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Post by Karen on Oct 11, 2009 13:18:06 GMT -5
Don't you love these kinds of personal breakthroughs? I hear what you're saying, Jenaya, and I'm thinking along the same lines. The only problem is that estrogen is the hormone that makes you hold onto body fat, so it's hard to get rid of. I've changed my diet and find some success here and there, but when my cycle changes, the weight and more comes back on. All in all, I'm up 15 pounds in the last year despite the changes... That's the reasoning behind my 21 day detox. The reasoning, in short, is that supposedly toxins are kept in fat cells, and when there are so many toxins that the body is trying to eliminate, it's so focused on that that your body can't even work on getting rid of the fat. That and when your body is under stress AND you have toxins in your body (from meds, preservatives, chemicals, etc.), your body just packs on more weight. That's also the reasoning I'm trying progesterone cream, to see if I can balance out my hormones so there's enough progesterone (which helps your body eliminate fat) to balance out the estrogen in my body. Of course, diet and exercise are in there, too. I don't expect the pounds to just magically fall off. Who knows if it'll all work out, I could be all full of crap, but I'm willing to give it a shot and report back. I guess I'd rather try different things and keep working at it than just be content at being a tubbalard, which is how I'm feeling these days. Keep us posted on how you're doing, too! edited to add: I realize there are other factors involved in pms, endo, weight gain, etc., but I chose to focus on these attempts at the present. If these don't work out, the next step (long term) for me will likely be allergy testing and see if I'm allergic to my own hormones or anything else that may be affecting how I'm feeling.
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Post by JC on Oct 11, 2009 19:19:06 GMT -5
One of the main three theories behind what causes endo is it being autoimmune disorder.. which would go along the lines of what I was saying earlier about us being "allergic" to estrogen. In the other two theories, one has to do with cell differentiation in a developing embryo and the other talks about that backflow idea where blood flows out the fallopian tubes. I get what you're saying though. Easier said than done. Losing body fat is really freakin hard. I used to be SO lean that I barely had periods at all. As soon as I stopped playing sports I put on some curves, not really fat looking, just more womanly...poof! ENDO! And then since my surgery I gained 15lbs in like a month and now I'm a nut case. I totally believe that this is my answer. I'm going to work really hard to get my lean self back and I'll report back to you gals if this helps me at all. If you think about it, the only way to "naturally" reduce estrogen levels is to exercise and reduce your body fat. All these crazy treatments people go through like lupron and birth control is just not natural which is why we have so many side effects. With exercise (if it works) it's like a win/win situation. No harmful side effects from that! On a side note: I woke up with some horrifically painful boobs and the overwhelming feeling of wanting to cry. I looked at the calendar and yep, it's a week before my period. I'm so upset that I only get 2 weeks of sanity a month. It's just not fair and my husband just doesn't get it. He makes this so much harder for me to go through.
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Post by omaklackey on Oct 11, 2009 19:33:38 GMT -5
Jenaya, I know some VERY skinny and healthy people with PMS. The very first doctor I went to told me if I lost weight I wouldn't have any problems with PMS. ITS A LOAD OF CRAP! If you want to get healthy because you want to get healthy then that's awesome. BUT losing weight isn't going to magically fix your endo.
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Post by italialynn on Oct 11, 2009 20:03:36 GMT -5
Yes, but the majority of her problems have gotten worse since she's put on the weight, so you never now. Excess fat is NEVER good for the body. We all know that exercising increases endorphins anyways so it'll be a win win situation regardless.
