NEY MD: Extreme Hunger and Sleep Problems - LONG

[Deleted User]

these issues may or may not be related.

a month before the wedding, I started a new BCP: Gianvi.  immediately following the wedding, I gained about 6-8 lbs.  it doesn't sound like much, but on my 4'10" frame it's at least an entire dress size.

since the wedding-ish (not exactly sure of the time frame, but certainly since getting married) I'm having a LOT of trouble sleeping.  at first I thought it was just a new mattress... softer than what I'm used to.  or the fact that H has started snoring.  but I'm not sure anymore.  I constantly feel tired and I can't get enough sleep.  I never sleep all the way through the night.  last night I got about 4 hours of sleep.

I've also been experiencing severe hunger.  I should eat 1400-1600 cals a day.  I aim for 1500, but I always surpass it by several hundred calories.  I eat plenty of fiber, veggies, fruit, protein, good fat...  I have a pretty great diet, for the most part.  but I'm experiencing hunger so bad that my stomach cramps up.

I tried to tough it out last night, but by 11:30 I got up and had to eat something.  I ate a slice of pot pie that my mom gave me, and then an hour later I was still starving so I ate a spoon of PB, some V8 fruit/veg juice, and some Quakers rice cake thins that are really good.  not my proudest moment.  and I just can't sleep. 

I woke up and made a good breakfast for me and H.  I diced a medium red potato and boiled it, then added it to sauteed onion/garlic/bell pepper/chiles and 3 eggs.  I ate about 1/3, and I was starving.  a couple hours later I had an orange.  I'm eating lunch now (homemade marinara, 4 meatballs, 1 cup of roasted brussel sprouts, and 1/2-1 cup roasted red potatoes... and 1/2 cup homemade applesauce).  that's a lot of food for lunch, but I'm still SO HUNGRY.

I try to exercise but I'm so tired, I'm lucky if I do it 3x a week.  I get up at 5:30 in the mornings.  my eyes are starting to look bloodshot constantly.  I hardly ever drink any caffeine.  I don't drink alcohol at all.  I'm a pretty healthy person... I'd be great if I could just get enough energy to exercise a little more.

I don't know where to start or what to do.  I know part of the hunger might be the lack of sleep.  but I can't afford (time or money) to go back and forth to all kinds of doctors.  I'm on the BMI line of OK and overweight.  I want to fit into my clothes.  I want to sleep.  I don't want to constantly feel hungry and sleepy, and thus cranky and irritable.

any advice?  anyone with a similar problem?  any idea where to start?  I feel like I'm crazy, or something is just WRONG with me, and I've got this crazy irrational fear that my doctor is just going to think I'm crazy.  but I've been charting EVERYTHING I eat, when I exercise, and even when I binge (like last night).  I don't want to switch BCP unless absolutely necessary because I went so crazy/depressed/anxious/paranoid the last time I switched BCPs (before this one).  I like this one.  it keeps my face pretty clear, I'm really not moody (except a little irritable the week before).

whew.  so...  am I crazy?

jaycee7389

Are you taking any other medications/vitamins? BC obviously can change your appetite, increase it or decrease it. That may or may not be related to your new BC.

Did you and DH live together before you got married? If you didn't, I could see that affecting your sleep.

Besides sounding pregnant :P I really wouldn't be too alarmed at this point. If you continue to feel tired and are not sleeping well it would be best to see your doctor.

[Deleted User]

jaycee - no, I didn't live with him before marriage.

and I'm 99.99% sure I'm not PG...  last week I had a period from hell.  TMI?

Bowlingchick825

Um...I think your BCP is causing your metabolisim to go all out of whack.  Contact the doctor and see whath the side effects are....

jaycee7389

In Response to <a href="http://forums.theknot.com/Sites/theknot/Pages/Main.aspx/special-topic-wedding-boards_not-engaged-yet_ney-md-extreme-hunger-sleep-problems-long?plckFindPostKey=Cat:Special%20Topic%20Wedding%20BoardsForum:136Discussion:8b8c67d3-dc3c-4aa2-ac6c-af8d7aa3b5aePost:a7ddbdbf-f59c-456b-b530-3b96ca421b2f">Re: NEY MD: Extreme Hunger and Sleep Problems - LONG</a>:
[QUOTE]jaycee - no, I didn't live with him before marriage. and I'm 99.99% sure I'm not PG...  last week I had a period from hell.  TMI?
Posted by CocoBellaF[/QUOTE]

Haha, no, not TMI. You said that you had a lot of problems with your last BCP? Some people are just hypersensitive to the hormones, I sure am, and can't be on it. If you think that is the cause I would wait a little and then see your gyno to discuss non-hormonal BC options.

