and The Thyroid Patients' Association yahoo group - there you will learn so much.

2. Ask your doctor for a copy of your last test results. You are entitled to these and they can't withhold them from you. The difficulty comes that GPs will tell you that you are 'within range' therefore you are allright, when patently you are not because you are not at the optimum level for you. For example they will say your thyroid is 'normal' if the TSH level is under about 6, but most people actually need it to be around 1 to feel really good and above 3 a lot of people are bed bound and disabled.

3. Post your results on the thyroid forums and let the knowledgeable people there advise you. This is what I did and that's how I found out that I do actually have an underactive thyroid and a low levels of B12 and ferritin, which I am now taking steps to resolve.

4. There are lots of us out there - I gained 1.5 stone on the Rosemary Conley diet!

5. Ephedrine is related to amphetamine - don't even go there unless you want to be in a situation where you need a load of MSEs to come round and scrape you off the ceiling!

Good luck!

Mrs P P