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Post by omaklackey on Oct 11, 2009 23:01:09 GMT -5
I just get angry when people get it in their head that getting skinny cures all our problems. My poor sister is so skinny she is unhealthy and she has terrible PMS. I believe since I got my diagnoses that she has endo. Horrible stomach pain and constant cysts. I'm a 'healthy' women. I' have been the same weight since college up until we moved the second time. I have now got only ten pounds to go to get to the weight I was. All the weight loss was because I've had diarhea for four months. NOT a recomemded diet plan! I believe you should 'get healthy' and ignore the 'losing weight' side of it. I spent a whole life time being told I was 'fat'. It makes me really mad to hear skinny people think they have to lose weight to be healthy. You can be healthy just like you are and I hope your not doing this because of that stupid Janitor!! You are an amazing and beautiful women who doens't need to lose one stich of weight to still be drop dead gorgeous and healthy
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Post by uncomfortable on Oct 12, 2009 0:12:44 GMT -5
Jenaya
I'm interested in your theory. Although like omaklackey mentioned I don't know how much it has to do with actual body fat as much as maybe just estrogens. I am fairly underweight (5'9.5" 114lbs) and have been extremely thin all my life. I was an athlete growing up, and I am still fairly active. I have always had extreme pain with my periods since they started. (and I was very thin when I started) my periods have always lasted for 7 or 8 days and have always been moderate to heavy. However, I am interested in this estrogen theory as I was put on birth control for the first time this past summer and when I was trying the estrogen combination pill, and patch (both very low dose so I was told) made me feel very sick. The patch had me throwing up, and so nauseous I could barely lift my head off the floor, and the pill had me in extreme nausea all day long. I've also had big problems with getting nausea every morning (lasting until mid day) for a number of years (which I think started around puberty, and increased in intensity over the years) but since starting on a progesterone only pill my morning nausea is almost entirely gone. (there is the odd morning here and there) but it has really improved an incredible amount. It had me wondering if I had too much estrogen in my body which was making me feel sick. Also when I am working I feel fantastic for the most part - especially on days I have to work outside. I have a very labour intensive job some days, and when I get home I am exhausted but feel amazing. on days I do less exercise and sit around I tend to not feel quite as well. The only downside is sometimes if I do too much exercise I get painful cramps in my lower sides like my ovaries are trying to escape.
it is a good theory though and I am curious to know what other observations you find
Also I wanted to mention, I have been getting more PMS symptoms lately. I used to have mild anger and discomfort, now I find myself getting into rage situations, and emotions getting out of control. Its extremely frustrating. So lets track down some answers!!
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Post by shortieblatt on Oct 12, 2009 0:24:05 GMT -5
Jenaya I agree with your theory. Yes also omaklackey you are right also when I was younger and weighted 95 lbs until the age of 14 my periods were horrible. But the endo pains and problems have showen up since I went from 115 lbs to 125-140 lbs. I have had more problems now then I did when younger. My husband and I have been talking about working out and losing some weight and both of us getting back to the weight we were 3 1/2 years ago. But I have been told by many doctors that my pain from endo, knees, and my back pain from bulged disc's would decrease if not go away if I would weight around 115 to 120 lbs. So, I am like you Jenaya. I believe if I lose some weight things would be better less pain and less PMS.
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Post by hellsbells on Oct 12, 2009 2:36:13 GMT -5
I've been overweight since I was about 9, and I find it so damn hard to shift and it goes on in the blink of an eye. 2lbs gone on this morning, overnight! Am ovulating so I'm guessing there may be fluid retention or something. I don't doubt that I'll feel better if I shift som weight, but I do agree with Omaklackey - it's frustrating when doctors put everything down to weight/lifestyle. I actually have a far healthier diet than most of my friends and up until a few months back before the pain really kicked in I could do a fair bit in the gym. I swam for an hour non stop a while back so I know I wasn't totally unfit. It's hard to get docs to take you seriously when overweight, but it's hard to do anything about it. Life sucks really!!
