[JalepenoJelly]

So, I just got back from the specialist today and she told me that I'm not ovulating soon enough and it's probably due to my weight (210 at 5'7"). So, she says to get down to 170 (40 lbs!) in two months and come back so she can perscribe clomid to try to get my ovulating on track. I have a 28-31 day period, so it's not like it's unusual (and has been since I started). The dr. even did a sonogram of everything and took blood and wants me back for more blood to get a baseline.

It's just so frustrating to be told, you can't conceive because you're fat. I knew I was overweight, have been working out at the gym 3-4 week and that hasn't helped. It's just like being slapped in the face.

I'm sorry, I just needed to let off some steam. Thanks for listening.

[mia23]

Was this just your OB or a specialist? The best person to see for fertility issues is an R.E. (reproductive endocrinologist). They are more specialized and will be able to give you a true diagnosis. An obgyn can only do so much. Although I do agree that losing weight is good to try there are many women on here who have been overweight and conceived. Your cycles seem regular but again an Re will test both you an your Dh and can give you a better diagnosis and treatment plan. Clomid is usually the starting point though . Good luck!!!!

[JalepenoJelly]

The dr. I went to was an re, sorry for not being more specific.

[Persephone1881]

Find a new RE if you can. I was told that I needed to lose weight too (same height as you, many pounds heavier) but my doc never said he wouldn't treat me until I did so. Plenty of women heavier than you get pregnant and a good number of them naturally too. Besides, dropping 40lb in 2 months is just unhealthy and I don't suggest even trying. Have you been tested for PCOS or insulin resistance? I know how frustrating and upsetting it is to be told you're too fat to have a baby (I said I was never eating again after my doc told me that) but it's just not true. Yes, it can make it more difficult at times, but it's no reason to not start treatment.

[JalepenoJelly]

That's exactly where I'm at now (not wanting to eat again). The Dr did a sonogram of my ovaries and uterus and didn't say anything about PCOS. I've wondered about that because my mom has fibroids.

[JalepenoJelly]

So, I looked at the "diet" the dr. gave me to try is called "Nutra-thin" and is shakes and a 500-800 Cal. From everything I've read, you need at least 1000-1200 Cal.

I'm just disgusted right now.

[casb77]

Originally Posted by JalepenoJelly

So, I looked at the "diet" the dr. gave me to try is called "Nutra-thin" and is shakes and a 500-800 Cal. From everything I've read, you need at least 1000-1200 Cal.

I'm just disgusted right now.

Ditto Persephone. I don't think that RE is the right doc for you. No doctor should be suggesting you lose 40 pounds in two months! That's insane and would probably harm your body more than being overweight!

You're already working out regularly, but you don't say if you've lost weight with that routine or not. If not, I'd suggest looking at your diet, but certainly NOT cutting it down to 800 calories per day! I wanted to lose some weight before IVF and found that the online calculator at Calorie Counter - Free Online Diet Journal was an excellent tool. In addition to being a super easy way to track what you're eating and how much you're exercising, it also has a calculator that will tell you your daily caloric needs to maintain your current weight. Then you can take that number and cut a couple hundred calories per day to lose at the HEALTHY rate of 1-2 pounds/week. Your RE is suggesting 5 pounds per week.

[Persephone1881]

I am disgusted for you. Don't let anyone put you on a diet you're uncomfortable with. Are you saying that this plan you're supposed to follow is only 500-800 calories a day? I can't see how than could possibly be healthy. Now I really think you need to find a new doctor.

There are a lot of sites out there like the one Casb mentioned. I used Calorie Counter, Diet Tracking, Food Journal, Nutrition Facts at The Daily Plate and found it pretty helpful. That site also has different groups you can join based on various things like why you want to lose weight, age, location, etc to help form a sort of support team. Before I started using that, I had been writing down everything I ate every day which helped too. I still ate pretty much what I wanted to but I found I was much much more aware of what and how much I was eating if I had to write it down.

