hi,

well this one may throw you for a loop. went to my Dr. and asked for something to gain weight. i am one of those people having a hard time gaining. He gives me megace...liquid progesterone. i never heard of this. i am not taking any hormones at all and wonder if this would cause a problem with just taking this and not with bio estrogen. the pharmacist said i would gain about 20-30 ilbs which would be put me back to normal. anyone ever take this??? i got the scrip about a month ago and kinda skeptical about it. have a endo appt. tommorrow and might ask him....second opinion to find out why i dont gain weight.. thanks everyone!!!!

Well several of us have speculated that it is high progesterone (pregnancy hormone) that causes us to gain. Your doctor must think the same thing.

From my understanding... it is dangerous to take estradiol without progesterone if your uterus is intact however it is not necessary to oppose progesterone by taking estrogen. So there would be no problems by taking progesterone alone. However... studies are showing that progesterone also poses cancer threats and considering many of us have horrendous side effects to taking progesterone you don't want to make the decision lightly. Obviously you haven't since you haven't taken it yet, I just wanted to add my words of caution too.

Have you tried ice cream and chocolate? It works for me.

Very few women seem to tolerate progestin/progesterones very well. And, any drug or herbal preparation can come with a host of side effects. Here is an excerpt from the 12th editionof The Pill Book:

Another progestin called megestrol (Megace) is used in Breast and endometrial cancer, and for weight loss and decreased appetite in people living with AIDS.

Possible side effects: Most common: breakthrough bleeding, spotting, changes in or loss of menstual flow, water retention, weight loss or gain, breast tenderness, jaundice, acne, rash with or without itching, and depression. Common: changes in sex drive, changes in appetite and mood, headache, nervousness, dizziness, tiredness, backache, loss of scalp hair, hair growth in unusual quantities or places, itching, symptoms of similar t urinary infection and unusual rashes. Rare: allergy, fatigue, fever, flu-like symptoms, bloating, asthma, back or leg pain, sinus inflammation, respiratory infection, upset stomach, stomach gas or noise, emotional instability, sleeplessness, acne, itching, painful urination, and urinary infections. Contact your doctor if you experience any side effect not listed aove. (I took prometrium 2 times and had many many of the above side effects - EVEN THE RARE ONES)

Cautions and Warnings: Mpa and other progestins should not be used regularly to avoid weight loss.

Special information: Your need for this drug should be evaluated at least every 6 months.

hope this info helps. I truly believe you are making a great decision in getting a second opinion in regard to your health care. Best wishes, Jzz

Hey, I've got about 20-30 lbs you can have!!
I'll gladly give it to you and we can both be happy!!

You made me laugh, now I know where my extra pounds came from, when I was on BHRT, progesterone, LOL.
I wish I could email you # I want to lose
Megace is oral suspension containing Megestrol Acetate a synthetic derivative of the naturally occurring steroid hormone, progesterone. It may cause same problems as regular progesterone, so I would be very leary of it.

I am not sure why you can't gain wieght or what is your current weight, weight loss can be due to a serious medical conditions, and just good metabolism. If your weight is real concern, perhaps you can make dietary changes?

You can try using extra virgin coconut oil and full fat coconut milk, it can help, and eat more fat like olive oil in general, butter, beef, etc. it is hard to figure out without knowing your medical history and lifestyle, perhaps you have killer metabolism, or competetive athlete, in any case we can spare quite a few pounds, LOL.
Good luck,
I.

Another thing to have you doctor check would be the thyroid. A hyperthyroid can make you lose alot of weight even eating constantly. Regards, JZZ

Good point, definitely get the thyroid checked.

HI Ladies

thank you so much for the replys and concern. I wish i could take the weight that you all have offered me. i could use about 30-40 lbs. I am 5'6 and 100 lbs. I went from a size 12 down to size 4 and very scared. tried to admit myself into the hospital but drs. think i am being ridiculous. went to a endo and he just said my t4 and TSH are within normal ranges.
t4 is 9.3 and TSH IS 0.34. the endo said it sounds like i am CELIAC and suffering from malabsortion in the intestines. said i should have a colonscopy test and endoscope done. and to start eating gluten free food right away. i am soooooooooo confused. tired of jumping from one dr. to another. just want to find out what it wrong. if i keep losing more weight i will not be here anymore. you never hear about the dangers of being to thin....it is always about how to lose weight in the tv commmercials. drs, diet pills etc. skinny people need help and i dont know know who to turn too. i am desperate. please someone help.

