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so FAT......can't stand it

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Posted 2/4/2010 4:02 PM (GMT 0)
Hi, Im new to this board but have neen diagnosed for about 5 years. I am on quite a bit of medications, but 80% of the time I am stable(thank God).

Im getting back to a real life after loosing everything I had.

 I have a great psychiatrist as well as a psychotherapist.

When I started this jounrey I was 180ilbs and now im 255ilbs and I have lost quite a bit of hair.

It maybe vain but i cannot get used to this new me. I have tried dieting and even some extreme excersizing but it does not seem to get me to far.

Is there alternative medications that do not have weight gain or hair loss?

I am on:

40 mg apo-fluoxetine

.075mg synthroid

250mg epival

200mg gen-quetiapine

500mg epival

1200mg pms-lithium carbonate

.75mg novo clonazepam

my doctor refuses to change my medication, to him, personal image is not important, i should get over it. This is really bothering me to the point i am considering bariatric surgery and a hair transplant. I miss the the me before all the medications. I feel like I am wearing my illness on the outside. People see me and say, wow what happended.

Im getting really angry with that doctor.

 

Posted 2/4/2010 4:33 PM (GMT 0)
I had a Dr. like that and I found a new one who worked with me to
find a med combo. that kept me stable And helped me lose the weight.
My advice would be to find a Dr. who cared about your weight issue as
well as your stability. They are out there. There's no point in being well
and overweight for me because that causes me to be depressed!
Overall health for me is a 4 part schema; like a table with 4 legs;

1. Meds and Pdoc.
2. Therapy
3. Nutrition
4. Exercize

If any of the table legs are missing the table will be wobbly;
if the table has only 2 of the legs it will fall over and a table with 1 leg
can't even stand up!!!
Posted 2/4/2010 5:01 PM (GMT 0)
Hi journeyman,

Welcome.

Weight gain is a health issue, not simply a self-image problem. Although you definitely want to address that, your doctor needs to know you've put on over 60 pounds. That's a really big increase. If your doc won't work with you, it may be time for a second opinion. Lithium caused me to put on 20 pounds in 6 weeks!!! Granted, it bumped me out of a severe mood issue, so I'm not sorry, but I'm working now to get that weight off. I didn't have room to put it on, either. :)

Might be time for a second opinion.

serafena
Posted 2/4/2010 5:09 PM (GMT 0)
A healthy body image is a part of well being, and so I am wondering what is your therapist saying?

I do have deep empathy with being overweight. I really think focusing on your health is very key to this issue. It is not going to be a fast fix to this issue, and I want to assure you that you are not alone in having an issue with weight.
Posted 2/4/2010 6:46 PM (GMT 0)
My therapist is a psychotherapist and although he agrees I am overweight he has no alternatives to offer as he does not get involved with medications. Personal image does not seem to be an issue with him. He is more about controlling carb craves from pills and lots if excersize everyday. I tried Dr Bernsteins diet up here in Canada and lost 30ilbs but I hit a wall, like an addiction and spiralled into a carb crave and regained the weight within 2 weeks. I feel hopeless which on bad days leads to suicide ideation. I'm single and 42 and feeling quite lonely to share my life with a special someone, meanwhile I feel a physical wall if obesity lies between me and any possibilty if real happiness.
I will have the bariatric surgery if all else fails. Has anyone else had Bariatric surgery either bands, sleeve or bypass on thus board?
Posted 2/5/2010 6:51 PM (GMT 0)
Simple answer: Find a new one.

ugh

My pdoc is VERY willing to work with me. I voiced my weight concerns to him and he always takes that into consideration. Although, I have a history of eating disorder. I gained a lot of weight on a med I had to take once and I hated it. Granted, I only went from 170 to 208... but I am a very athletic female and that just wasnt acceptable to me. Unfortunately, I developed an eating disorder. I have gotten better. And I told my pdoc that I did NOT want to take ANY medication that had the chance to make me gain weight.

Not to mention, I actually take several meds for my ADHD that cause weight loss. I would probably be okay without them, but I think my pdoc continues to let me take it because I do lose weight and they help to some extent... But, the last time I saw him, we discussed BP meds that didnt cause weight.. also, since I take several meds that cause weight loss... it I HAVE to take one that could cause weight gain, they would most likely neutralize one another.

I would look for a new doc because gaining weight is a health issue. Its bad for our health, and it will affect an individual mentally it they are bothered by it. So, it is not helping you to gain weight, even if the meds keep you stable. There are other meds... but there is only one you. I am very pleased that my doctors are so great about considering my weight. It has been a huge issue for me. And since going to these doctors, I have actually lost like 35lbs... I am back at my starting weight pretty much. And I seem to still be losing. Although, I have to admit, I dont notice it as much as other people. But, it makes me feel better when other people notice and comment on it. So, you should think about finding someone new who is willing to work WITH you. Your medical care is your choice and you have a say in it. If you dont want to take something that will cause weight gain, then they should respect that and do everything they can to work around that. There are meds that dont cause weight gain, or cause very little, and meds that can cause weight loss... they should be willing to listen to you. After all, its your health and your life.

Posted 2/5/2010 10:11 PM (GMT 0)

  I hear you loud and clear on this one, i have experienced the same issues. Weight gain and hair loss suck big time, what we endure to be able to pass for normal these people will never understand. After a year on my meds with 30lbs weight gain and lack of motivation  to do anything i finally went to my P-Doc and asked if we could reduce my meds by half to see if i can get some of that energy back. Well its been over 2 months now and going well. I have lost 5 lbs which isnt huge but still feels good for me. I have alot more energy to excersise and ride my bike but without any of the bad things that caused all the problems in my life. As for hair loss, well i figured if i couldnt see it what the hey, what do i care. However everytime i catch a shoplifter at my part time job i always get a great view of my balding head. LOL 

     That said i will trade hair for the control over this thing inside of me.  If i go completely bald so be it, that just means one less thing to do in the shower each morning. LOL LOL

     Keep positive, this is just one step in a very long race of your life and there is still plenty of time to change the direction its going.

     Bill

Posted 2/6/2010 3:31 AM (GMT 0)
Any of you tried Lamictal? Supposably few side effects and no weight gain.

What are the type of drugs that promote weight loss that I could ask my doctor. I spoke with my psychotherapist today and he feels sure that my psych med doctor has me on the best pills, that if others would have worked I would be on them.

Thanks everyone for your support. Nice to hear a friendly voice.

Michael
Posted 2/8/2010 1:51 AM (GMT 0)
Lamictal has been hugely helpful for me. I've had no side effects from it. But what your therapist isn't telling you is that these drugs differ for everyone. Everyone's system is sensitive to different things. I gained 20 lbs in 6 weeks from lithium. Other people use it without incident but my ankles swelled up to the size of oranges. I know that doesn't happen to everyone. Some people take lithium for years. Unfortunately, there's really no way to know unless you try the drug. That said, there are some, like zyprexa, which is well known to cause weight gain. Presumably a doctor would avoid giving that to you. You need to talk to your psychiatrist, not your therapist.

serafena
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