psych visit

I saw my psychiatrist today. She says I am mentally stable but stressed out by the situation with my son. But that isn't the big news.

She is concerned about my inability to lose weight and the fact when I am in remission the weight falls off like water. She had me describe how I gained the weight and lost it and re-gained it. Then she asked about dry skin and hair loss. She says it sounds like a thyroid problem. She is testing me for thyroid issues. She also said she has experience with patients whose thyroid is subclinical (within normal test range but still needing treatment) and that I fit that profile and the tests will likely confirm this. Apparently thyroid hormones play a large role in psychiatry as do other hormone levels and thyroid medication is sometimes used for certain types of depression. She also said that she will research diet pills to see which one I could safely take, she feels a pychiatrist should manage or at least monitor them as they have psychiatric side effects. She is also checking my blood sugar as I am on 20mg of prednisone. She said metformin would be a good medication for me if my sugar is the least bit high as it can cause weight loss. I think it is great someone is finally listening to me when I say I need help lossing weight. It is strange it is my psychiatrist but heck at this point I am willing to try anything. Of course my psychiartist has training as a GP and in psychiatry so I feel comfortable letting her manage this part of my care at least for now since my GP is reluctant to do anything beyond blood pressure and infections. But finally someone listened when I said I do not over eat and something else is going on.

Has anyone else been told they may have subclinical thyroid issues? Anyone out there been on diet pills that worked? Anyone been on metformin? If so could you tell me about it?

Metformin! Ok from what I understand on it it keeps my bloodsugar level. ANd last I knew it was used for the pancreas. (thinks) maybe multi? I dont know. Anyhow, I had my menstraul stop (hormone imbalance) and no cycle 6 months. Doctor said he thought I was diabetic (but tests were normal) and said he was going to put me on metformin. Said if I was diabetic I would regulate back to normal and if I wasnt it wouldnt hurt me. I got my ccycles back (dang it). Diabetes was the diagnoses. Bummer.

No kidney involvement. I don't learn anything about my blood work until the 1st. Good thing I have an appointment then since court on the 29th will leave me emotionally weird.

Marji, my liver tests are normal and a stomach ultrasound was normal too. I actually took this thyroid test fasting first thing in the morning this weekend. My other thyroid tests have always been done in the afternoon and my last reading was 3 on TSH which is the upper end of normal while my T4 was the bottom of the range for normal which basically means my thyroid was barely functioning within normal parameters when tested in the afternoon and after a sugary snack. My pcp said since I was still within normal parameters even if I was barely within them she wouldn't treat me. I know a lot of people on metformin and about half find they lose weight and half don't. My husband reacted baddly to metformin- intestinal distress so bad he couldn't function. I am just hoping my psych can figure out what it will take to make me lose weight because I really need to. Telling her I was ready to ask for a diet pill is what started the conversation. Admitting I hated the idea but am desperate enough to do it because I know I need to lose weight and will power isn't a problem made her ask about my weight history. I went from underweight to overweight in a few short months with no change in diet or exercise after my birth control pills were changed. Then I got pregnant. I went on depo after the baby and couldn't lose weight. I had another baby did the pill then depo got pregnant on depo. Between the babies I ballooned up some more. After the third baby was born I gained more weight. Then suddenly in 1999 I lost over 150lbs no diet no exercise. I had another baby, he died and I got depressed 6 months after he died I was fat again but the thing is when I am depressed I don't eat I sleep. So I cannot understand how I gained back about 100lbs- I was on depo during this time period. Now add prednisone and I am sick of not being able to lose weight. Bringing up depo is what made her think my thyroid might be an issue, that and my symptoms- dry hair and skin, hair falling out, cold constantly and can't stand cold, weight issues, irregular cycles, fatigue, memory issues.

I really hope what we do will help a lot.