anorexia, pituitary, ACTH

[wagtail]

Does anyone know of any connection between anorexia, the pituitary gland and levels of ACTH or cortisol?  

[kay825]

A lot of what things sound like on these posts is Cushings Disease.  Google it. Look it up and try to understand it.  Don't let doctors dismiss it because it's "too rare."  

[Smilerdeb]

Yeah Stella ...I know what you mean about the fibre drink lol.
I see it literally 'stuck' to the glass after I drink it and think ...eekkk yukk but I have started it as of yesterday so watch my weight tracker.
If I go down...great!
If I go up...out goes the benefiber lol.

[Smilerdeb]

Thanks Teresa...I am on the mend bnow from the upper respiratory tract infection...feel a lot better today.
Ok Stella...the Doctors reasoning is that constipation and hypo go hand in hand and that if you are not regular everyday (gone are those days ...sigh) then the fat sits on the belly.
In all honesty, I dont really expect anything major to happen but I am going to give it my best shot lol.
As for the pear and apple shape.......Umm I look like a tyre!
The Michellin Man to be sure! lol
When I had RAI done, the nurse looked at my tummy , gave me a weird look and said ...'are you sure your not pregnant?'
I just looked at her, smiled and said..."its all thyroid belly Hon' lol
She wasnt too impressed.
I had it before RAI and I feel it was from 'blocking' the thyroid with ATDS as I was dangerously hyper with fibrillations.
So as you can imagine, on high doses of ATDS.
Though when I look back, I remember gaining weight and losing it like a see-saw.
For a few months I would be skinny, then all of a sudden ...bloated.
I still have that bloated feeling now and if drinking fibre stuff each day is going to get rid of that bloating feeling then so be it.
I did carry a lot of fluid around the ankles before RAI and boy, did they swell up!!!
I have never carried so much fluid, even when pregnant with my kids.
I know I dont look fat in my pics Stella but I am honestly and truthfully overweight.
I should be around 55-58 kgs for my height of 5 ft 1 and I am 67 kgs so even if I can lose just a few kilos then I will be happy.
When I find out the secret, I'll let you know lol.

Debs

[Treebee]

I have a great tip for getting fiber that tastes good. I drink 8 oz. of Bolthouse Farms Blue Goodness every morning instead of coffee (I miss that) it's got 120% of the B vitamins. vitamin E, 8 grams of fiber and it tastes really good. It is thick but very good and it works :-) I will drink that but have a terrible time too with taking the Fibersure. I don't know why it doesn't even have a taste......

Okay, I get and agree that being hypo adds weight. There is no way it couldn't but why the shift from a pear shape body to an apple shape? Do you think being hypo messes up our estrogen too?

Smilerdeb - I hope you feel better soon!

Teresa

[stella5349]

Good Luck Deb

I don't think a bit of fiber would hurt at all. It may be helpful if all of us increased that a bit in our daily routine.

I mentally - have a hard time taking it and I don't know why. For heaven's sake - I take a very controversial thyroid medication that some cringe on and that doesn't bother me so why would a loosy glass of fiber turn me off so bad?

It makes a whole lot of sense on the bowel thing - but where in her statement is belly fat controlled by the bowels? Am I just not understanding how you wrote that?

Bowel constriction and belly fat is not together - is it?

[Smilerdeb]

Ok...Ive just come home from the Hospital after an Upper respiratory tract infection and whilst there, DEMANDED they check EVERYTHING.
It seems that all my vitamin levels are fine although I was low in zinc and B12 a few months ago (vitamins taken for that).
Estrogen, Progesterone and Tesosterone are all within range (yeah right! lol) and thyroid levels good (5 months after RAI).

So I laid in bed and asked the Endocrinologist.....'ok, so how did this happen? and pointed to that tyre around my midrift.
He laughed and before he could say..'middle age spread' , I cut him off!
A woman Resident Doctor was with him and she said......Thats simple.
I sat there all ears.........

