I have been really frustrated lately due to my lack of weight loss. Well, let me rephrase that, I’ve been really frustrated lately due to my weight gain. I have been on WW for over a year and have gained 10 pounds. Which really boggles my mind since when I did WW 6.5 years ago, I lost 35 pounds in 6 months. And now I’m right back to where I started, within a pound or two from my starting weight 6.5 years ago. And I feel like I am putting more effort in this time. So, I am trying to figure out why this is happening to me. And the only differences I can see between this time and last time are: that I am 6.5 years older now, so maybe my metabolism is slowing down and the fact that I am on the pill now and I wasn’t before. I have been on the pill for 5.5 years now, so maybe that has been contributing to my weight gain. Because if I think about it, it has been a slow and steady thing, it’s not as if I gained the 35 pounds back all at once, it has been a gradual thing, with little periods of losing weight, and then gaining some. 1 step forward, 2 steps back. The only time I gained a lot of weight was on my honeymoon in September, I gained 10 pounds in 2 weeks. Totally not fair. And I have still been struggling to even get 1 of those pounds off. And I had my thyroid checked 6 months ago because I thought that may be what has been hindering me, but it came back normal.
So, I have come to the following conclusion: maybe I need to go off the pill! Which scares me to death. The reason being that I had BRUTAL periods before I went on the pill (7 days of HEAVY flow, so heavy that I sometimes bled through and soiled my sheets and mattress, sorry if that’s too much info!, and INCREDIBLY painful cramps). I used to have to take prescription pain meds for the pain. Now that I have been on the pill, my periods are quite manageable, much lighter flow and I get by with just taking advil. Now I realize that since I’ve been on the pill for so long, that maybe my periods would be just fine now without the pill. I am just scared to test that theory. So, my question to you lovely ladies is: have any of you taken the pill for reasons associated with your period and then stopped taking it? When you went off the pill, were your periods the same or better than before you went on the pill?
5 comments:
For me, I used to have fainting spells with my period. It was horrible. I was put on the pill when I was 18 because I couldn't function otherwise. I went off the pill when my grandfather died in late 1999/early 2000 (so after about a year and a half). My first period took something like 2 months to come. Then I gained something like 30 lbs in a few months. I didn't think I was eating all that badly either. My doctor said it was unlikely that going off the pill caused my weight gain, but I'm skeptical.
Now that said, since going off the pill, my period hasn't been that bad. It seems like I grew out of the really bad PMS. Sometimes now I don't even take advil anymore.
Could you try asking your doctor about going off the pill for a bit to see what happens? I don't think it's good to go on and off of them, but your doctor might have an idea if the pill is the source of your weight loss problem. Or if there are any risks of going off of it for a couple of months.
Oh great, now you've really scared me... I didn't think that going off the pill would cause weight gain, that's the last thing I need! I guess it affects everyone differently. I happen to know that my mom could never really tolerate the pill and estrogen made her gain weight, so maybe I got that from her.
I'm hoping that I too outgrew my horrible periods.
I will definately talk to my doctor about this. My next physical isn't until May, so I'm not sure if I should schedule an appointment before then or if I should just wait until then.
Maybe I'll give WW one more honest shot and if I'm not seeing any results by May, then I will talk to my doctor about going off the pill in May.
Well, like I said, my doctor didn't think I gained because of going off the pill. I think hormones react differently for all people. The reason I'm skeptical is that I didn't think I gained solely due to eating. But maybe I was deluding myself. I was in mourning and not really concerned with my eating habits.
Also remember, when I gained my weight, I wasn't eating necessarily healthy (at least not like now), nor was I exercising.
I'd make an appointment before May if it's bothering you. No sense waiting another 6 months. If the pill is your problem, you won't see any results. If it's not, at least you might have some answers!
(hugs) to you, and don't be scared. I was able to lose my weight when I was ready (pill induced gain or not). If you did gain by going off it, you'll lose it. It won't be permanent. And likely won't be 30 lbs!
I went off the pill recently (2 months?) - because I don't have a family to renew my script (not b/c I want to get preggers). And I actually dropped a couple of pounds, which doesn't seem like a lot - but for someone my height and weight, it is quite significant.
Perhaps it would work for you?
Also, I used to have periods like you described. The pill "calmed" them down to 5 days light to med flow...Now that I am off the pill I am down to 2 or 3days, very light.
I haven't stopped taking it, but I used to have VERY heavy periods. also 7 days of heavy flow, I would need two super plus tampons plus a very large pad to make it through the night, and even then, I sometimes bleed through. It was horrible. I don't know what it would be like if I went completely off the pill, but the other month I screwed up my pills and ended up getting my period early. It was by far the worst period I have had in several years and heavier flow. That being said though, it might have had something to do with messing up the pills alone.
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