As for the not living together part, that could absolutely be contributing to your fatigue. It's definitely a big adjustment sleeping in a bed with someone when you are not used to it. If it is disrupting your work/life a considerable amount then I would also talk to a doctor and see if they can help you.

[Deleted User]

no, I don't sleep better when I'm alone either.  I actually sleep BETTER (if you can call it that) with him there.

I have an appt for tomorrow afternoon, but I have this fear that I'm just going to get brushed off. 

maybe it's low blood sugar, I don't know. 

Swazzle

I agree with PP you should call your doctor.  Every BCP is going to be different for every woman so maybe you just need to try a new one.  I take Loestrin 24, it's one of the lowest-doses out there.  I've tried a tons of BC's & this is the one that works for me.  It really is like trial and error with them. 

Blue & White

I don't know if this is possible, but it seems it might be:

Is it possible your BCP (or any other prescriptions?) is requiring your body to consume more calories?  When I switch antibiotics (which happens a lot for me because of my extra special disease) I sometimes need more food (in order to keep my stomach from growling/being lightheaded, etc.)  And maybe you're not sleeping because either a) you're hungry or b) you're too busy digesting?

I would at least see your primary and see what he/she thinks.  Good luck!

polkadot111

I am queen of sleep issues. I went out and bought some midnite (someone recommended it on here when I made a post about it), and it worked for a little while. But then just stopped working. I know it's all stress related. Last night I didn't sleep (maybe 4 hours?) because of this junk that happened with FI (see post). I am a pretty emotional person too sometimes and so when I get stressed I often will end up crying and then laying in bed all spazzed out for a while (pathetic, I know...). The one thing that helps me sleep is a sound machine. It's so helpful. My roommates come in at all weird hours of the night and if I don't have that sound machine going I'll wake up even though my bedroom door is closed. So, that may help with your DH's snoring issues so you can sleep better and maybe not hear it so much.

Here is the sound machine I have:http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B000KUHFGM/ref=pd_lpo_k2_dp_sr_1?pf_rd_p=486539851&pf_rd_s=lpo-top-stripe-1&pf_rd_t=201&pf_rd_i=B000F3QG0U&pf_rd_m=ATVPDKIKX0DER&pf_rd_r=17TJ6JPEXK7HGQ0S725J
I really love that one. I've had other ones that have nature sounds and stuff, but that one is just a really nice almost fan sounding white noise. But, no air blows out.

I bet it is mostly just a new environment related (with your DH's snoring and the new bed and things) and from the new BCP. Let us know what your doctor says!!

lunarsongbird

I know I say this all the time....but 5HTP also really helps with sleep. I used to ALWAYS wake up throughout the night and once I started taking 5HTP- I slept better then I have in years. But I agree with others- I would talk to a doctor, as well.

jaycee7389

In Response to <a href="http://forums.theknot.com/Sites/theknot/Pages/Main.aspx/special-topic-wedding-boards_not-engaged-yet_ney-md-extreme-hunger-sleep-problems-long?plckFindPostKey=Cat:Special%20Topic%20Wedding%20BoardsForum:136Discussion:8b8c67d3-dc3c-4aa2-ac6c-af8d7aa3b5aePost:0d957901-731f-4fef-bc47-e2beae13c6b1">Re: NEY MD: Extreme Hunger and Sleep Problems - LONG</a>:
[QUOTE]I know I say this all the time....but 5HTP also really helps with sleep. I used to ALWAYS wake up throughout the night and once I started taking 5HTP- I slept better then I have in years. But I agree with others- I would talk to a doctor, as well.
Posted by lunarsongbird[/QUOTE]

I wouldn't recommend taking this if you are on any SSRIs or anything though!