This is what she said......
"The thyroid controls all hormones in your body. As yours no longer works, no amount of hormones will get the 'right' level as having a thyroid.
The 'belly fat' is mostly from not using the bowels enough when you was hypo and fat has stored there. Keep exersising, take Benfiber 3 times a day and you will see the tummy go down."
I asked her how she could be so certain of this.
She said..."Because I had RAI too, have no thyroid function, am on Synthroid and had the same problem".

Now I dont know about you guys but if it means I have to drink a fibre drink 3 times a day to help with the metabolism of the fat but I am gonna give it a go.
The Endo said it was ok to do so too.

Who knows??? lol
Wish me luck :P

[Barb135]

As you can see by reading the above thread, the subject of estrogen use following menopause can be very controversial.  I had a hysterectomy in 1996.  I was on estrogen for a few years (various brands and dosages) and after a while, it stopped being beneficial for me so my dr and I agreed that there was no need to continue taking  it.  

I maintained a normal weight for a long time (several years) and never had a problem dropping a few pounds if necessary, following the stoppage of the estrogen.  I only began having a weight problem when I began having thyroid symptoms and by the time I got the dr convinced that there was a problem, I had put on 30 pounds.  I am also dealing with a possible insulin problem and adrenal impairment, which are scheduled to be checked next week.  I talked to my dr yesterday about the estrogen issue and it was blown off without thought - but that's my doctor regarding my body and I've been through menopause for 12 yrs.  I have always maintained a very active lifestyle and did not experience the aches and pains you mention until I began having other issues (thyroid); therefore, I totally disagree that it's inevitable that we gain weight and achy, etc just because we went through menopause.  Since you are newly into it, your circumstances will quite likely be very different than mine for a while.  

Some of the symptoms you are describing are indicative of thyroid problems: muscle & joint aches, dry skin, etc.  

There's no way I would dispute a connection between all these things (menopause, estrogen, thyroid, insulin, etc), but I do think it's very important for each one of us to gather all the info we can and then work with our dr to find what works best for us.  As I said in one of my earlier posts - what's right for me, might not be right for someone else and visa versa.  

As I stated in a previous post, I plan to continue to research all of this myself, as I have not totally discounted the idea that estrogen might again be beneficial for me, in spite of what my dr says, but I do know that I have to make sure that my insulin and adrenal levels are up to par as well, because these will have a great bearing on the way I feel and whether or not I will be able to get rid of the weight I have gained - at least since I've been on thyroid med, I have managed not to gain any more.  

Keep researching and work with your dr to get the right combination for your health and well being.  

[Treebee]

Hi Ladies,

I am 46 years old and surgically menopausal since Jan. of this year. While not hypo yet I've been researching as my levels where borderline. Hopefully I really won't be. I'm sure my thyroid levels are related to being surgically menopausal. I saw one of you had mentioned being over menopause. I'm wondering if learning to live without estrogen is really a good thing or not. I know most of us gain weight once we hit menopause and that can be so frustrating as are the aches and pains that some women experience without estrogen. I could not believe how truly awful I felt without estrogen. I can handle the hot flashes but not the insomnia, muscle aches, joint aches, dry eyes, dry throat and skin, not to mention the anxiety. I am now on an estrogen patch and a good multi vitamin with selenium and iodine and I'm feeling much better. I am due for a recheck on my TSH and cholesterol and am hoping those numbers will both be better.

I really believe that we run out of estrogen because we are living longer, 100 years ago the average life expectancy was 45 or so which explains why our ovaries putter out. Now the average age of menopause is 51 and I'm sure it will keep getting later as we evolve so to speak. Our adrenals can and do produce some progesterone. The only source of estrogen after menopause or removal of our ovaries is abdominal fat..... Hello, see the connection? My mom is taking Arimedex and has put on quite the spare tire and is really upset by it. She finally got her oncologist to admit it is the lack of estrogen doing it to her and that it may get better in a year when she can stop taking the estrogen blocker. I think not but who knows at least he admitted it was not having the estrogen that is causing the spare tire and isn't something she's doing wrong. The connection with progesterone and weight gain is also there - I think of when you are pregnant and gain weight to sustain the pregnancy, isn't that the progesterone and without the ovaries/uterus we don't have the right enzyme to effective use the supplemental progesterone. There is a link between insulin, estrogen and thyroid. Menopause is the prime time for thyroid problems. It is complicated that's for sure! I certainly wish their was an easy answer for all of us.

