weight gain in the military

tulipf78 · 03-02-2005, 04:10 PM

I am 26 yrs old and in the Navy. When I first got here in June of 2002 I weighed 145. By Feb 2003 I weighed 210. During this time I was also experiencing very irregular menses, cramping when I wasn't even on my period, skin tags, facial hair and a very hyper active armpit. If it was 20 degrees outside I would still sweat like crazy under there. The skin tags, hair and armpit kind of got put on the back burner because being that I am in the Navy my rapid weight gain and inability to lose was my main focus. I started to go to our base medical very regularly trying to figure out was wrong with me...they kept saying nothing was wrong. I even started getting tested for std's(even though I was the same person faithfully). I knew something was wrong. Finally in October 2004 I was sent to an OBGYN and was diagnosed with PCOS. I was a little relieved, because I now had a reason for what was going on. Just to give you readers a brief on weightgain in the military, if you fail the weight(I am only allowed to weigh 165) three times in a row, you can not advance, and you get really bad evaluations. My question is, is there anyone out there experiencing what I am going thruogh? I am also newly married and we have been trying to conceive for about 9 months now, unsuccessfully. I feel that the stress I am going through is only adding to my problems

DianeJ · 03-02-2005, 07:00 PM

Hi! Welcome to SC! Glad to have you but sorry you have to be here.

Symptom-wise - you'll find practically everyone on this board has gone through what you have, and are still going through it. The rapid weight gain, skin tags....the list goes on. So you're not alone!

Couple of things I want to add/ask: when you were dx, did they check you for insulin resistance?? Most of us are IR. They should have started you on an insulin-sensitizing med like metformin if you are. That should help with weight loss.

Has your thyroid been checked? I'm sure it has - but make sure your doctor isn't going by the military lab's values. The military hasn't seemed to have caught up with the new values yet (this coming from a Navy wife, so I know

). According to the American Association of Clinical Endocrinologists (AACE), "doctors have typically been basing their diagnoses on the "normal" range for the TSH test. The typical normal levels at most laboratories has fallen in the 0.5 to 5.0 range.

The new guidelines narrow the range for acceptable thyroid function, and the AACE is now encouraging doctors to consider thyroid treatment for patients who test the target TSH level of 0.3 to 3.04, a far narrower range. AACE believes the new range will result in proper diagnosis for millions of Americans who suffer from a mild thyroid disorder, but have gone untreated until now." ( http://thyroid.about.com/cs/testsfor...a/newrange.htm )

I know if you have certain medical conditions, they'll give you a waiver (like hypothyroid), but I'm not sure where PCOS falls in this. Might want to ask your ob/gyn about that. What is her/his plan for your treatment anyway?? Are they giving you any help at all? Or did you end up with one of those "here's what you got, watch your diet and lose weight" kind of doctors?? Here is a fabulous FAQ all about PCOS: http://www.inciid.org/faq.php?cat=infertility101&id=2 Maybe give it a read, arm yourself with some information before you see them again, in case they haven't given you a game plan.

I also wanted to add - if you don't pass the weight part but pass the body fat, you should be ok. And I'm not sure if you know this or not (probably, but I just want to make sure you do), if you fail 3 times, they won't let you reenlist.

Hope I answered more questions than I asked.

lol

TDoern · 03-02-2005, 07:25 PM

I dont know how the military doctors are treating you but when I got married I already new I had PCOS had found out a few months prior. Well, my previous doctor hadn't had any time to start treating me so it was all new to me. I went in and told the military doctors I have PCOS and thier response to me was lose weight, eat better, exercize. I simply could not believe that to them PCOS was no big deal when my previous doctor seemed to think it was.
When hubby and I decided that it was time for us to have a baby I went and told them that I needed help. I told them I knew why I was having fertility problems, I just needed help with it all. They decided that they were going to put me on birth control to regulate my periods, and that they were going to send me to an infertility clinic to talk about what "I" was doing wrong! Well the fertility clinic was a "must" in order to even see the GYN for infertilty problems. AND behold had a 3 month waiting list.
I would definatly talk to your gyn about testing, find out about how the military will take your being overweight right now, and see what type of options they have to help you lose weight since just diet and exercize aren't cutting it.

If you have to dont be afraid to educate your doctors. Find the information, get books, look up information here, and if they dont know about PCOS let them know. If I had the knowledge I know now then when we were military I would definately have gotten treatment by them.

I hope this helps some!
Best wishes!
Tammy

CathyWood · 03-06-2005, 06:12 PM

Hi Welcome to SC. I am glad you found us. Feel free to contact me if you wish. See you around.

Rasburry · 03-07-2005, 10:34 AM

My husband is Navy, and I have PCOS. I know this isn't your situation exactly, but my husband is overweight and has failed PT's in the past. Can your command put you on mandatory PT? He found that swimming at the base pool really helps and his command doesn't scroff at him for having to leave during the work day a few days a week. Having a supportive command is essential and PCOS is a medically diagnosed disease/syndrome. I know that the Navy doesn't support weight loss drugs too well for active duty members, but I know that some navy hospitals have started to do lap band surgeries/gastric bypass if you're willing to go to that extreme. I'm also wondering about if you've been put on any medications (such as metformin).

You said a lot in your thread, so I apologize if I'm rambling. Have you considered putting off having a baby until the weight comes down some? Not only to try to get your periods back on some type of schedule, but also for your career with the military. My husband has struggled for years with weight and it's affected his advancement.

Feel free to contact me at any time and good luck.