Update on the dreaded "hump"

ratherbesleeping · 09-13-2002, 03:26 AM

Or "buffalo" hump as it is so kindly referred to as--that horrible lump on the top of my spine, lower neck. That one that keeps me from wearing my hair up or getting a cute little do. Well after sevearl months of metformin, it does seem to be going down. Actually my mom noticed it at first, and now I see it too. I've lost a few pounds but not a lot, so I can't blame it on weight loss. It's gotta be the metformin. Thank you, God! Hope it goes away completely eventually.

katherinesue · 09-14-2002, 02:03 AM

I never realized that it was a symptom of anything. I thought I had it because I'm over weight. I even asked my chiropracter about it and he said it was norma!!! After having more symptoms start up I started my own searching... I"ve landed here. I go Tuesday to have my latest problem addressed. My hair is falling out. I don't have a pcos dx. I do think I need to have it ruled out though. The more I search the more it seems it is pcos.

Take care.... Kathy

nolegrrrl · 09-14-2002, 01:23 PM

What causes that hump? I hate it! Of course it's near the last of my worried now... with watching my hair growth, those dark patches on my thighs, and the little purple bump being of more importance.
I never really noticed it until my mom started rubbing it and she was like "what's that" but in actuality she has one too! I didn't know what caused it... I didn't really link it to PCOS or being overweight.... I thought it was just one of those weird things that was there for some unknown reason.
I don't think about it much... but it makes me a little self consious for S.O. to give me a massage.
I'm glad I'm not the only one with this! And I'm glad to know the metformin helped.

2fat4fun · 09-14-2002, 02:22 PM

..the hump can be a sign of insulin resistance or of Cushing's. My hump I am VERY HAPPY to report is almost gone! Mine began to shrink as I have lost weight and the insulin resistance is under control. I always thought it was the ugliest thing and the older I got the worse the hump looked.

Kimmie

lanners · 09-21-2002, 08:22 PM

i have a HUGE buffalo hump. my sister pointed it out once, years ago (she's a physiotherapist and is always pointing out my "flaws") and i didn't realize that it had a connection to PCOS. my gyno's resident seemed quite interested in it, but my gyno never persued it.

i haven't had my sugar levels tested in about 2 years...i'm thinking that maybe i should, since i have a huge history of Diabetes in my family (dad, his brother, his dad, his dad's brothers, mom's mom, etc...) and a doctor about 3 years ago told me that i am exhibiting signs of IR.

so you are saying that sometimes through weight loss and treating IR that the hump could go away???? is there really hope???? i'm excited now...and am going to call both of my drs on monday to see what they say about helping me out with this.

thanks!

Erin31CA · 09-21-2002, 11:22 PM

I had the "hump" too. It has gone away in the last year as I have changed my diet and low carbed. I have lost 80 lbs over the last year, however I don't think it is the weight loss alone that caused the hump to go away. I think it is how I lost the weight - through low carbing. Because... years ago when I was much thinner than I am even now, I had that hump. I think I was IR even back then and things just hadn't gotten out of control yet. Now even though I am heavier than I was then, my hump is gone because I have controlled my carbs.

moonshadow · 09-24-2002, 06:12 AM

i have an annoying 'hump', too. i always figured it had to do with my posture (which my mother says deteriorated after puberty), but i've been concentrating on standing up straighter for the past couple years. it is bigger now that my weight is higher, but it was present when i was slim, too. it seems to me that the upper half (near my neck) of my shoulders appear sloped due to the same hump. i have a short haircut, so i pretend the hump doesn't exist. my sister used to bug me about it, but she's gotten a bit older in the past couple years (shocking!). i feel like i've got a tiny neck because of it. i can tell that it is partly the shape of my spine there, but i can also feel a pad of something- fat, muscle, both?- over that portion of my spine. i had a chiropractor a few years ago who didn't seem too concerned about it.

i'm taking a skeletal biology class in school right now. maybe i'll find out something about the 'hump' there. in the meantime, i'll concentrate on posture and getting enough calcium. spine bones are good at collapsing in later life- which i've just found out harms the digestive system and lungs, as well as being bad for the back.

i'll be thrilled if metformin helps!

FIONA · 09-24-2002, 06:33 AM

I've got one too! I've had it for years and it's got worse since I've got heavier. i just thought that it was related to my weight and posture.

I remember watching Roseanne years ago and noticed that she had one, in fact it was an episode where she was in a shop to get a makeover and the snobby shop assistant pointed the hump out byt saying 'what is that!

anyway, I just accepted it as another con of being fat.

by the way, what is cushings?

fee

Roo · 09-24-2002, 10:35 AM

Hi. I, too, have the horrible hump. I've always noticed it, but it does seem to have gotten worse as I've gotten fatter.

I didn't realized it could be connected to PCOS.

It's amazing what you discover by communicating with other people.

Take care.

Roo