Thanks for letting me chime in and I wish good health to all of us!

Teresa

[Barb135]

Thanks for your input on this subject - you are right, it is very confusing and extremely controversial as there are so many different opinions.  You certainly believe strongly in your idea and there's nothing wrong with that - if something worked that well for me, I'd feel strongly about it too.  Everyone's body works differently, and I'm very happy that the HRT turned out to be what you needed.  I wish it had done that well for me - if it had, I'd still be on it.  

I must say I was only partially satisfied with my dr appt this morning - I actually saw the nurse practitioner, whom I have seen on several occasions in the past.  She is very thorough and knowledgable and I do like her, except she has a tendency to not want to listen sometimes.  At first, she tried to wave away my concern over my weight gain/inability to lose as "age and genetics related".  I told her I didn't buy that and added that "we both know that 150 lbs is way more than I should be carrying on this 5' tall, small boned frame and that my (cholesterol) would probably go down too without more meds if I could get rid of the weight, but diet and exercise isn't getting it, so we need to look elsewhere for a solution".  She then agreed that I had a valid point and when I mentioned adrenal function and insulin resistance, she agreed right away that one or both could be part of my problem, even more so when I showed her the record of my blood sugars that I've kept for the past couple weeks.  I now have a lab order for 3 hr glucose tolerance test, along with adrenal function.  I've made an appt for next Wed to get those done.  My synthroid was lowered from 88 mcg to 75 mcg and I will be retested next week and then again in 3 months.  

I did mention the idea of estrogen levels, etc per this thread and that got blown away almost before the words were out of my mouth.  While waiting to get the other blood work done, I'm going to do some more research on this idea and see where it leads me, although I still have to wonder if estrogen would help me now when it had stopped doing anything previously.  I'm very leary of testosterone as I already have more than my share of excess facial hair, etc, which presents its own set of problems and I certainly have enough problems to solve as it is.  

I'm not discounting your ideas, just going a different direction for the time being.  Will keep watching this thread for any other ideas you might have.  Again, thanks for your input.  

  

[Mary 53]

Hi Barb,

Thanks for writing back. I looked at my writing this morning and gosh, by the way I was quizzing you it looked like I had you on trial! Sorry about that... but, you did clarify a few things and I wish I had time to write this morning, but I need to get to work (and, no computer at my job... I teach troubled youth)... good luck at the doctor's appt this morning.

I would still say that if you could pick up that book I mentioned, just to add to your research, I am thinking you might find some helpful information. So much of Vliet's work was an eye opener to me as far as recommended amounts of the two hormones she recommends (Estradiol and testosterone) as far as blood serum levels so that post-menopausal women can have a chance at a higher quality of life (mine was bad even with supplemental estrogen, even though I fear it could have been worse without it... I just feel strongly that what I was doing for years was not enough).

And, I can honestly trace back to the problems I started to have back in Perimenopause and see the connection to ovarian homone decline. Then the surgical menopause threw me for a loop back in 2000... thus the massive amount of research on my part... Insulin issues, bone loss, bone pain, brain fog, thyriod issues... As Stella and I were saying to each other Sunday when we spoke... there just has to be a "female" hormone connection... Why does it have to be so mysterious, you know?

So, in the interest of brainstorming, I appreciate you all letting me break into this thread. Just wanted to add a different twist to an already confusing topic.

Sincerely,

Mary

[Barb135]

I'm sorry I can't even remember all the different types and combinations of hormones I was put on at various times, both prior to and after my hysterectomy. I was first prescribed hormone treatment in approx 1990 when I was 41 yrs old and every time one thing (or combination) didn't work (or stopped working), the dr wanted to try another - at that time, he was trying to eliminate the need for a hysterectomy and it didn't work. After my hysterectomy, I was also on a variety of different meds (hormones) for several years.  I do know that I was on premarin for a while, but can't remember the dosage(s).  I was also on vivelle patches - again I can't remember the dosage(s) as we'd try one for a few months and if that didn't work (or stopped working), bring on another, since there are plenty of combinations out there.  I also tried progesterone cream and after about 6 months, I couldn't tell a difference so I stopped.  I'm not saying that HRT NEVER did anything to help me - that would be incorrect, as there was a need for it at times.  

