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

Sorry you’re feeling unwell, bopeep. I do think some doctors are too quick to blame everything on a persons weight. Many of the constantly ill people I know are really slim, in some cases child size slim, and I know many overweight people, myself included, who enjoy very good health. The only thing I can suggest is to try and get a double appointment to give you time to explain properly how you feel and don’t be fobbed off, doctors deserve a lot of respect, but even they sometimes need a patient to be politely persistent in order to understand the depth of someone’s concern. Good luck!

Being overweight can certainly make you feel depressed and give you the symtoms you describe but I find the comments from your Dr. very unhelpful indeed,he could have referred you to the 12 week weight loss programme that is run by WW/SW available via him,ask for a referral letter and join a local group the classes are very good and you will meet other ladies in the same position as yourself this will make you new friends and your depression will lift I'm sure.

I completely disagree glammanana. We are not doctors.

How facilt to suggest a slimming group. Their long term success rates are very very poor. They are funded by the same companies that produce fattening food .
As if sitting in some grotty old church hall with a load of people obsessing about how many syns in a cream cracker is going to help the OP.

Depression is a very real and very common illness and I don't think unless you are morbidly obese and bed bound, weight has a damn thing to do with it.

Although I am sure what your GP said about losing weight was not what you wanted to hear, it's important for all of us to remember that lots of diseases, illnesses and general health conditions are either caused by, or exacerbated by being very overweight or obese.

Whatever is wrong with you, your health will certainly benefit by losing weight and as he said the extra weight might be the cause of your problems.

It sounds to me, not being a doctor of course, that you have an underactive thyroid. That will cause all the symptoms including depression which you describe. I would insist on another test now. For some reason they do not like treating it and it takes a few tests before they will but I would keep going back. It will also make it difficult for you to lose weight.

The OP said she had family problems which have contributed to low mood.

Fat people can actually be healthy and happy you know?

You can't win with this weight issue, fat or thin. About 4 years ago I'd had a routine examination of my abdomen and the examining doctor pointed out that he could feel the tip of my liver ( rh side ) so I immediately told him it was probably because I was slim and had no fat round my belly. Next thing he was on the phone booking an emergency abdominal scan on account of having " felt the liver ". That same afternoon I was at another clinic having a full ultrasound of my insides. Clinic was packed and I'd been pushed forward !
I wasn't panicking because I didn't have any symptoms of an abdominal issue and the full results didn't show any problems with any part of me-----thankfully !! Every organ was highlighted and all I learned was that I had a small spleen.
Anyone else would have been scared witless at the thought because of this stupid doctor. Surely he must have come across a thin body ?
Thin isn't always healthier either.

Being overweight will not be helped by low thyroid. The hypothyroidism could even be adding to it and certainly could be making it more difficult to shift.

I would not wait six months but wait a couple (or one) and go back and asked to be retested. Cry, be upset, do anything to get him to listen to you.

Do read this www.bmj.com/content/345/bmj.e7596/rr/622425 and you will see some of the symptoms this nurse suffered from and the fact that, if you were living in some other countries, you may already be seen as treatable.

Being overweight is often caused by, not the cause of, illnesses. Yes, of course, it would help to get it down but you will find it a darn sight easier if you treat an underlying condition which is exacerbating it.

This is your life not your doctors and living with the constant lack of energy, etc., can easily make you feel depressed. I am so cross for you. Please go back soon.

Not all diagnosis can be made by simple yes/no tests and scans.

A lot of diagnosises can only be made by a process of elimination and ruling every other cause out. If weight is a possible cause, they might not be able to conclusively diagnose sonething else until weight is lost (^and maintained^) but symptoms persist and worsten.

This is how a lot of medicine works. There are lots of things that there are no scans of tests for and are just its not anything else syndromes!

Does being overweight make people feel ill? Simple answer - yes, it's one of the things can absolutely can.

How overweight are you OP? The latest evidence shows that even being just a bit overweight can cause long term health problems so the doctor is right to raise this with you and suggest that you lose weight. Add depression into the mix and you're bound to feel a bit rubbish (to say the least). You say that you've come off sertraline - are you on anything else? There are a number of ADs you could try that might suit you better. Are you exercising regularly, even just walking? Exercise has a huge impact on our mental and physical health. How is your diet?