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Post by JC on Oct 12, 2009 4:51:50 GMT -5
Yes, but the majority of her problems have gotten worse since she's put on the weight, so you never now. Excess fat is NEVER good for the body. We all know that exercising increases endorphins anyways so it'll be a win win situation regardless. Thank you for saying this because you are spot on. My problems didn't start until I put on extra weight. I'm not on a high road to get everyone to diet. I was saying personally, FOR ME AND ME ONLY, that possibly this extra weight has caused just enough of an estrogen increase to wreak havoc on my body. And the case examples of super skinny people with bad PMS and endo, maybe they're more sensitive to estrogen than I am which is why they still have the same problems. My "theory" could also stand true for them too if they just have a higher sensitivity to estrogen than someone like me. Then there are people who are overweight that don't have problems at all and that may be due to them not having ANY sensitivity to estrogen. This is all just talk, I'm not a doctor and I don't have a research lab. I am speaking from personal experience that everything got worse when I gained weight. I think people who are sensitive to hearing that weight can be a problem should realize that I never once said I was "getting skinny" to cure all of my problems. I said I want my healthy lean low body fat back. I have no desire to be "skinny," I want to be lean and healthy. It is scientifically proven that low body fat can cause women to stop having periods because of low estrogen, I'm not pulling that information out of thin air. And I'm also not talking about getting underweight and anorexic. I gave examples of ATHLETES. I was an ATHLETE, not skinny or underweight. I'm not pushing a "hey lets all lose weight" agenda on anyone. I was simply excited over my realization that MY problems might actually be associated with MY weight gain. I didn't globalize it to all endo women that weight is an issue. I said that for all of us with endo it may be an issue of us being sensitive to estrogen, not that we're all overweight and need to lose it to cure endo. I simply said that MY endo could have been caused by a big enough increase in estrogen as a result from increase body fat. And I'm not overly sensitive about my weight because someone made a comment. My clothes actually don't fit, I have cellulite all over my body and I feel horrible. I can't deny those symptoms and pretend I'm healthy cause I'm not. And if it doesn't work to help my pms and endo then at least I'll fit back into my freakin clothes because I'm a broke college student and can't afford to buy new ones.
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Post by JC on Oct 12, 2009 4:58:22 GMT -5
And by the way, skinny does NOT mean healthy. What's standing out to me in all this dialogue is that there are statements being made here that apply only to physical appearance. Just to clarify, I think I "look" completely fine. The term "getting skinny" says everything about physical appearance and NOTHING about personal health. Everything I've said has nothing to do with the physical appearance of being skinny. I'm not trying to lose weight to change my physical appearance to match some coat hanger woman in Vanity Fair, I'm doing it for my health. I've never been an advocate of morphing your body to being overly skinny and I'm really upset that I've been made out to look like someone who's saying that "getting skinny is a cure all." Just to clarify so that nobody else misinterprets what I've said: Gaining weight does not mean fat. Losing weight does not mean skinny. Decreasing body fat does not mean skinny. Skinny does not mean healthy. Sensitivity to ESTROGEN, not FAT.
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Post by Karen on Oct 12, 2009 6:52:49 GMT -5
Amen, sister! I completely understand what you're saying, particularly the estrogen bit!
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Post by JC on Oct 12, 2009 7:57:31 GMT -5
Jenaya Although like omaklackey mentioned I don't know how much it has to do with actual body fat as much as maybe just estrogens. I never said body fat causes endo. I said body fat increases production of estrogen. In my case, my symptoms got worse when my body fat percentage increased. I didn't get fat, my body fat percentage increased. IF the theory that sensitivity to estrogen is true then: Increase in body fat means increase in estrogen which results in an increase of symptoms. Please nobody confuse the two! edit: can y'all tell I'm raging PMS right now? I'll do anything to end how this feels.
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Post by ouchy on Oct 12, 2009 10:42:39 GMT -5
I'm completely and 100% w/ jenaya! And I will repeat what was said in another post (and I have been significantly overweight before) that being overweight is NOT healthy! My physical therapist said that for every pound you weigh, it puts 4 pounds of pressure on your knee joints. Also, once your stomach reaches a certain girth (and it's not THAT much!), your insulin sensitivity gets skewed! The cortisol is highly dependent on stomach fat. Cortisol messes w/ insulin and other hormones. Hormone problems can lead to late ovulation and wonky periods (Catch it, Jenaya!!! Your wonky cycles as of late!) I think you are spot-on!
And yes, fat does impact estrogen levels! It makes them higher. And exercising increases progesterone and lowers estrogen.
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Post by ouchy on Oct 12, 2009 10:46:17 GMT -5
Oh. And just because someone has weighed-in at an overweight weight for a number of years does not make that healthy! I weighed-in at just over 200 for a couple years, and it was NOT healthy. I have a friend who has been 350 for about 10 years....he is not healthy. Same with my friend who is 275. She's been about 275 since high school graduation. Her head is so heavy that her cerebrospinal fluid can't drain, and it puts pressure on her optic nerve. Just because she doesnt' have weight fluctuations doesn't mean she's healthy.
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Post by ouchy on Oct 12, 2009 10:47:31 GMT -5
Anyway, back to the topic of "Period Rants!"
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