hormone imbalance?

I've been trying to lose weight since january. I gained about 15 lbs since last june, and it has me very unhappy. between oct and dec, I didn't eat all that well, but apart from that, I am a healthy eater, eat the right amounts, etc. I hadn't worked in years (since I was pregnant with my first and got put on pelvic rest). But, I lost all the weight and more after my first within 4 mths. I gained less with my second, and it took six months to lose all that weight. I was back to my PP weight, and never changed my diet, and started gaining weight. I think that led to a depression where I did eat more during the holidays, but I got back on track, and was eating healthier than ever, and started to exercise. I don't exercise as much as a person should, but I exercise as much as I can. I eat between 1200-1500 calories a day, and it's healthy food. I haven't lost a single lb. In fact, in one day in january, i gained 8lbs from one day to the next. It hasn't gone down from that. It wasn't after a day or period of overeating. In fact, it was after a period of really good eating and exercising. I sometimes go down 3lbs from that, but then it's back up in a day or two.

Now, in addition to that, I'm pretty sure I have at least one hormone issue going on. I stopped nursing my daughter Dec 15, 2010, and I am still lactating. Not excessively, but if I squeeze, milk comes out easily. I don't know if I dried up and it came back, or if it never fully stopped. I noticed it last summer (summer 2011) for the first time. Also in January, I felt a lump in my breast, so I went to my OB about the lump and lactation. The midwife was going to take blood to take hormones, but said, you know what, I don't need to, it's clear that your prolactin is high. They said it was no big deal. The lump was cyst, but they found what they think is a fibroadenoma in my other boob. Both boobs are very full and heavy. They didn't "deflate" after nursing like they did the first time. They almost feel swollen.

In case this matters, I also got lyme disease last may/june. It was caught early and treated, but I don't know if there could be any lingering effects. Doctors say no...

Given all this, does anyone have any ideas what could be going on with my weight/hormone issues? I will be going to the dr soon and will ask, but I feel like it's not taken seriously. I'm not "fat", so I feel like drs just say exercise more, but I really think there's something else going on here...I just don't know what.

Re: hormone imbalance?

My advice: Be your own advocate. Doctors will brush off issues, so you need to be persistent. Get second, third opinions if necessary.

Re: hormone imbalance?

Get your prolactin level checked! If you are still lactating, that could be an indication that you may have a pituitary adinoma. Basically, it's a benign tumor that grows on your pituitary gland that triggers your body to think you are nursing (you would need an MRI to confirm that there is something there). You can either go to your OB or to an endo. It's not a big deal at all (sounds scarier than it actually is) and with some meds, the tumor shrinks and your prolactin levels return to normal. Are you getting your period at all?

Re: hormone imbalance?

Re: hormone imbalance?