Obesity and period...
Brandye made me realize that I should just put this up as a thread rather than ask through PM, since I might not be the only one suffering from this...
About my period...
When I first got my period, I believe I was about 12. It is extremely irregular and when I say extremely I mean EXTREMELY! Once I was on my period for a little more than six months straight, I had it everyday and sometimes the flow was different. I have terrible clots almost everyday and the cramping pain in definitely unbearable. This all leads me to the smell...which is constant. Either it's a fish smell or just a normal strong period smell. I take care of myself, taking a shower everyday etc. But, the smell never leaves me, it's very embarrassing and my period itself have kept me from alot of different things.
My weight problem...
Last time I visited the doctor I was 398 pounds. I've tried to lose the weight many times but because of my depression and insecurity, I've failed. I kept close to my diet and exercise for two straight months and lost only water percentage. After hearing this, I was so discouraged and upset I wanted to give up entirely. My weight has kept me from alot of things.
My family is big also, not as big as me but my mother used to be then she had a gastric bypass. I do NOT want surgery to get this weight off, mostly because I could never afford it! I have never been to the gynecologist, which I know I should have went along time ago. I've told my mother about my period problem but now that I have a boyfriend she thinks that I just want to have sex and that's why I want to go. WRONG! I'm so sick of ruining underwear, being smelly, having to use the bathroom 10 times a day just to push out clots, showering more than twice a day just to feel a little clean for an hour, and having tremendous pain.
These are all factors that lead to my other thread I made about my boyfriend. I've been having sex for almost a year now, but not as often as I want. He is sometimes patient with me when I tell him I don't want to cause my period is too heavy but sometimes he gets a little aggravated. (I'm sorry if I made him seem so terrible...cause he really isn't).
He is very upset with my family for not taking care of me and he has been helping me try to build my self-esteem and such. He even told me a few nights ago that if my mother doesn't take me to the gynecologist when I get off my period than he will.
Anyways, I was just seeing what advice I could get about this situation and since Brandye is a doctor I was wondering if she knows what is possibly wrong with me. So any tips, advice or suggestions would be greatly appreciated! Thank you.
Marebear1991
Replies:
Your weight is the root of all the rest of your problems. There is one way to reduce weight: consume fewer calories than you burn on a daily basis. There are two approaches to this: diet (reduce intake) or exercise (increase output). A combination of the two is usually the most effective but DO NOT begin exercise without medical consultation. There are no magic approaches that allow you to continue to overeat and be a couch potato. I really respect your desire and hope you follow through.
Start with your doctor to establish that there are no metabolic diseases that are causing your problem. Find out exactly what physical exercise is allowable and have the doctor recommend a nutritionist. At such extreme weight, anything smacking of a crash diet could be dangerous - there are people to help. Use them! Even if it means eating alone and avoiding your family's table, follow the nutritional program precisely. You are looking at a few years work to drop more than two-hundred pounds.
As the doctor agrees to exercise, begin with simple walking - outside or on a treadmill. Do not overdo it! Each little success you have will make the subsequent steps easier; each setback includes a risk of your giving up.
As you lose weight, it is quite possible that your bleeding problems will subside. If not, after about 150 pounds decrease, you can have a proper gyn exam and begin to work on that. As the fat is removed, the self-described issues with smell will decrease. It is absolutely impossible for a woman of your weight to properly cleanse herself. And, that needs to be done twice a day to defeat the smells. I have attempted to do a gyn exam on a woman of your size. Even with a nurse's help, it just could not be without special equipment. Make it an intermediate goal to be able to get on the table, place your feet in the stirrups and have a swab done. Sounds silly as most women hate it - at least they CAN do it.
Irregular periods are normal for early adolescence. My guess is that you began to gain weight about that time and your body has never really adjusted to the weight plus the hormones. You have given some insight into why your doctor used depo to try to control your bleeding.
I respect your admitting how much your weight has limited your life. In a few years, it will limit you even more. Every pound of excess weight places four pounds of extra pressure on your hips, knees and ankles as you walk. If you do not lose the weight, you will be wheelchair- or bed-bound by middle age.
You have made a gutsy first step in admitting your problem. You are to be applauded. Now get your fat ass to the doctor and the nutritionist and we are here to give you support!
Brandye
Marebear it has taken alot of courage to admit to your weight problem, and the fact that you want to do something about it is to be commended.I'm pleased that your boyfriend is being supportive of you in this matter, and that with your period.Is he overweight too,maybe you can support and encourage each other to lose weight.I am a little overweight myself.I am roughly 190- 200lbs (95-100kgs)when i should be around 160lbs (80kgs)for my height and build.I am trying diet,healthy eating and exercise(walking)to lose weight but it doesn't help one bit when i eat a large(200gram)packet of corn chips/potato chips when i am depressed.Pigging out when depressed is the main cause of my weight gain.As Brandye said we are here to help anyway we can,even if only to give you encouragement and support on your weight loss journey.
raunchy gal
To Brandye...
"Fat ass" is definitely appropriate name for me since alot of my weight is in my ass! This thing is massive!! As surprising at it may seem, I'm a rather a flexible girl! I can run as fast as my bf (who is 195 pounds but I just need to take more breaks to catch my breath), I can almost pull off the splits in both positions, climb and stretch (as far as my butt will let me lol). Thanks so much for your advice! I'm going to sit down with my mother again and talk things over to try and make her understand. But thanks again, Brandye!
To Raunchy gal...
Like I said above my bf is only 195 pounds though he does have a slight belly. My depression does fuel my eating habits but I have been trying my very best to control it. Exercising is gonna be a little harder now that it's getting colder and snowy out, so I must figure out something else. Especially with my having no money problem.
Marebear1991
Dear Marebear,
I've read your several posts and what I see is a courageous young woman! :) You have written about your insecurities, your fears and little self esteem. Great that you share this with us. Cause writing it down could really help you. Not to mention the replies that could give you more to think about. Please take pride in what you do and who you are. You are on a road to change! Admitting your weightproblem is such a major step. I truly applaud you! And while you take one step at a time on this road, remember that you are beautiful. That you deserve to be treated well. That you deserve happiness. That you deserve to be proud of yourself. Don't let anyone tell you otherwise! You go girl!
RedRoses