Hypo? Weight gain, edema, and ab bloating

[chopperchickie]

I am a 36 y.o. female with a medical mystery. I am thinking the issue may be hypo or endocrine related.  On Jan 21st I was 136 pounds. That same saturday I was in the ER at 177 pounds with severe abdominal bloating and constipation.  I was told I had heavy colonic load in my large colon given Miralax and sent on my way.  One week later I was in the ER again at 180 pounds, soft tissue pitted edema on the right leg and calf, and still no bowel movement and ab swelling.  I was given Mag. Citrate and referred to a GI.  I've been tested for Celiac and came out fine.  I've had an endoscope, upper gi with SBF, bowel transit, gastric empyting which all came out fine.  I had a colonscopy and they found a polyp (hyperplastic) in my large colon.  After all of this, I was told I have IBS-C and given Amitiza and sent on my way.  I have educated myself on IBS-C and I do not have any of the symptoms/signs other than the constipation.  I was in the hospital again on Friday.  I looked 7 months pregnant, severe soft tissue pitted edema in my right leg.  my stomach was hot and very tender, my hands and feet were ice cold.  My bp was 104/64, body temp 98.2, pulse 64.  They did a doppler and found no DVT, did my blood work and said it was fine.  Had a cat scan and all is well.  Dr. suggested that going the metabolic/ednocrine route may be the way to go.  I had my thyroid tested in the early part of February and my Dr. said it was ok.  Over the past 3 months I have been testing Iron Deficient Anemic with a normal retic.  My Dr. is baffled by this.  In addition, I stopped having my period in July.  I was told by the OB/GYN that my estodial levels were at menopausal levels but I was not menapausal.  She did progestrone withdrawl at 5 mg two times with failure.  She gave me femcon FE and told me to take them to induce my period.   I chose not to go that route.  I started getting my period again in January.  They are not heavy at all and last 3 days.  I get tired very quickly and must take a nap when I get home to reenergize.  My hands and feet are constantly cold, I have loss of appetite, and today I weight 196 pounds.  I have gained over 50 pounds in 4 months.  Most of the weight appears to be in the thighs and abdominal area, I am also very irritable and depressed.  Could this be Thyroid/endocrine related.  I am a very health conscious person.  I follow at strict 1400-1600 cal diet with the proportions of 40% pro/30% good carbsand fibrous carbs/30%fat.  I run 2-5 miles 6 days a week, and lift 6 days a week.  I manage to lose 10 pounds then I gain 17-20 in a weeks time.  I am very frustrated and in great despair.  Please help or provide direction.

Thanks

[Barb135]

This is a very old thread and chopperchickie has not been active on the forum for over 6 yrs.

Have you had any thyroid testing done to rule that out?  

[shellacs]

I have nearly the very same symptoms-were they able to figure out the mystery? Was there anything that proved successful in treating it? I am getting ready for surgery-they are going to look for endometriosis as a possible cause. I've been through a million doctors and tests and am truly exasperated. Anyway, I really hope you've been able to find relief and the answer to your illness.

[Loveucrazydoll]

I have exactly the same issues doctors can't find why I get swelling inside my tommy all sorts of test I did but still it's mystery but am having my period regularly basis but still am gaining weight and my tommy looks like am 7 months preggo it's so painful when I have edema in my tommy am so much tired of my life now am just 32years old

[chopperchickie]

I saw the Internist and she said I present with all the signs of thyroid or defininetly some type of metabolic issue.  She is running a full thyroid panel including t3, t4, and complete etc.  I saw the Gyn today as well.  He is looking at PCOS and gave me a prilimary dx of oligomenorrhea.  He is running an Amenorrhea II profile including fasting insulin and glucose.  I am so excited and glad I found two wonderful doctors.

[DLA]

Have they checked you for endometriosis?  Would for sure have that looked into since it coincides with your periods.  Endometriosis can be absolutely horrible and often over looked for ages.

[chopperchickie]

I am looking at Cushing's syndrome as well.  I took a pic of myself on saturday and compared it to a cushing's patient and it looks similiar---thinning arms, puffy face.  I switched to a new Dr.  as a matter of fact, an internist that has an Endocrinologist on staff.  What I have come to figure out yesterday is that I have been in the hospital 4 times now and each of them coincide with my menstrual cycle.  I started getting my period in January again.  and I have been in the hospital within days of getting my period.  I was in the hospital friday and had my cycle on saturday and gone on monday. In addition, I have dropped 16 pounds since friday.....A medical mystery!  Thanks for the reply and I will check into those.

[chopperchickie]

I switched to a new Dr.  as a matter of fact, an internist that has an Endocrinologist on staff.  What I have come to figure out yesterday is that I have been in the hospital 4 times now and each of them coincide with my menstrual cycle.  I started getting my period in January again.  and I have been in the hospital within days of getting my period.  I was in the hospital friday and had my cycle on saturday and gone on monday. In addition, I have dropped 16 pounds since friday.....A medical mystery!  Thanks for the reply and I will check into those.

[Shannon85]

Did you see "House" last night? There was a little 10 year old girl and she was very obese. It turned out she had a tumor up in her sinus area that had to do with her metabolism. They removed the tumor and the weight came off. I think she had Cushing's.

[DLA]

They have checked for liver disease?  Ovaries?  I would get these checked out thoroughly.

Sounds a lot like my symptoms when I had Graves', except for the horrible adema in the legs.  I was a nontypical Graves' patient.  My stomach got huge, I gained 40 lbs in a matter of a few months.  But my legs went from very muscled and large for a woman's to unbelievably skinny at that same time.

[jax190]

i dont know the answer to your question but a lot of what you say sound thyroid related you can have symptoms quite a white before the blood test show up maybe your dr could run more tests for this sorry not much help but hope you start to feel better soon