Before the tonsillectomy I simply could not gain weight. I did not enjoy being a skinny guy, and I would lift weights (to no avail) in an effort to bulk up. Then at age 26, my tonsils were so bad that the ENT doc decided they had to be removed. After the 3-4 recovery, I noticed my body growing noticeably larger. Without much effort, I was able to put on muscle. Usually this process is slow and insidious. But I swear that the tonsillectomy had a transformative effect on my body. From January to July of that year, I was a skinny twerp. For the 3-4 weeks which followed the July surgery, I was a sickly mess. But from August to December, my physique had quickly started to look more like a man's than a boy's. The chronically infected and swollen tonsils were draining a certain amount of lifeforce out of my body. Perhaps my body was so busy fighting the infected tonsils that it neglected other areas. And like a couple others here have said, the chronically infected tonsils were making probably me sickly.

Symptoms Ovarian cancer symptoms are somewhat vague but may include: Abdominal swelling from fluid buildup Abnormal or unusual vaginal bleeding Pelvic pressure Back or leg pain Intestinal problems such as gas, bloating, long-term stomach pain, or indigestion What you can do See your health care provider annually for a complete pelvic exam. Maintain a healthy body weight. Discuss your cancer risk factors and family history with your health care provider and, if warranted, make an appointment with a genetic counselor. If you have been on long-term ERT discuss alternatives with your health care provider. Do not use talcum powder in genital area. Make an appointment with your health care provider if you are experiencing any of the following:  vaginal bleeding between periods or postmenopausal bleeding  pelvic pressure or leg and back pain  unusual abdominal bloating or changes in bladder or bowel

cheerful1, is your husband a health minded person, or is he obsessive about looks and body? It sounds pretty unreasonable (to me) for him to get angry over 5 pounds of weight gain. Are there other things about you that he criticizes, or is it just the weight? Is he at all interested in what is going on inside your heart and your head? If he is genuinely concerned about you and your health, that could be positive. If, otoh, you are overly sensitive about his criticism, and you don't feel good about yourself, it could just be that you are feeling particularly sensitive. I know I have that tendency myself. I have a habit of expecting perfection out of myself, and I tend to over-react to anything I perceive as negative from DH (or anybody else for that matter). I have worked really hard at correcting this, and it is somewhat better, but that old habit tries to creep back in with persistence. Is the weight really an issue with you, or is it just bringing other stuff to the surface? I'm truly sorry you have having to deal with this, and I wish I could do or say something to help. Just go ahead and express all the frustration you need to here. We're all in this at the same time, and we are happy to listen :) Mrs H

I took Paxil for a year and a half for depression. At first the it did indeed take the edge off the depression, for which I was thankful. *However,* during that timeframe I gained 40lbs !!!!! And I was not thin to begin with. So, my advice is -- consider switching to something like Welbutrin rather than taking an SSRI (Paxil, Lexapro, etc.) Cutting carbs and sugars is something we should all do, but I am the queen of carbs. It's a struggle, but one thing I want you to bear in mind is that in time, your hormones will stabilize and the terrible anxiety you are coping with will settle down. Anxiety can take control of your world if you let it. Don't let it. Get outside, take some walks, practice deep breathing. Here's what I did -- when I felt the panic kind of anxiety coming, I immediately took half of a 5mg Xanax pill -- and I told myself that between the medication and understanding what was happening, the panic attack would stop. And it almost always did. Things will get better!!