Weight gain

[Ninapod]

I was diagnosed with FM at beginning of lockdown and have been taking fluoxetine and amitriptyline since January. I have not been exercising as much and I have put on loads of weight! I'm not sure amitriptyline is working - still wake up in night and quality of sleep (according to fitbit) is no different whether I take amitriptyline or not. Getti g really down as my husband is cross with me because of snoring: is this caused by weight or amitriptyline? Don't know what to do for the best - I'm fed up feeling so tired all the time and with constant tingling / numbness in my face! As I haven't seen specialist, what if I don't have FM but some thing else? I've tried so hard to be positive but I'm feel g really c**p!

[lolly_mitchell]

aw bless you sending hugs. How did u get diagnosed? If by gp Have you looked to see if your hospital trust has a pain clinic ? If so asked to be referred there. My is manged through pain and Rheumatology but don't know if they take it on by itself. I have an autoimmune disease which usually comes had in hand with it. Let me know how u get on x

[Gintastic]

I know it’s a nightmare but just hang on in there. I was initially on amitriptyline and although it helped with sleep a little bit it was affecting my heart so I was taken off it after I had a heart scan. It can also make you feel tired during the day if you take it too late at night, taking it about 3 hours before you go to bed works better, by the time it kicks into your system your heading to bed and it works better, you’ll also feel better the next morning. Worth a try 🤗

[Ninapod in reply to Gintastic]

Thanks for your replies. GP diagnosed over the phone so not actually seen a doctor since January. I have been booked to see Neurology in October - more to check for MS - and I have been told I need to see what neurology say before I can see rheumatology. BTW I don't think I have MS as my symptoms are different to my brother who has it!

[ellj]

I have ms which was diagnosed nearly 40 yes ago, long before anyone thought about FM.

My symptoms can overlap but usually there are other things which tell me which it is having a flare.

I was diagnosed with FM by Rheumatology consultant, given a leaflet and discharged, no help whatsoever.

I don't see a Neurologist because basically it was a two minute hello goodbye once a year and am not on any DMD,s for the ms.

I have been on Amitriptyline for several years mainly to help with sleep and as another said find it is better taken at least a couple of hours before heading to bed.

I did put on a LOT of weight but last year finally lost three stone even though still on Amitriptyline so it doesn't seem like that was the problem. In my case I think it was that I was moving a lot less but eating the same.

I really had to cut my portion size and annoyingly I have let the weight go back on through lockdown.

I am sure we are all going to have different reactions to meds but that was my experience.

Good luck

Ellie

[Maud-ie in reply to ellj]

I am on amytriptyline and Gabapentin - barely eat and have put on two stone. Half a bagel for breakfast and a tiny evening meal. Also, once diagnosed by Rheumatology at Guy's Hospital I was sent away with no follow up at all. Left to own devices now.

[Ninapod]

Thank you Ellie. I have started running again and hope to get back to swimming and eating differently soon!

[Kasha]

It might be worth you getting a sleep study done, with the tiredness, snoring, disturbed sleep you describe it could be sleep apnea, I have FM and sleep apnea.

[Hidden]

Awh Ninapod I know how you feel I lost four stone but had to go on Pregabalin along with various other things I also take 50mg of AMA and have had my consultants appointment with Rheumatologist cancelled 4 times but I am under The pain clinic who I can email at any time and they call me back as for the pins and needles in face I have that a lot even goes numb try talking to your GP again with regards to weight gain I record everything I eat on an app and never go over my allotted calories the first time I was on Pregabalin put 1.5 stones in a month as for the husband perhaps buy him so earplugs and some understanding medicine you do not need to feel bad about this horrid Fibro you need help and understand sending gentle hugs 🤗🤗

Amanda

[Ninapod in reply to Hidden]

Thank you 💗

[Hidden]

Hi Ninapod and everyone. I am new to the site and firstly want to say what a fab job you guys are doing with your very helpful and lovely support, only found the site a couple of days ago and reading the storys and advice given is amazing, has made me feel, I'm not going mad or alone, well done all 🤗

I am a single parent with two adolescent boys, I had three trauma at once, lost my husband, my mother in law to cancer last year who was like my mum as I have no family and then lost my job after 35 years because I couldn't cope so after a year of trying to carry on, I like you Ninapod was diagnosed with FM at beginning of lockdown and was given amitriptyline to take. I tried it for four weeks but the side effects were worse than the FM alone. I was sweating constantly, I had gained nearly a stone in weight and any exercise I did just hurt more the next day and to top it all, it made no difference to my sleep or pain for which it was proscribed. I stopped taking it as it appears to work for some but not others. My friend advised to go back to the GP as there are so many other options. Also I watched a Channel 4 program last week called Beating the pain and they suggested trying CDB oil amongst other things, which I have researched on Amazon and just ordered a night time oil, will let you know...

Whilst I have your ears, my symptoms appear to be the same as the health guidance suggests such as the larger of the pain around the joints, stiffness, restless legs, fog brain, sleeplessness, anxiety, IBS ect but I cant find any comments about a very sensitive patch of skin just to the right of the top of my breast plate. It comes and goes daily along with blocked ear and know and sore throat and when you press on it, the pains not there. I had antibiotics twice as I thought it was a separate problem but its persistent, does this make sense, has everyone else had this?

Thank you all for being there, all the best to you xx

[KnackeredKaty]

I never had a weight problem until I started taking Gabapentin and Sertraline for pain. Antidepressants make you gain weight. Being overweight will cause snoring and snoring leads to poor quality of sleep. Maybe you could try a referral to a respiratory consultant to have a sleep apnoea test, then you could find out or eliminate the cause of your poor sleep.