Again, I apologize - I'm not up on the standards for what is "normal" levels and what isn't, except what is printed on the lab report for reference ranges at various stages of life and my levels fell in the "normal" ranges for "female/post menopausal".  Lab tests included estrone, estradiol, estriol, progesterone and testosterone.  

Neither do I intend to be obstinate and I am not, by any means, saying that HRT is not a good thing - I just know that what's right for me, isn't always right for someone else and visa versa.   In my case, it had gotten to the point where it wasn't doing anything, so neither me nor my dr could really see any point in continuing to take it.  I'm also not closing my eyes to the possibility that there may again be a need for something along those lines and since I see my dr this morning, I will mention it to see if maybe I need to get my levels tested again.  

As far as my weight gain is concerned, I maintained my normal weight (100-115) for several years after I stopped the HRT (and if I gained a few pounds, I just had to watch what I ate and exercise a bit more and it came right off); however, when my hormones levels were tested (and found to be "normal"), I had already put on over 15 pounds and continued on to add another 15-20 by the time it was discovered that my thyroid had "whacked" out.  Also at that time, my blood sugar was running kind of high, so there was already an insulin question, as well as the fact that I had a lot going on in my life that was causing an enormous amount of stress - which is why I'm leaning more toward the insulin/cortisol connection at this time.  I also had a very low heart rate (as low as 35 resting), so my entire body had apparently slowed down.  

Who knows, I may be way off base and have to do a lot of back tracking.  Will let you know what the dr has to say about all this.  

Stella - if that cream is working for you - stay with it.  I'm thrilled when I hear that someone has found something that really works for them.  And maybe that 30 pounds will melt away before you know it - well maybe not that fast, but hopefully, your nightmare will end soon.  In the meantime, I continue the quest to wake up from mine; though actually aside from being a little tired and 30 pounds too heavy, I don't feel all that bad (at least not absolutely horrible, like I did a few months ago before I got on thyroid med).  

Gotta go get ready to see dr.  Have a good day.  

[Mary 53]

Hi Barb,

I appreciated your post, but I will say that a few things baffled me. I am wondering what you meant by "normal" as far as ranges of blood leves of Progesterone, Estrogen, and Testosterone? I hear you on the Surgical Menopause... no fun at all. But, then, your main sources for making testosterone and progesterone are gone if ovaries are gone. Estrogen source is greatly depleated, too, although the body fat will make Estrone, a by-product from fat...and that is being made because the body is craving estrogen.

I am assuming the blood levels for these three hormones are considered "normal" for a non-supplemented menopausal woman. But, then the question is.... "do I feel normal"?

I only use Estradiol, partly so my body won't make so much fat so as to give me Estrone. I want Estradiol and as little fat as possible (I say that somewhat tongue in cheek since I am just now finally starting to lose weight now that my estrogen levels are approaching the optimal level for a menopausal women...(to feel well and to avoid making estrone... but also NOT to have an excess of estrogen in my system). I don't plan on quitting anytime soon, if ever. If I still had ovaries, at least they'd be leaking, so to speak, estrogen until I hit about 80. And, they would also supplement me with testosterone until about age 75. But, I have nothing. And, I cannot function without the help I get. It just was not good enough. Thus all the research.

Wondering what type of HRT you were on. There are Soooo many. Was it synthetic? ... Premarin? Cenesta?... it all makes a HUGE difference. And, at what doses were you taking it if it was a bioidentical (like Vivelle patch... all estradiol)... If you don't mind me asking... just curious, and if there is any info I can give, I can try to do that.

I certainly don't mean to sound obstanate. I have had to be so proactive in my own life and I have learned so much about menopause (more than I'd ever dreamed I could learn).... Some doctors believe that a woman's body was not meant to function without Estrogen. I am totally grasping that notion here at age 55 and tired of the struggles I have had when my (supplemented) levels were too low.