Women, particularly after the menopause, have a much higher incidence of thyroid issues than men. Just saying.

Go back to the doc and tell him you want to take fluoxetine. Sertraline was wrong for you. You need an 'upper', not a 'downer'. A lot of what you describe could well be down to depression.

Eat a healthy diet, but don't stress too much about weight. Overweight isn't the same as obese.

I think you could be in a viscous cycle.
If you are overweight you are less likely to be physically active. The less active you are the worse you feel.
I put on a lot of weight after a serious illness, I was so lethargic and quite frankly hated myself.
I joined a slimming world class and started walking.
The difference in how I felt was incredible in just a week or so.
I got down to a 12/14 and have kept it off. I walk my dog and go to the gym 3 times a week. I no longer go to a slimmers group but I follow a sensible diet as my husband has type 2.
My thyroid is borderline as I had most of it removed due to thyroid cancer.
I have it regularly tested but want to avoid thyroxine for as long as possible.
Solpadol is codeine based so very addictive, I’m surprised it was recommended.
I really hope you start to feel better soon.I appreciate it’s easy to dole out advice and much harder to act on it. It did however work for me and I’m so glad I did do something about it.

Missfoodlove "I walk my dog and go to the gym 3 times a week."

How old are you? Do you have any energy left over for anything else?

Did your blood tests include inflammatory markers? The symptoms you describe sound very much like mine when I went to the doctor who diagnosed polymyalgia rheumatica, an auto-immune illness. He also ordered confirmatory blood tests which showed unusually high levels of inflammatory markers. Started on oral steroids which made almost an overnight difference. I'm now free of it (and the steroids) as it's not a life sentence.

It's hard - I know I am overweight too - and only since my thyroïd gave up on me in my mid 50s. Tough to accept the truth - and yet, would you feel it fair and normal to be told to stop moking before they can treat you effectively?

When I had my first knee replacement- the surgeon said he was happy to do it despite my (over) weight because it was due to an old and very severe injury, not 'just' wear and tear- because despite my weight I am very fit, very active and very positive. When we discussed this honestly- and I volunteered re my weight - he said that had operated on many slim and thin women whose obsession with fat had led to severe osteoporosis, and who for all sorts of other reasons, did not have the determination and positive outlook, resulting in poor outcome.

Sometimes we (and I mean myself) need to face up to facts and be 'told' that we are not acting in our best interest.

Gonegirl, is sertraline a downer please?

Well, it's not supposed to be. It's supposed to be activating. But it doesn't seem to have that effect on a member of my family. I'm a great believer in fluoxetine.

Thanks for the replies, just to clarify I don't smoke nor do I drink much either. I tried slimming world wasn't for me all that happy clapping for people that have actually lost weight while cheating on the diet, when you have stuck to it and only lost a pound, and all the different food I wouldn't normally buy too expensive for me. I am not a couch potato I look after children 6 days a week one of whom is a toddler. I regularly take him for walks even though I have plantar fasciitis. No I am not taking any other anti depressant. I have no idea what blood tests were done just told the results.

I think you have two choices....continue as you are and stay the same or do as your GP suggests and lose some weight and see if that helps.

Why not try it and see, bopeep?

I only have to put on 6pounds above my normal weight to feel lumpen and tired.

And six pounds off restores me.

If you are active and still overweight, it means your diet isn’t all that good, I’m afraid.

I agree, try losing weight and maybe walking more and see how you feel. When I was 30 I weighed 11st and looked at myself and thought yeuch! - joined a gym which was quite expensive but I new that would make me go. I lost 1 and a half stone and felt so much better!

Also, why now write or email your GP before your next appointment detailing your problems, even if he hasn't already read it you can ask him to at the appointment.

I would ask for a second opinion and ask for the tests to be repeated it does sound like an under active thyroid and if your doctors not up for it change doctors if you can
I don’t think putting on weight makes for all the things you have described

Bopeep, good for you, you are busy. I think we have become a very unkind society.

If you don't mind me saying Bo " an older lady" carrying a bit of extra weight is pretty normal in the scheme of things.

Go back to the GP and review meds. If you have had family problems and you are so busy with the children and your foot hurts, that is going to add up. Plus the disappointment of the antidepressant not doing its job.