increase weight gain with stretch marks

Hi I am a 28 yr old female.  For the past 8 mths I have gained 30 lbs.  I went from 103 to 130.  I have always been really thin.  I never could gain weight.  When I got pregnant with my son three years ago I was 93lbs and delivered at 117.  After he was born I went down to 100 lbs.  The problem is all the weight is going to my stomach causing bad stretch marks.  My arms and legs are really thin.  My doctor checked my thyroid when I first started gaining weight and it was normal.  I am getting really depressed because no one seems to know what is wrong.  I have been to numerous doctors who say I am fine or that eat too much.  I have eaten the same way all my life.  Does anyone have any ideas of what could be wrong?

Hi!

Judy had a couple of great ideas. I'd try those first. People do tend to have slower metabolisms as they age (even though you're still very young) so that's definitely a possibility.

The one thing I do wonder about is what they are calling "normal". I was feeling horrible & lost 40 pounds & was told I must have just been eating less. The doctors who first tested me called any TSH score under 30 normal... and I was a 28. Healthy is generally considered somewhere between 0.5 and 5.0 (some doctors narrow the range to 1.0-3.0), so I was certainly well outside the ideal range, even if I wasn't quite into the danger zone. If your TSH is over 5.0, it might be worth getting a second opinion. Since I started on Synthroid 5 months ago, my hair has started to grow back, I've gained 5 pounds already & I have a ton more energy. :) I'm so glad I lost so much of my hair because if it weren't for my dermatologist referring me to a new doctor, I would have never known that a simple pill could keep me from looking ugly & emaciated. So I'm a big fan of getting a second opinion if your TSH is somewhere between the 5-30 range.

If your TSH & hormones are fine, maybe try some basic weight loss remedies (exercise more, eat less). Remember too that alcohol has a bunch of calories -- plus it makes depression worse. If those still don't help maybe you could try to get in to a weight loss specialist to try to uncover what's going on. In any case, please don't feel very depressed about it. Trust me, depression only makes things a million times worse. There will be someone out there who can help you if you just hang on long enough.

take care,
frances

Hi there! I normally am in the Lupus or Kidneys forums but saw your post and wanted to comment. Have you had your coritsol levels checked? If they are out of whack it can cause weight gain in the stomach area with stretch marks and causes slender arms and legs. Look up cushings syndrome and see if any of the symptoms or things it talks about effects you. If it does it might not hurt to ask your doctor about it. I currently look like a Zebra, got strech marks on my stomach/abdomen, behind my knees, under and a little below my underarms, on my shoulders, back and if you only see my face it looks like a weigh 600 pds, fortunatly stretch marks don't appear on your face...phew then I really would like like a purplish red Zebra. HAHA.


I wish you luck and hope the weight gain stops for you!!!!