I also take supplemental Testostereone (a very small amount) and I would not be without that, either.

Hopefully this clarifies a few things.

Again, the book I mentioned in my earlier post has changed my life. Thank you, Dr. Vliet....

Mary

[stella5349]

I am on a bio identical compounded progestrone cream. It is the script cream.

I never imagined me feeling this normal again . I thought it was dead.

If I was the 30 pounds lighter - I would think this whole 6 yrs of fighting was a horrible nightmare.

Let me know what the doc says

Take care

[Barb135]

Good luck on losing that 30 pounds - I'd be thrilled if I could lose 3 right now, just to get the ball rolling!!

I have a book written by a pharmacist named Suzy Cohen, called The 24-Hour Pharmacist.  The book covers a lot of different conditions, along with recomendations for supplements, etc.  She has quite a section on estrogen dominance.  She says that there are quite a few substances called xenobiotics that mimic estrogen in the body.  These include: dry cleaning chemical, fresh paint, gasoline, household cleaners with solvents, cigarette smoke, pesticides, ant killer, herbicides, weed killer, DDT, pvc found in shrink wrap, plastic bottles and food containers, benzene, parabens and phthalates found in many cosmetics, along with quite a few other things.  

She says that taking a chlorophyll supplement, eating greens like kale broccoli, etc or taking curcumin can help.  

She also says that some causes of estrogen dominance include:  trans fatty acids, working nights/sleeping in the daytime, lack of antioxidants, sedentary lifestyle, obesity, chronic stress (excess cortisol - there's one connection), sleep deprivation, insulin resistance (there's another connection), fluoridated water, cigarette smoking, progesterone deficiency, zinc deficiency, magnesium deficiency, environmental xenobiotics (mentioned above), lack of sulfur-containing amino acids (SAMe), lack of nutrient L-glutamine, using drugs that impair liver function.  

She says that using progesterone cream can be used.  It's best to work with your doctor to get the right dosage, though it's possible to buy the creams OTC, but the dosage isn't always exact and it critical to get it right as too much can increase risk of cancer, as can a deficiency.  Only those who prove to need it, should take it.  

I would take that to mean that in order to make sure one was getting the right med, it would be necessary to have progesterone, zinc and magnesium levels tested.  

Are you using a cream progesterone or is there something else available?  

I guess this is one more thing to put to my dr in the morning, but I think, based on my family history, I'm going to pursue cortisol, insulin link and see if my dr will let me get tested to those.  I've already been checking my blood sugars with a glucometer and they bounce all over the scale, so I don't know if at times I don't have enough insulin or if my body just isn't using it.  

Hope the info above might shed some light on the whole thing and give us all some more things to research.  

[stella5349]

Oh my gosh Barb

It is what put it on for me.

Now they can say "all is normal in the tests" but what I learned is it may not be in the right ratios.

Like me - In my FSH labs my estrodiol is within the right ranges but comparing to the progestrone - it shows I am not in a balance in producing the progestrone as much as I am producing estrodiol.

Estrogen dominance!

Putting me on the progestron in the short time I have been on it has been really great. I don't see it making me loose a ton of weight - BUT it has given me more of a balance and energy to not flop on the couch after work and not move around more.

It has though turned me off fom eating alot totally. I feel like i have morning sickness many times when I eat so - I eat a whole lot less.

Most of my weight is centered in the trunk too -

I'd be happy losing 30. and before I jump into full blown meno - I need to loose that and keep myself balanced.

[Barb135]

I've read about "estrogen dominance" - is that the estrone mentioned?  Or something else?  I've read that estrogen dominance can also cause weight gain/retention.  

[Barb135]

I am 59 yrs old and went through surgically induced menopause when I was 46.  I took HRT for some years, but it did absolutely nothing to make me feel better - I still had the hot flashes, night sweats (which I still get), so my dr said there was no point in continuing to take it.  The last tests I had done for estrogen, progesterone, testerone were all within normal limits.  

