weight gain from meds... how do I get used/accept to this?

to Booklvr : I gained 10 with lyrica... mostly water. My legs were huge. But I gained 100 with mirapex. My twin sister weighs 110 and my younger sister weighs 95. Really! I was thin ... once. I don't recognize myself either . The horror never goes away. My twin wants all three of us to go on a trip together as we are getting older.. 64 and 62. But first she wants me to lose the weight. She gave me two years. It has only upset me every minute since she had her "revelation" 2 mos. ago. I finally found my way back to some peace of mind when I remembered that in spite of the MS.. .FMS. car accident injuries .etc. etc. etc... some days I can walk and I keep my house very clean.. and myself. My husband still.take me out public and stays close by my side... inspite of the fact that my sisters are horrified at my appearence. I have changed tremendously. But my friends take me out todinner and my grandchildren think I am wonderful. I do the best I can. I 'm not going to lose the weight.. I 'm lucky I can still get about.. maybe not everyday but enough to keep up appearances. This isn't going away. I've had it for 28 years. I still can't accept it. But I try every day to count my blessings for what I can do. It's really,really hard to loose our identity. To run into classmates and cringe. I am so blessed to have alt of good friends.. and a husband, children and grandchildren who love me even though I know the liked the glamorous before me, better. So did I. But my sisters don't live close by.. thank.goodness. I can diet successfully every day until the pain, exhaustion and nausea jump up and bite me. I would have NEVER gained the weight in the first place if I didn't have all this. Some people don't gain with all this but I did. My philosophy is.. If I have to feel like this I should look fabulous AND be thin.. only its never worked out that way. My doctors have all said I have a remarkably good attitude. I guess what I am saying is that after all this time.... I haven't figured it out.either. Maybe it helps to know you are not alone. That we know we are doing the best we can... It could be so much worse. I can still brush my own teeth!!! (ha ha)

Post Edited By Moderator (Acheybody) : 2/19/2014 12:53:59 PM (GMT-7)

also.. when we have relief from the pain... it's easy to forget why we went on the meds in the first place and we start beating ourselves up again. Surround yourself with nice people and beautiful things and forgive yourself everyday.

Thanks for the responses. Happygal8, you have a great attitude and have given good advice. I will certainly try to follow your lead.

I'm sorry to hear that your sisters are not supportive of you. I have 2 sisters like that also. I don't interact with them but it gets complicated when the rest of the family is involved. Stress!

I make an effort to surround myself with supportive, kind people. My husband is fantastic! I couldn't ask for better in that regard.

I just bought some new clothes so that I can feel comfortable and wear stuff that fits. Every time I see myself in a reflection I'm going to stop the negative self-talk. Instead I will think: "Hello friend. Lookin good!"

I, also, have gained a lot of weight since taking Lyrica and other meds. It is so discouraging. Not only am I sick, in pain and tired all of the time I now have to deal with my self esteem. Being over weight is one more thing to cope with.

I have the same problem with my meds. I don't take lyrica, but my antidepressent and seizure med causes weight gain. I have reduced my seizure med and tried to lower my antidepressent. The antidepressent really helps me sleep, so I don't like reducing the dose. I have numerious Dr's and one is always on my case about my weight. I try to go to the gym, but I seem not to keep it consistent. I do undertand where your coming from.