If you're working out 3-4 times a week and still getting no results, there may be some underlying cause. That's why I brought up being tested for insulin resistance. Hypothyroid can also make it very difficult to lose weight. I am "lucky" enough to have both and once I started medication for them, I was able to lose weight without doing much of anything except slightly changing my eating habits. If you haven't been tested for one or both of them, I definitely recommend doing so. Hypothyroid can also cause problems conceiving so it's good to get it checked anyway.

[frymomma2b]

I am overweight 5'6" 170 (not obese) but i have wondered it this was a factor. My Dr. has not thought it is a problem and dont think I would ever listen to a Dr. who suggested that 40 lb. in less than 8 months is an amount you should shoot for. Find another Dr sweety and you can not eat 500 calories and be ok that is torture for any human and will not be healthy

[Persephone1881]

I was talking to my sister about this at lunch and she agreed that it's ridiculous and dangerous for anyone to even try to lose that much weight so fast. She mentioned, and I remember hearing it before, that cutting down your calories so drastically will send your body into starvation mode which is obviously not healthy.

[mia23]

Just to throw in my experience. I tested negative for insulin resistance but after talking it over with my RE I was put on Metformin (the med usually used for it) because I had all the symptoms and my Re said that the test is not the "best" test and can miss it. I started Metformin around Thanksgiving last year (cant believe it has been that long) and I am now 30+ pounds lighter. I am also currently TTC naturally and getting my cycles about every 33-37 days (which is amazing for me, I have gone 6 months before). So anyway I guess what I am saying is you have to be your advocate. If you feel something is not right trust your gut and push for testing and correct diagnosis. I would switch RE's. Good luck!!!

[Momitchi]

What others have said: Find another RE. I had an OB that was weight obsessed and they won't see past the lbs no matter what.

My RE gave me clomid and did an IUI and I'm not only shorter, but weighed more than you. I can't tell you how much I hate the weight obsession.

If you want to lose weight and are having trouble, you might ask about PCOS with your new RE. I did the PCOS diet and it worked WONDERS with my weight. I lost 40 lbs easily. It took some time, but I did myself a favor by losing it slowly. As you can see from my sig, I have non insulin resistant PCOS. You CAN get pregnant!

[makenalelu]

Have you had your thryroid checked out? If you are working out and eating right and not losing weight, that may be something to check into. It can also cause fertility issues.

[JalepenoJelly]

I've had my thyroid tested and it's borderline hypothyroidic. It's also an odd shape. I don't know if it's Hashimotos or not, the endecronologist didn't say.

I tried calling the midwife/RN who I'd gone to last year for my yearly, but wasn't able to get ahold of her. I may go to her and see what she recommends.

DH and I worry that wherever we go, we'll be faced with the attitude of: loose the weight then come back for help.

In college, my mom's dr. had me do a saliva test to see where my hormones were and the results were that they were higher than normal. Nothing was done for it and I don't know what would be done. I'm suspicious that this is a major reason also.

[Persephone1881]

I was told I was borderline hypothyroid too but ended up on a Synthroid dosage higher than my mother who never had the "borderline" qualification attached to her diagnosis. After you were diagnosed with the hypothyroid, were you put on medication for it? It's really important to have that under control before you really start trying to get pregnant and especially once you are pregnant.

I would also follow up on that higher than normal hormone thing. Do you know which hormones the test was looking at? Normal hormone levels are pretty important to proper body function too and not just for trying to get pregnant.

It's likely that anyone you see will at the very least mention weight loss, but not everyone will obsess over it like this RE of yours is doing. My RE has been quite clear about the fact that I would possibly not need any type of fertility treatment were I at a more healthy weight, but he was still very willing to treat me. I am about 40lb heavier than you are and currently having a very healthy pregnancy that was achieved through relatively uninvasive measures.

Keep your chin up and keep trying to find another doctor. We're always here for you.