I was always small - I'm only 5' tall and always weighed between 100 & 115 until not quite 2 yrs ago, when I started putting on weight so fast, I couldn't keep up with it. Over the years, I would put on a few pounds, but all I ever had to do was stop eating so much and start exercising.   In Jul 07, I was dx with pernicious anemia and started on B-12 shots.  Although that helped a lot with the fatigue, etc, I still felt awful - tired, muscles hurt, etc and I asked for thyroid test in Jun 08 and was dx hypothyroid.  Now with the blood sugar issue, it's getting kind of scary as I've no idea where it will all end.

No matter what or how little I eat, or exercise, I have not been able to lose weight - most of it put on tummy, but plenty to go around the whole body (approx 30 lbs total).  Makes me feel fat, bloated, etc.  

Have dr appt in the morning to go over latest thyroid tests.  Am going to talk to dr about all these other things and see what comes.  Don't expect any earth shattering info, but will post to let you know.  

Smilerdeb - you have the Michelin - I think I'm wearing the Goodyear blimp!!

[Mary 53]

I am going to say that I totally hear the frustration in these posts.

Let me see if I can offer a little bit of hope.

I tell you, I should go to work for Dr. Elizabeth Lee Vliet. I have recommeded her work so many times now since finding her last year.

She is the doctor in Arizona who has written many books on women's hormone issues. She has a website and has radio archives on all sorts of topics. Her work is inspiring. I am not an expert on thyroid issues and although people call me an "expert" on women's hormones, as flattering as that sounds, I am not an expert... just a woman fighting the effects of a surgical menopause for 8 years now (I am 55).

But, if I may add to what must me a long list of resources as you all look for answers... I would suggest you check out Vliet's work. You can see from my previous posts that I have had some great relief from following her suggestions and I have been working with the bioidentical hormones and studying the effects, etc, for a long time. But, as I said, her work is inspiring.

I am currently reading "Screaming to be Heard." It is a huge book and it is not easy to find. Order on Amazon. It is a bit older, but the website she runs supports the work she speaks of in the book.

Take a look at why our body craves estrogen and how it will make fat in our trunk area so that we always have a supply of estrogen.  Also check out "Fighting the Midlife Fat Cell" by....I have to check the author..Debra something... Google it if you need the name right now. But, she explains why we gain in the trunk area and such... very interesting. And, hopeful, too.

I am going to go out on a limb and say that the problem might have to do with estrogen and the type our body is making and the low levels of this hormone and how the body keeps making more and more (as in fat that is not always utilized appropriately to make estrogen ). And, the estrogen by-product it makes is that Estrone... not the best for our bodies.

Read in Vliet's work about Heart issues and estrogen. She put my mind at ease, as have other authors. Heart disease is a huge concern for women in menopause...she explains the connection. The media hype from the problems with true HRT (synthetic Premarin, etc) did a number on us back in the early 2000's. There is a whole lot more to the story.

And, I heard years ago that thyriod issues go hand in hand with Menopause. That is when I became a little bit Hypo, even while on Hormones... although at the time, I was not on Optimal doses....

I have to leave it at that. I know  you all do great research and I also know there is a point where you need to take a break from it all, or as Stella suggested... you get so much information and you need time to process it all. I am the same way.

I can post more about my personal experience since I found Vliet's work last March, but for now, I will leave it at this. I am still researching myself. I hope this has been somewhat helpful...

Hoping you all find the information you need and deserve.

Mary

[Smilerdeb]

I know that if there is diabetes then there is problems with fat stored as my partner is a Diabetic (type 2)  so as you can see with having a diabetic boyfriend, I know the 'good and bad foods' and also get on that damn treadmill everyday as well as my 'fat' machine as I call it lol (it shakes every muscle in your body) and I also do 40 situps at night (with the help of a stretchy thing you pull).
Get real!
Do you honestly think an old fart of 49 could do 40 situps on her own with the belly I have lol !!! No I need help with a gadget with situps lol.
Seriously, I do work out and have been told by a Personal Trainer Tax client of mine that the lack of metabolism is causing the 'fat storage' around the tummy.
So as soon as I find a way to 'get through it', I will post here.
I am not worried if I dont lose weight as the 'before ' Me was the HYPER Me. But I need to lose that Michellin tyre.
It is so frustrating.

