Depression, weight gain! Help!

Ijeswannabme · 01-16-2009, 02:39 PM

Hi everyone,
I am 23 and was diagnosed with PCOS at 18 and now am on glucophage, birth control and now low dose thyroid meds. I have been on the glucophage and b.c. almost constantly since the diagnosis.
About a year and a half ago, I was feeling really overwhelmed with my life (I was getting married and finishing my college degree) so I went to my doctor because I felt like if I could get less stressed I would be happier and able to lose some weight (even though I wasn't technically overweight--5'3 size 10). The dr. gave me a prescription for Zoloft and said that it "wouldn't cause weight gain and should help me chill out enough to lose some weight". Fast-forward to July and I had gained almost 30 lbs (gradually). Now I'm more depressed than I've ever been and I don't want to leave the house or do the things I did before. The dr. (a different one) has told me to exercise and put me on thyroid meds about 3 months ago and I've started going to a trainer 2x and week and have been walking and playing with my new Labrador Retriever every day. I still have not had a major weight loss and am eating the same amount as I did before the weight gain (and now exercise MUCH more). It just feels like the dr. doesn't believe that my metabolism is shot, in the beginning she talked about giving me stimulants to rev up my metabolism and I was against it because they don't do good things for you heart, but now I would be glad for anything that would help me be back to a normal person that can enjoy life. What can I do to help the dr. help me get better? What can I do to help myself? Should I try another dr.? Anyone else experiencing/experienced this?
Thanks everyone!
(sorry for such a long post, I just had to get it off my chest)
Tina

etuc · 01-22-2009, 12:41 PM

I would talk to your Dr and tell them about your increasing depression, sometimes people need to try different meds or approaches to dealing with depression. Are you getting counseling? Counseling was the best thing that ever happened to me.

Have you had your thyroid rechecked lately? When my ex's DR was trying to get his thyroid problem straightened out there were blood tests every couple of months to check his thyroid. Adjusting to the meds caused him to undergo some changes in temperament.

Hope you feel better soon!

Bethann · 01-22-2009, 03:05 PM

Unfortunately, most anti-depressants can and often do cause weight gain. I hate it, particularly since I have a past history of anorexia--there are too many times I wish I could go back to it, both for the control and the thinness. But I have mostly made my peace with the realization that I would rather be heavier than I once was than endure the hell that was depression.

Exercise is good, even if you don't loose weight. It can help with the depression (this is not to minimize the importance of proper medication), and helps a great deal with health. It is far healthier to be a bit overweight and active than to be thin and inactive.

As for your ongoing depression, talk to your doctor about increasing or changing your meds. I take depression as a clear sign that I need to pounce on it (mine always worsens to a suicidal level if left to "run its course") either by adjusting your medications or changing them. The good news is, weight gain caused by anti-depressants doesn't seem to be dose related--so if you increase your doses it probably won't lead to more weight gain.

Is your doctor a pyschiatrist or a GP? If you aren't seeing a pyschiatrist, and its financially possible to do so, I'd really encourage you to do so.

I hope this helps--you're not alone in dealing with this issue.

Ijeswannabme · 01-23-2009, 02:11 PM

Thanks for all the advice and for all the understanding.
Tina