postmeno,
Get conoloscopy and extensive blood work, to make sure your albumin is high enough and nothing is seriously wrong.
The celiac disease is real problem, but I never heard is would manifest at this age, most celiacs have problems very early, in their 20s, and they have constant diarrhea.
You TSH is rather at the low end, while T4 ( is it free), is kinda on high end, do you have any symptoms of hyperthyroid: shakes, nervousness, tremors, etc.
I understand what while the society is obsessed with weight loss, there are real ppl who suffer from it, and it is a real problem.
Does your blood test, i am sure you had it done, shows signs of malabsorbtion, or do you have any digestive problems: nausea, painless diarrhea, something along these lines, or you simply losing weight without any symptoms or loss of appetite?
I think upper GI endoscopy and colonocscopy is good place to start, and of course, outruling hyper T also is important.
Once you know there is nothing in your digestive system, you can go with thyroid route.
I wonder if you got your adrenals checked, how you feeling overall, it can be addison syndrome, if your adrenals compromised, you will continue to lose weight.
Given you been to endocrinologist, I assume you had it all checked out.
if nothing esle, perhaps, full body scan can be ordered, some issues are hard to Dx, but persistent weight loss without dietary changes needs to be investigated, sorry, I can't think of anything esle without knowing the specifics.

I have lost lots of weight when perimenopause started, went down to size 6, in 2 months, from size 12 too. But I simply could not eat, I had sudden onset of indigestion, gastritits, you name it, GERD and was scared to eat in general.
can you eat, as do you have appetite, and no problem keeping food down and also, no problem with bowels?
Sorry, really, I have hard time to understand what is going on, did you have CDC with differential done too?
best wishes,
I.

Hi thanks

i went to the endo two days ago and he said the thyroid is fine and i feel like you that it is off. i wrote down all my symptons and he did not even bother to look at it. he just looked at the previous thyroid tests from my MD!! I think i am hyperthryoid with a little hypo thrown in. symptons are the weight loss and extreme loss of muscle mass. i look like i have starved to death. Appetite is ok. it seems i can eat and eat and gain nothing. I need to eat like its thanksgiving everyday to gain a pound. weight has always flutatuated most of my life. the only time i gain weight was when the dr. put me on inderal and desyrel (trazodone) and i went up to 150. other symptons are freezing hands. plantar fascitis of the feet. heart paps. unable to sleep, HUGE panic attacks, breathlessness. hoarseness, extreme weakness. no homones and adenomas on the adrenal glands. the endo did order a cortisol blood test to check on the adrenals.

celiac or gluten causes damage to the intestines which results in malabsortion, along with colitis which i know i have. this monday i have an appt with the gastro dr which i know he will order the colonscopy and endoscope. and we will find out finally. the worst part is the prep drinking that junk. i get sooooooooo sick. horrible cramps, bleeding vomitting shaking sweaty. i rather be in child labor again that to go thru that prep. i think if i am gluten sensitive that citrate of magnesia reacts badly with my guts...........its horrible

what did the dr. find out with you? for your weight loss. i know its shocking to see yourself go down several sizes without trying. like you i cannot eat ALOT of different foods. simetimes scared to eat, get the gastritis, pain. so my choices of food is limited. no spices, fried foods. no wheat oats rye etc. i quess i will need to learn how to eat all over again with the gluten free food.

right now the bottom line is this:

endo dr says thryoid is fine.......i dont!!! something is wrong

99% sure i am gluten senstive or celiac along with colitis

no hormones

and the adenomas on the adrenals.

post menopause 5 years!!!!!!!!!


quite frankly it has been pure hell the last few months trying to figure this out all my myself no hubbie support either. if the gastro dr. cannot figure it out dont know what else is left to do. the clock is ticking.

what is a cdc with differentials??? i know there is alot of things left to learn

thanks for your support. appreciated more than you know!! it is like at least one person is listening to me. i have talked to three diff dr. and two R.N and they all act like its no big deal. i dont get it.