[Barb135]

I've been following this thread and adding to it now and then.  I, too, had a hysterectomy approx 13 yrs ago, so am well beyond the menopause stage.  I have always been very small and my weight ranged from 98 - 115 up till about 2 yrs ago when all these funky things started going wrong (pernicious anemia, hypothyroid, etc).  All of a sudden I started gaining weight like there was no tomorrow and before I knew it, I had put on an extra 30 lbs and no amount of eating right and exercising will get rid of it.  I've also been checking blood sugar several times a day and it swings back and forth like a pendulum.  My family also has a lot of diabetes (both type 1 and type 2), along with heart disease.  

My dr has also used the excuse that "you're getting older" and I don't buy it!  There has to be something else going on.  If my weight gain was just age related why did it not start until all these other things started happening?  I agree that there has to be connection between the insulin, cortisol, etc - just don't know what it is.  Will keep researching too and watching this thread to see if anyone comes up with anything.  

[stella5349]

You are so funny.

I know looking at you - in my eyes you look really good - but I know about the self frustration.

We have to feel good inside more than outside views.

I am in the same boat on that.

I just know there is an answer to this. I truly lean it is a hormone issue more than our diets.

Don't get me wrong - if we binge then we pay - but I really believe there comes a time in our life where we do all the right things and they still do not work.

Why?? - I am not sure yet.

I don't think there is one concrete answer for all. Some women have no ovaries - some thyroid problems are worse than others - some have pituitary issues - or cortisol - or diabeties. ...... the list is probably endless.

I do however think that there is an answer for each one of us.

[Smilerdeb]

I started going  through early menopause at aged 32 years and finished at 36 years. The reason given was hereditary as both my Mother and Sister had early menopause. (Gawd it was he** too!).My last menstrual period was nearly 17 years ago so I know I am well and truly over the menopause. Also blood tests have shown I am.
Though at some stage when I was pregnant with my last child (23 years ago) it showed my Estrogen to be very low.Never found out why.I was never on any HRT as I have a heart condition that prevented that and also a history of heart problems in my family.
So my weight is not from upcoming or ongoing menopause.
Dont ask me why but I seem to have got a 'solid build (wide and broad) and a tummy that looks like I am 7 months pregnant.
I was always petite and small. Not anymore.
I DO believe that overdosing from Doctors with ATDS did a lot of the weight gain as I only started to gain when I was on Carbimazole but there has to be some way to lose it????
I hope so as its depressing for me.
I feel uncomfortable, fat, frumpy, unsexy........and I know if I dont lose some weight I am a candidate for Diabetes as that runs in my family.
(I have been checked for that and am fine).
But I feel as if I am carrying fluid too, on and off.
I just want answers as to why the massive weight gain in such a short time.
I will look up what I can Stella but sick of my Doctor keep telling me i nearing 50 and what do I expect!
I played baseball for many years up until 2 years ago so was very fit.
Now you could use ME as a baseball!

[stella5349]

Thanks Mary for coming by. I was hoping you could put more on this than I could.

I was beat last night.

Since we know for sure that menopause can be brought on early for most hypos then that explains the estrogen "change over" to the fat storing Estrone.

As many doctors say - Hypothyroid does not make us fat - there may be some truth in that statement now - since HYPO does put our bodies in a different estrogen level.

However we can gain some weight due to the condition - but for the posts like mine and others who have gained over 40 pounds or so - something else has to be going on.

I think I now am understanding more on the insulin and cortisol level connection - and bringing this in the equasion is difficult to understand but clearly needs to be.

Mary - keep stopping by and read the thyroid posts especially on weight. You will see the connection it has to peri - or meno and I think you will be very helpful here too.

[Mary 53]

OK... sorry... just to clarify once again since I see some of my critical info is a bit buried... For those on Bioidentical Progesterone, I know it can be a marvelous thing. It is just recently that I have researched how the body handles supplemental bioidentical Progesterone if the woman has no ovaries. If I had ovaries, I am sure I would use Progesterone, but I quit using it due to the recent info I recovered from Dr. Elizabeth Lee Vliet ("Screaming to be Heard").

Hope that helps clear things a bit.

Mary