Told to come back when I have lost weight!!!

My sister was unwell a lot and was always tired, she was also very overweight. I asked if she would like to join in with some exercise classes I was going to, she said she would be embarrassed. I explained that people were more interested in keeping up than what others looked like. We did go, and she loved it and we went regularly. I stopped going and she carried on. She lost weight and admitted that she felt so much better as she wasn’t tired and was eating healthier.It gave her a new lease of life. She also made new friends. Have you anyone you could team up with and try something like that, you never know it might work, and if it doesn’t, go back to the doctors and at least then they would see that you have tried and would have to look at other reasons for your poor health.

Bopeep, Are you sleeping long enough? Is your mattress soft and your pillows just right for you? Sleep is very important.

Are you drinking enough water?

My DD needs an operation. Her condition is not life threatening just limiting. She has to get her BMI to around 25 before it will be considered

I'm not sure that its just a matter of that bit of extra weight - I found that a lack of exercise had crept up on me. I was feeling very old ladyish. Joints ached, lack of energy, easily took to the sofa and often felt a bit woolly and dim. I gently upped my exercise. Nothing dramatic and with help from people who know. It slowly made a huge difference. There was a gentle weight loss ....but that was almost an after thought. Much more important was a general feeling of wellness and better physical capabilities.
Muscles have been gently strengthened which has the effect of taking wear and tear of joints...so much less creaking and aching. Flexibility improved as has stamina. Non of it is dramatic, there were no boot camps or mad fits of jogging...just gentle targeted stuff that I have built into my day to day.

My eldest son had been like that...tired, aches and pains, feeling low, etc. He was prescribed antidepressants, had every test going (blood tests, x-rays, CT scans, etc), and it was decided by the doctor that he has Fibromyalgia. He's been given some physiotherapy exercises to do (much of his pain is in his feet), as well as painkillers. He's not overweight, doesn't smoke, has no other illnesses.

It might be that you've got the same thing, although there isn't a test to determine it.

Try looking at the Fibromyalgia help pages online. x

The trouble is that ‘normal levels’ of anything are averages... Hope you feel better soon.

I hope you feel better soon Bopeep

Hi all just a quick update been back to the GP says will retest in 3 months for my thyroid. Feel even worse though so i have ordered a vitamin D spray and a vitamin b12 spray, also have cut my calorie intake to a thousand a day, can not carry on like this.

It seems your GP is contravening the NHS Charter which guarantees you respect and dignity.

DO NOT accept anything less.

www.gov.uk/government/publications/the-nhs-constitution-for-england/the-nhs-constitution-for-england

Danceswith, the studies you mention are connected to obesity which is not the same as being overweight.

In this society where women are judged on their dress size, I should imagine some may feel unhappy about failing to reach the so called perfect size. That doesn't mean being overweight causes depression.

Everyone has the ability to feel better.

Instead of looking for more medical reasons, I'd have a read of Dr Chatterjee's website:

drchatterjee.com/

Nothing changes until you change it.

Good luck, BoPeep the doctor's comments might just be the start of a whole new you.

I can't answer your question but I can say that I too am overweight but since January (after being diagnosed with Type 2 diabetes) I have started to exercise a lot more, have lost over a stone in weight (dieting and exercise) and I feel so much better. Previously I was always tired and everything ached, now I feel tons better (although still a long way to go).

I was surprised how much better I felt so soon after starting regular exercise. It is really noticeable.

And of course I know thin people can be depressed, one of them was me when I was younger, for which I had 5 years of therapy and anti-depressants.

I am sorry for you Bopeep. I do remember when I first went to the doctor with the symptoms you describe, that was 20 years ago, I was diagnosed with a borderline underactive thyroid. I was completely unaware of such a condition and implications at the time. I do recall feeling so tired everything was a supreme effort the best description I can give, it was like wading through concrete. It wasn't felt by the doctor I saw initially that I required thyroxine, can't remember the exact timeline but on seeing another doctor she decided that I most definitely did need to be taking it, I think I started on 50 mcg but that was gradually increased to 150 mcg. From other forums I've been on relating to under active thyroid, it seems that borderline diagnosis is quite common with some patients who have the symptoms I had and you describe, although as others have outlined there are a raft of other conditions that could be a factor. It doesn't help that an underactive thyroid kicks in for many women around the same time as the menopause so all the associated problems with that sometimes blur the lines. A combination of underactive thyroid and menopausal symptoms definitely saw my size 10/12 figure go up to a 16 Haven't read all the posts, but have you been checked for Vitamin D deficiency? very common and also debilitating.

