weight gain after coming off bcp

juniper · 06-12-2007, 04:59 AM

Hi there,
This is my first post here. So yey. I have been on the pill for a long time and my weight was very stable around 124 pounds (I am 5.6). When I got off the pill last year, at first my weight and periods were regular for like 6 months and then suddenly they started to get irregular (longer and longer cycles and then I did not have my period for 3 months) and I gained 10 pounds out of nowhere, mostly around my waist, even though I was exercising and eating as I always did. I also thought I had a little more hair (but it is hard to tell). After that I was diagnosed with pcos. My doctor put me on bcp again but not on met and I am struggling to get rid of those extra 10 pounds.

I guess my question is this; did any of you experience weight gain like this after you got off bcp? Were you able to loose it afterwards? I am just afraid that I will keep on gaining weight. I know I am not overweight, but I am a climber and even a 5 poung weight gain makes a difference and I feel bad about it, I also feel very uncomfortable about the spare tire around my waist - nothing fits me comfortably anymore. Should I be on met? I am not sure why my doctor did not consider that.

(I am glad there are others like me who are considered "thin" who could maybe relate to me, since I would feel really bad/vain about talking about my weight with other cysters who are overweight).

Best,
juniper

sheepiegirl · 06-12-2007, 02:30 PM

When I went off BCP, the weight flew off of my, so I had the opposite problem. And I had been on it for like 8 years, so I was shocked when I stopped taking it and weight just melted off.

Maybe you should talk to your doctor about Met, because I've read that gaining weight in the belly area is a sign of IR, with which Met can help.

carriebabbie · 06-12-2007, 05:30 PM

Hello,

At first I gained weight, but then I got extremely depressed and stressed out and lost more than I'd put on. I'm better now though. I am IR and had thought I was diabetic because of how I felt the first couple of months off of the pill. Being on met has been so helpful. My weight has stayed the same since I went on it but I hear that a lot of women lose weight once they start it.

I also thought maybe I had increased hair growth after I stopped the pill, but couldn't really tell too. It was interesting to hear that you had the same experience.

As for your doctor, a lot of doctors think that just because you're thin you can't have IR or even PCOS. I was the one who brought it up to my doctor. He told me they would test for IR but he even told me that it was unlikely that I was (mostly due to my weight). Basically, he tested me to placate me. Turns out I was right though.

Good luck and I'd definately ask about met.

Carrie