Thoughts? Comments? Suggestions?

I'll be 21 in early July, I'm a girl, and I would like some thoughts on the things I'm about to tell you.

I stand somewhere just over 5'6, but not quite 5'7, I am slim and always have been. But over the last year, I've found that I've been loosing weight. I've especially noticed over the last few months, since I've been monotoring it in a worried kind of way.

As a school student, I was high up on the athletics, and have a lovely bag with first place ribons in it from sprinting and jumping events [100 and long jump, in particular]. However, since finishing school in 2006, my activity has declined, partciuarly in the tail tip of 2007 and throughout 2008. The end and start of those years, I suffered quite badly from depression and was suicidal for a large chunk of the late 07 - early 08 period. With the help of my friends, and a stranger that became a best friend, I overcame that, and for the vast majority of 08, minus my slight sulkiness about being able to spend time with my friends [living on the opposite sides of the city for one, and the world for the other], I've been content and happy.

Walking to work - one way, 4 blocks - and then skittering around the shop is most definately the extent of my exercise. I do nothing else; at home, I sit on my ass and mess around on my computer, or sleep from a long day. Looking at that now, I spend a lot of time sleeping [I am up at 6am, to get a lift into town, nap at the trainstation until ~8, then walk to work where I start at 8.30. I work until 3pm, then come home and sleep from 4 until about 6, when I then talk to my lover until about 8. But I don't actually go to bed until about 10.30 or 11 on weekends. Weekend mornings I laze around in bed until 11 or so]

I first noticed my weightloss when I went from 60 kilos, to 55. I never have been one to take frantic notice of how much I weigh, but I did gain a lot of weight in the start of 2007, because I was doing a lot of physical exercise working with and riding Arabians at an endurnace stud. I went from 55 to 65 kilos in 4 months, most of it being muscle build up. I did not activly seek to loose the weight after leaving the job and was satisfied with my body image and the scales when it told me I'd dropped down to a healthy and steady 60 kilos.

Then, suddenly, I was 55, then dropping to 53. I weighed 47 when I weighed myself the other morning. Since my weight began declining over the past few months [I really noticed it about November] I have been stepping on the scales a lot more -- I went from almost never weighing myself, to watching my weight loss with a kind of twisted facination. I mean, I was happy at 60, I was somewhat delighted to reach my 55 that I've been for so long until that year.

I was horrified when I dropped to 53; and I can't tell you how wide my eyes went, when our digital scale cropped me up as 47.something!

I've had to buy new pants because I have no weight on my hips and ass. I had to buy new bras because my cup size has died, or stuff the padding back in the old ones.

I'm now a size 8 top, 10 pants where I was a good 10 tops and 12 pants since I hit about 16/17.

My diet, over the past year, consists of no breakfast per se, but because I work in a fruit and vege shop, I eat anything I can shove in my face between customers between 8.30 and about 10 - Usually, say, a banana or cherries or grapes or a stone fruit or some such. Between 11 and 1, I eat lunch, depending on the customer onslaught, and we also do hot take out food, so I nick things like chips and dimsims in the quite periods, too. I drink water or juice for the main part, supplemented by the occassional fizzy drink.

At home and on the weekends, I eat dinner [of late salad and some form of meat], dry 2 minute type noodles, chocolates, tiny teddies is my latest phase, but also things like tim tams, rice crackers, vita weet [usually with butter and vegemite]... things like that.

Stuff that should be ADDING to my hips, not... passing my lips and vanishing into oblivion.

Medically, I have low iron, and take supplements for that. My last blood test was in early 2008, before being diagonsed as depressed and moody, and put on medication which I took for about 8 weeks before deciding they were doing nothing to help and weaning myself off them, I turned completely to my best friend, who was a leading light in helping me get through it. On that, I will continue to believe that they did nothing, because no one was aware that I stopped taking both the mood stabalisers or the anti Depressants, until I told them.

Other things that might play a slight part in any weight loss, would be the addition of four piercings [one which rejected because of bad piercing & wrong figure for it; navel piercing] and a tattoo on my shoulder blade. I was sick for a large chunk of the winter with continual colds.

... I think that is everything.

I am considering going to the doctor and requesting a blood test, but I do not trust his abilities as a doctor, but all others in the area are filled. This is the only reason I've put off such a visit. He really isn't so awesome, and I don't feel at all that he knows what he is talking about.

So, as the title says: Thoughts? Comments? Suggestions?

And thank you for your time.

Given that you're now severely underweight (BMI 16.5), seeing your doctor is vital.  I don't know why you don't trust his abilities but, if he's qualified to practice medicine, he's all you've got.   Talk about your diet, your tendency to nap all the time (not normal btw), the way you're feeling, regularity of periods... everything.   If you're 100% open with the information he can prescribe appropriate treatment. 