postmeno,
Fire your endo and get a good endocriniologist, it is not normal to keep wasting away, especially when your body is catabolizing your own muscles. Have you got your blood sugar tested, I am just throwing things out there, that can make you lose soo much weight and eat like a lot and not gain any.
I lost weight because I COULD NOT EAT, due to anxiety and changing hormones, once it passed, I was back to eating noramlly, and I gained it all plus a little bit more, LOL, so I am back trying to lose some.
CBC with differential, is complete blood count, red and white blood cells to outrule any serious problems.
The colonocopy prep is nasty, I agree, but when I was losing weight, I done it all: upper GI endoscopy, and colonoscopy, stomach Xray with Barrium, etc.
You doctor seem careless, really, at this age any major weight loss warrants further investigation.
But if you were proned to anorexia for the most part of your life, so it is nothing serious perhaps, he thinks.
If it is not abnormal for you to be thin and you had hard time gaining weight before, your doctor is not concerned, I can see.
I would just get tested for everything, find a good endo and make sure you are not HyperT to begin with. Check your digestive system to make sure there is no malabsorbtion from intestines, check your blood sugar to make sure you have enough insulin and not wasting because of the high blood sugar and low insulin level, c-peptide and beta cells antibodies are good start, along with fasting blood sugar and insulin.
If everything checks out normal, then perhaps you need to increase fat% in your diet. If you losing muscles, it means your body can't either metabolize protein or has very low insulin, or too much thyroid hormone, I am sure you know about it already.
HypoerT is not a joke, find a new thyroid doctor and get extensive testing done.
here is the list of good thyroid specialists, you can find someone in your area.
http://www.thyroid-info.com/topdrs/
Hope this helps, good luck, and good health.
I.

postmeno,
Without a *free* T3 it's difficult to tell if you are hyper or hypothyroid. If it's high, then that, along with the low TSH indicates hyperthyroid. Do you know if a free T3 was done?


Also, there are some good docs on that link Iradan gave, but many of us with thyroid problems have had a bad experience with docs on that list, so you have to be careful. I chose a U of Chicago endo that was on that list who charged me $577 for 15 minutes (out of pocket expense for me) only to blow me off and tell me my TSH looked 'fine', despite the low frees and the fact that I have Hashi's. Mary Shomon removed her from that list due to myself and others telling of our experience with her.

Nevertheless, it's possible to find a good doc there. If you want to PM me with where you live and which towns/cities on that list are within a reasonable distance from you, I can take a look at what is written about them and tell you if they sound promising or not. And if there is not one there, there are other ways to find a good thyroid doc.

UPDATE!!

Iradan and Sariah

Good Morning??!!

well here it is two months later and still looking for a endocrinologist. Going on my third one now. Sariah you were right on. I am still working on it. I think the next one may be a good one. heard he spends at least two hrs talking with you. hope so. the l one i seen two days ago only spent 10 minutes and then said thyroid was fine. maybe its me i dont understand. soooooooo now i just got the blood work on a second set of thryoid numbers.

They are:

T4 FREE 1.5

TSH 3RD GENERATION 0.52 (range 0.40-4.50 mIU/L) Seems low

T3, FREE 308


added tidbits;
IMMUNOGLOBULIN M 51 (range is 48-271 mg/dL) this seems low to me

LIPASE 79 H (range 7-60 UL) this one is off the charts. gastro dr gave me Creon 20 and Prevacid for an ulcer he found last week during the endoscope. yeah i have been busy and still does no good. except finding out about the ulcer which he said that is why i am losing weight. HUH? i dont know about that.

so confused about these thyroid numbers. maybe he is right and i dont get it.

Iradan...went thru the list you wrote of things to do. the only thing left to do I THINK is the colonscope and insulin check and gastro wanted to wait until i heal a little bit and he wants me to have a pet scan done next week for the adrenal adenomas and to just check the whole body. geeeeeeezzzzzzzzz!!!!!!!!!!!!! and last it could be ANXIETY AND PANIC CAUSING WEIGHT LOSS. and LACK OF HORMONES 6 years post menopause which i tried to tell these drs and no one listens. grrrrrrrrr.

THANKS SO MUCH FOR LISTENING. just reporting in....on with my quest. anyone shed some light on this turmoil? it seems i am on the right track but it is taking so long.

Hi Everyone...

Are you by any chance taking an anti-depressant like Wellbutrin? I have a friend who lost quite a bit of of weight taking that.

Just a thought