I feel sick!

Question
QUESTION: Hi Laura,

I know you specialize in kids and teens, neither of which I am.  But I was hoping you could help me anyway.  I am a 31 year old wife and mother to three kids.  I've had these 3 children all in the last 4 years.  My oldest is 3 1/2, and my youngest is 9 months.  Each time I delivered one of my kids I weighed over 300 pounds.  I had to have a c-section with each one due to my weight.  After the birth of my daughter, Sarah, in Sept; I vowed to lose weight and I began my own weight loss program in January.  I eat 1200 quality calories per day.  I exclude nothing.  I eat from all the food groups.  Today, I weigh 221 pounds.  I feel like with all of this weight loss I should be bouncing off the walls, but I'm not.  I feel really sick and moody.  I have chronic headaches, and I take advil daily.  Another big issue is with my hair.  It's falling out like crazy.  I have to stand next to a trash can when I brush it because I shed worse than any dog I ever owned!  I am also tired.  Not just sleepy, but exhausted.  I yawn from the time I get up until I go to bed.  Whatever amount of sleep I get, is not enough.  I'm not sure how much would cut it, but right now I'm sleeping about 9 hours a night, and it's not even close to what I feel like I need.  I just don't feel right.  I have been to my doctor.  I don't feel like he's taking me seriously.  He asked if I take a multi vitamin (which I do!), and then sent me for blood tests.  I'm sure this is a good first step, but I'm not sure this is going to get me anywhere.  I'm not sure what I need, but something is wrong with me, and I can't put my finger on it.  What do you think?

Thanks in advance!

-Tanya

ANSWER: Dear Tanya, Were the blood tests normal? I personally think you are losing weight too quickly especially after having a baby. Three pounds a week is a lot of weight to lose. Hair loss is usually a sign that at some point, you stressed your body to the max. Trying to get essential for life nutrients in 1200 calories per day is a hard task to do. Essential nutrients are protein, fat, and carbohydrate. There are also essential vitamins and minerals that can be found in most supplements. The last important substance is water. You should be drinking at least a gallon per day spaced out throughout the hours. Weight loss produces acids that have to be flushed from the body, or these acids will reek havoc and make you feel sick and weak. Hopefully you have been eating at least 80 grams per day of quality protein from eggs, lean meats, fish, pork, or chicken, and around 50 grams of healthy fats from salad oils and nuts. The carbs should be from whole fruits, vegetables, and low fat dairy.
Lastly, if your diet is all perfect, than has your doctor screened you for post partum depression? Questions to ask your self would be; Did I feel this badly after my last two pregnancys? Did I feel better before I started dieting? Try to pinpoint the time line of when you started feeling poorly and give your doctor that information. Doctor's can only figure out things when they know all the facts.  Hope that helps, and I hope you start to feel better soon. Laura Kraemer,Slimkids.com.

---------- FOLLOW-UP ----------

QUESTION: Thank you for your reply!  I just got the script for the bloodwork on Monday.  I have to wait until this Sat. to go and get it done at a lab.  I put off going to the doctor/dentist/etc., because I have 3 kids and I'm a stay at home mom.  My family all works and I don't have anyone to care for my children during the week.  I'm not sure exactly when all my symptoms started happening, but I can say that I went through a major "baby blues" period (that lasted about 2 weeks) with my last baby.  All was well until I began to lose weight.  I had much more energy when I was pushing 300 pounds (after the birth), than I do now, over 80 pounds lighter.  My husband suggested that maybe my thyroid was to blame.  I've always been really outgoing, and cheerful.  The last 6 months, I have been yelling at my kids a lot and have been really irritable.  The thing that prompted my visit to my doctor was a comment that my 3 1/2 year old made from the back seat of the car.  Out of the blue he said "Mommy, when you yell at me, it makes me very, very sad".  It was the exact moment that I said to myself (After I apologized like crazy to my little boy!) that there is something really wrong with me.  I'm grasping for straws!  I'm not sure what depression is like--I've never had it.  I don't even know how'd I approach my doctor about the subject.  Thanks!


Answer
Hi Tanya, If it was your thyroid, I don't think you would have lost the weight. Having three small children is a lot of stress, but post partum depression is a real condition and the possibility of it should be brought up to your doctor. He can screen you or at least refer you to someone who can help. There are treatment options if that's what it is. In the meantime, eat a healthy diet containing the adequate nutrients and drink plenty of fluids. Good luck and feel better, Laura Kraemer,Slimkids.com

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