Totally lost and need help

[Munchichic]

Hi Everyone. I'm having a really hard time with my weight and I need some of your suggestions. I'm 368 pounds and HATE IT! I have PCOS which, according to my current specialist, is "very resistant" to treatment. I am insulin resistant as well and the weight just keeps creeping up even though I'm eating healthy. I'm taking Avandamet 4/500 (a combination of Avandia and Metformin) for the insulin resistance but I'm not up to the whole 2 pills a day I was prescribed but I'm increasing slowly. I also was recently diagnosed with high BP and high cholesterol that medicine is keeping controlled. I also have a lifelong history of anemia. I have seen 3 Nutritionists so far who all have told me they can't do anything for me. My problem isn't what I'm eating, it's all just my BODY. I'm currently in weight management with my current PCOS specialist and the first trial was taking phentermine. Well, after a month my BP was raised and I experienced the exact opposite effects--feeling sleepy all the time and an even greater lack of energy. She now wants me to start Bontril (phendimetrazine) SR. I'm wondering if phentermine made my BP increase and I had the opposite effect, won't Bontril work the same? She keeps pushing me to get bariatric surgery but my primary doctor won't put the referral in because he doesn't agree it's the right choice for me, and neither do I. I don't know what my other options are. According to the weight management PA, my body fat is increasing estrogen and testosterone production which is causing all of my PCOS symptoms. Despite a monitored diet though I just can't lose weight! I'm even starting to wonder if liposuction could help since it's my body fat that is the real culprit. I'm very upset and confused and don't know what to do. Is there such a thing as a weight specialist I can be referred to for some assistance? Are there ANY other meds or options I can consider? My husband and I already know there's little chance I'll ever be able to get pregnant but this horrendous weight and the fact that it keeps increasing is too much to endure! ANY ideas, thoughts, or suggestions? I'm getting depressed!

[New Chick 2009]

I want to tell you that prayers change so many things. I know that it is hard to loose weight. But just ask God to meet you half way and he will.

Praying for you!
New Chick!

[LynW]

Hi Munchichic!

Ifeel for ya as I also have PCOS and it's so frustrating to try and get the weight off! I'm assuming the Bontril has less high bp side effects, so give it a try and see what happens. I would also suspect that once you are up to your full dose of Avandamet you'll start losing weight and feel some of those sugary/carb cravings go (that's what happened to me). I was always told that 1500mg of Met is the lowest dose you should take. Ask about that one!

What type of diet are you on? I really swear by South Beach diet. It's the best diet for us PCOS'ers. Some of these dieticians and docs just focus on calories and food groups without worrying about the refined carbs.

If it were me, I'd try that Bontril and get super strict on eating healthier. Are you exercising at all? Don't lose hope! Keep trying!

[twins2008]

I TOTALLY understand how you feel...I was told that there was a good chance that I wouldn't be able to get pregnant b/c of that freakin PCOS...but, I finally did (via IVF)...It has made things nearly impossible for me to loose this weight...I haven't had a period in probably 6 months of it too..I can totally understand..

My thoughts are with you

[Michigan Walt]

Hi Everyone. I'm having a really hard time with my weight and I need some of your suggestions. I'm 368 pounds and HATE IT! I have PCOS which, according to my current specialist, is "very resistant" to treatment. I am insulin resistant as well and the weight just keeps creeping up even though I'm eating healthy. I'm taking Avandamet 4/500 (a combination of Avandia and Metformin) for the insulin resistance but I'm not up to the whole 2 pills a day I was prescribed but I'm increasing slowly. I also was recently diagnosed with high BP and high cholesterol that medicine is keeping controlled. I also have a lifelong history of anemia. I have seen 3 Nutritionists so far who all have told me they can't do anything for me. My problem isn't what I'm eating, it's all just my BODY. I'm currently in weight management with my current PCOS specialist and the first trial was taking phentermine. Well, after a month my BP was raised and I experienced the exact opposite effects--feeling sleepy all the time and an even greater lack of energy. She now wants me to start Bontril (phendimetrazine) SR. I'm wondering if phentermine made my BP increase and I had the opposite effect, won't Bontril work the same? She keeps pushing me to get bariatric surgery but my primary doctor won't put the referral in because he doesn't agree it's the right choice for me, and neither do I. I don't know what my other options are. According to the weight management PA, my body fat is increasing estrogen and testosterone production which is causing all of my PCOS symptoms. Despite a monitored diet though I just can't lose weight! I'm even starting to wonder if liposuction could help since it's my body fat that is the real culprit. I'm very upset and confused and don't know what to do. Is there such a thing as a weight specialist I can be referred to for some assistance? Are there ANY other meds or options I can consider? My husband and I already know there's little chance I'll ever be able to get pregnant but this horrendous weight and the fact that it keeps increasing is too much to endure! ANY ideas, thoughts, or suggestions? I'm getting depressed!

First off My thoughts go out to you and hope they give you strength.
My wife also has PCOS and is also in the same bind as you, Eating healthy and the weight not coming off.

I did notice a difference in what you wrote and what we were told by her GYN
You said "According to the weight management PA, my body fat is increasing estrogen and testosterone production which is causing all of my PCOS symptoms"

Her GYN had explained to us that the multiple cysts around the ovaries is what limited the production of estrogen (and hense the increase in both Progesterone and testosterone levels relative to estrogen). She also explained that PCOS is genetic in nature and not caused by over eating or anything else.

The thing her GYN did for her that had the biggest effect on her loosing weight; (she was over 411 pounds last year.
Placed her on a hormone replacement regiment (nothing more then Birth control (YASmin).
Just with this addition of estrogen she was able to shed some weight and is now down to 378 pounds. She is now able to go to the gym and start doing some swimming and weight lifting.

You may want speak with your specalist about BCAA + Metformin.
BCAA is Branch chain amino acid, it is an old school weight lifting supplement.
It forces the muscles of the body to adsorb more glucose then they would on their own. Metformin causes the Muscles and the fat cells to absorb more glucose then they normally would. so Combined they really drop blood sugar levels.
There are several studies from Asia that show that a intake of BCAA coupled with Metformin will inhance the effectivenss of the Metformin in insulin resistant individuals.

Yep I have been diagnosed with diabetes too and have looked at things to help with it.