I hope you manage to get to the bottom of why you feel like you do. Good luck with that

Where did I say that thin people can't be depressed?

Many factors can cause depression and illness, one being weight. Which is what this specific thread is about, hence me mentioning it.

But since you asked:

www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2018/11/181112095951.htm

health.usnews.com/conditions/depression/can-obesity-cause-depression

medicalxpress.com/news/2018-11-overweight-depression-health-complications.html

DancesWithOtters, do you have a link for your assertion please?

Guess what....thin people can be depressed.

I am a firm believer in the old adage that 'It's the squeaking gate that get's the oil. Go back to your GP and keep complaining. As said before, book a double appointment, make a list of all your symptoms and make him realise how poorly you feel. Try and persuade him to give you thyroid medication now on a trial basis. Do try to lose some weight yourself too, not slimming clubs but look at your diet and try to cut out some bread, potatoes, sugary things, it all helps not only with weight but your mood too. One other little thought (I'm not a doctor) = a friend of mine was suffering with various pains and similar symptoms to yours and was diagnosed with polymyalgia. Treatment has helped greatly.

Being overweight can most definitely contribute to depression and feeling unwell and tired.

How much to you weigh Bopeep? Being overweight can in itself cause other health problems, which may start to recede once some of the weight is gone.

Some interesting points raised by Anja although I realise this is a very difficult situation for the OP and many will be identifying with her dilemma. I wondered if this may be of help generally

onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/full/10.1111/j.1467-789X.2007.00311.x

EllenVannin your experience of being referred for an urgent liver/abdominal scan was your GP doing his /her job and following the red letter protocol for urgent referral based on clinical findings. Had he not done so something major and life limiting may have been missed and it would have been judged professionally incompetent. Many times patients referred for a palpable liver edge have no actual symptoms or pain. Its a relief to know all was well with you and that your GP is on the ball.

I would see a different GP. I have found some doctors in my practice much better than others and have last found one who is really listening to me, that’s what you need.

I have lost quite a bit of weight following a low carb diet all of the time and 5-2 800 calorie diet 2 sometimes 3 times a week. I feel much better and have reversed my diabetes which was my intention but I don’t think some of your symptoms are just because you may be overweight don’t wait 6 months go back now.

I think there is substantial evidence linking being obese to certain illnesses. As far as being ‘overweight’ that depends if you are just a few pounds over or well on the way to obesity.

As far as I’m concerned it would not matter an iota to me what a person weighs except the drain it places on our NHS.

Type 2 diabetes and it’s complicatiid cost the NHS over £1,000,000 an hour for a condition which is largely preventable. That simple is not right.

So well done OP for taking up the suggestion that you lose weight that cannot do any harm and might even help. But, as others have said, it might be worthwhile talking to another GP and getting some clear explanation of your test results and seeing if more are advised.

I didn't take any treatment although I have only half of a Thyroid, I used to have blood tests every year, however recently the results were not so good therefore after having a repeat checks and a scan, I was given a low dosage with the warning that I may lose weight. I am not overweight but always trying to shift an extra kilo. I have lost it but I don't really know if it is the treatment or down to me being stricter on what I eat.

Another six months of feeling there's something wrong? Don't wait, do get another opinion. I once paid to see a consultant after feeling extremely ill and within an hour I walked out with a diagnosis to take back to the Dr. I stepped out of his door thinking Yes! I knew there was something wrong and it has a name!

Don't wait six months, push for an answer now, it could be very simple to change

I don't subscribe to the view that being overweight makes you ill. I'd certainly ask for repeat blood tests if you are feeling depressed and tired all the time. Plenty of people ( me included ) are overweight but feel fine and happy, not tired or in pain. It seems to me that blaming your weight means the doctor doesn't actually have to bother doing anything for you.

I'd get a second opinion, op.