You went through a period of hyperthyroidism not too long ago, didn’t you? When I was diagnosed with Graves’ disease I experienced a 25 pound weight gain after starting treatment, even though I’d changed nothing about my lifestyle. My endocrinologist said that it could have been from the fact that my thyroid was ramped up really high and I adjusted my calorie intake way up (because I was starving) and my exercise level way down (because I was weak, shaky, and tired) without realizing it. Then when I started medication, it slammed my thyroid level back down to normal really quickly, but it took me several months before those symptoms disappeared and I felt well enough that my eating and exercise were back to normal. I’ve also heard many people complain that the medication itself has weight gain as a side effect (although I realize you’re not taking the same thyroid medication as I am).
I also have quite a bit of weight to lose and have found that the only thing that works for me is a very low-carb diet combined with a lot of exercise (several hours of walking a day, or an hour or more of swimming every day, or similar). I think the key is getting a low insulin dose, at least that’s been my experience. When I can get my insulin dose to below 40 units a day I can lose weight, but the only way I can do that is eating low-carb and exercising. One or the other alone, or counting calories alone, accomplishes nothing for me.
Progress for me is extremely slow. I count anything that is not weight gain (such as just holding my weight steady) as a victory in order to stay motivated. It’s taken me two years to lose 20 of the 25 pounds I gained after my Graves’ diagnosis, and I have a lot more than that to lose. I can’t compare myself to others, because everyone seems to have a relatively easy time losing weight and it’s an exercise in frustration. I have never been able to lose one to two pounds per week or whatever the healthy weight loss rate is. I personally feel that women with diabetes and multiple chronic illnesses are in a bit of unique boat. Who knows where the actual cause is. Is it medications? Is it inflammation in general? Is it the fact that two of our most important hormones (insulin and thyroid) are messed up? Is it other hormones that affect our bodies? It doesn’t mean we can’t lose weight, but I do think ti takes an enormous amount of work, and that calories are not the whole answer.
I was tested for Cushing’s disease years ago, and if I recall it’s a 24-hour urine test and maybe some blood tests. I was told that there are very noticeable physical symptoms. I still got tested due to unexplained symptoms I was having (uncontrollable high BP and rapid heart rate, in my case), and thankfully results were negative.
Good luck in working towards weight loss! Let us know if you find anything that works for you. I, for one, would be interested to know as I might find it useful in my own journey.