Second... keep an accurate food diary.  The most common reason for being underweight and for losing weight is 'not eating enough'.  A reasonably active 5'7" 21 year-old should need about 2000 calories a day to maintain her weight... give or take.   If you're existing on a diet of grabbed snacks, bits and pieces of fruit etc., never eat breakfast and eating lightly the rest of the time it's a fairly safe bet that you're not getting anywhere close to 2000.  A food diary (there's a food long on CC) will probably show that you're eating a lot less than you think.   Taking your food diary along to the doctor will help them make a better diagnosis.  Expect to be told to 'eat more'...

If you want to halt the decline & restore your health you need to gain weight.... quickly.  You're going to need 2500 calories a day minimum as your starting point achieved in a series of regular meals and snacks.   You need to prioritise food and meals from now on rather than leaving things to chance and grazing randomly.  The 'Weight Gain' board has some good suggestions and meal-plans you could work with.  Good luck

Thank you for your reply.

I am reluctant to trust his abilities, because when I saw him, expressing my concerns about my depression, he nodded his head a couple of times at what I was saying and shoved me on anti depressants at a dosage, as I said, did  nothing and left it at that. The ONLY reaction he showed to anything I said was when I brought up that I sleep a LOT, as I mentioned here, and his eyes which are nearly completely closed like he is sleeping, opened so much I thought his eyeballs would pop out onto his desk. I'm 21, I should be out and partying [even if it's not my thing] not feeling like I'm barly concious at 8.30; which would be now.

My period is like freaking clockwork. Even when I was severly depressed and attempting suicide, the horrible thing came and went on time, with no changes at all. If I had started missing that, I can tell you I'd have been in the doctors office like a bullet, because there is no way I can get pregnant at present!

I will try my hand at keeping a log of what I eat. I just did todays, and it says I got 1668 calories today. I am already told to eat more, and it is something I tell myself. As I said, I have taken to eating fruit [for the main part] at any interval at work that I can. I have never been a big eater, or a consistant eater. But I will try to improve it, because I do NOT like being as thin as I am. Slim, wonderful. Thin, no.

Did you say that you were giving medicine for your sleeping? Try taking a multivitamin. A good friend of mine always slept at the drop of a hat and she finally went to the doctors and found out she was anemic. Get tested for anemia when you go to the doctors.

No, I got put on some mood stabalizer and anti depressants.

I am anemic, and have been for the past 4 and a half years, since I first became quite sick in '06 and had a lot of tests and stuff run. As I said, I take iron supplements for that, and I also have a vitamin C when I remember, but not often because I took too many at one stage, and got mouth ulsers, I assume from the acidity.

I get blood tests done every 6 months or so to check my levels, and while on the lower end, they are apparently fine.

You have to see an MD. If you don't like your doctor, do whatever it takes to see someone else. Check into public health in your area, go, explain your problem and willingess to pay, and see someone there.

Unexplained weight loss is a huge warning sign for serious illnesses, so you absolutely have to get checked out. I don't mean to frighten you, but you have to do this and rule out illness before anything else.

Original Post by another_girl:

 

 

Medically, I have low iron, and take supplements for that. My last blood test was in early 2008, before being diagonsed as depressed and moody, and put on medication which I took for about 8 weeks before deciding they were doing nothing to help and weaning myself off them, I turned completely to my best friend, who was a leading light in helping me get through it. On that, I will continue to believe that they did nothing, because no one was aware that I stopped taking both the mood stabalisers or the anti Depressants, until I told them.

 

You might have someone in the medical profession look into your low iron.  Low iron might cause your weight loss and it may also present itself in your symptoms of depression.  You may or could also have a gland problem.  Best to get a second opinion and get a full blood work up.

Good luck.

Given your myriad of symptoms and health problems you need to go back to your doctor as Jane has said and tell him ALL the issues you have. As you feel he is incapable or less than capable take this by the reins. By telling him everything and as much you possibly can, the more he can help you with, ultimately. Write down a list if you have to. Whatever will help you.

I second the food diary. You may be underestimating how much you eat. At 21 your body will still just be freshly grown and add that to you being active and tall and you need a fair few calories. But as you are also so underweight you're going to need even more.

As you are active I would say you will need closer to 3000 calories to gain weight. This is doable with planning and the right sort of healthy but high calorie foods and a balance of all food groups. For help with gaining weight, please read here: The Aim is to Gain: Advice on Weight Gain, Whatever Your Reason. This includes example meals, meal plans and food tips.

But please, go back to your doctor. Unexplained weight loss can indicate something serious.