Gaining lots of weight when taking pain meds

[Chawner]

Has anyone found a good way to loose weight while of major pain meds. I know I would feel a lot better about myself and dealing with my pain condition if I could loose a load if weight.

Anyone, please please please help

[vasco]

Hi chawner,

I'm suffering from the same problem. I have been on lots of painkiller after surgeries post bacterial meningitis since 2011. I have gained massive weight and don't know how to lose it now. I've gained like 5stones. I've tried so hard even asked for reduction in medication but can't manage without them. So I'm caught up in a catch 22 situation. It's quite depressing really. I'm stuck in this mess. Don't know if any help really.

[Hidden]

Hi Chawner

It's very difficult I've tried everything I started slimming world my first week I only lost 1lb second week put it back on needless to say I didn't go again. When I went before several years ago before I was on pain killers the weight fell of me. It's so disappointing I give up. Take care and good luck. Xxx

[vicherba in reply to Hidden]

Hi, I'm on huge amounts of painkillers due to endo/adeno and have lost 5 stone since Xmas on herbalife, we r a meal replacement company that is higher than other meal replacement as we're all nutrition! I started and lost 1 stone a month until I went on zolidex and now it's slowed down, I'm also on less pain killers now as I'm getting the Rda of vitamins, minerals and protein keeps me filled up! I have a normal meal at night with 1 snack in the day time! I hope this helps x

[Hidden]

Hi Vicherba

Thanks for that I will check it out its so difficult. Are you in the UK. I have cervical and lumber spondylosis, disc bulge and degenerative disc disease it's so difficult to exercise and my mobility isn't good. Thanks again for replying. Xx

[Marky]

I have put on over 4 stones due to my pain meds and lack of exercise.

You want to exercise, but in our mind, I think we convince ourself that it is going to hurt, so we don't bother and fall at this first hurdle.

We often feel so fatigued that we probably don't have the energy for anything, never mind exercise.

I think you should talk to your doctor and look at a proper plan for reducing certain meds and ask for referral for exercise on prescription.

[jamessteven]

I TRULY UNDERSTAND WHERE YOU ARE COMING FROM, BUT LISTEN, WE SPEND ALL OUR LIVES WORRYING ABOUT OUR WEIGHT, ISN'T LIFE TOO SHORT, AREN'T WE GOING THROUGH ENOUGH WITHOUT US ADDING EXTRA PRESSURE ON OURSELVES.

YOU ARE YOU WHETHER YOUR 10 STONE OR 30 STONE, YES, OUR MOOD GOES DOWN BUT SOMETIMES WE JUST HAVE TO SAY RIGHT, ENOUGH IS ENOUGH AND FOCUS ON THE POSITIVE THINGS ABOUT US AND WHO WE REALLY ARE, NOT WHAT WEIGHT WE ARE.

I BET YOUR KIND, CARING AND LOYAL TO THOSE AROUND YOU.

SOMETIMES WE HAVE TO SAY RIGHT, I'M ME AND ONCE IM DOING BETTER THEN ILL LOOK AND FOCUS ON MY WEIGHT

KEEP WELL

[Chawner in reply to jamessteven]

Wow you sound just like me, that is exactly how I would look at life normally . I guess I'm having an off day. About 8 years ago I was in the same boat , very over weight so I went to boot camp and within 6 months I had lost 100 lbs but I could never look in a mirror and see the thin me , then I worked for boot camp and did so for 5 1/2 years until my knee replacement and I got CRPS . I loved doing that job it was my dream job and I was good at it because I knew what people felt like and I could help them and I did, a lot of people.

Now that I have put back on the weight it's strange but I don't see a differant person again ! I just see me and like you said it dosn't matter what size you are. I still think it's strange that when I was 135 lbs I still saw myself and felt as if I was 240 lbs.

Thank you for you positivness it was very much appreciated

[sharelle]

Hi there are you on gabapentin or pregabalin as they are renowned for gaining weight? As for ideas Atkins is good for quick loss as is Cambridge diet or the Herbalife already mentioned. Slimming World is good as there is very little weighing and lots of variety and it's easy to follow but the weight loss is slower.

[Chawner in reply to sharelle]

Hi yes I am on gabapenton , hydromorph, lidacain infusion and dilotin .

Sorry can't spell !

[sharelle]

Do you find the gabapentin helps? If not it may be worth discussing with your GP about reducing/stopping it.

[Chawner in reply to sharelle]

It does help yes .

I did come off it last summer but the pain came back even worse.

I have talked to my GP and pain specialist about trying to find other meds but this seems to work the best. At the moment. That is !

[Brumchick]

I understand totally.Ive always been a small 9.4 since i was 16 yrs old.This last year i have been put on higher doses of both Tegretol and Lyrica.I cant do without them either but i have just reached a size 18.it is very hard to see your image change to one that feels not you.I just try to concentrate on how bad the pain was before i was on these doses.I was really seriously suicidal ,after 20 years of poorly controlled pain"being smaller to look at isnt the most important thingin the world although it does feel better within my body when i am not feeling soft bulges everywhere.When i struggle i work on what i can change.Brighten my teeth with bleach gel or pen.Have my hair nicely colored and styled.And buy a few really well made pretty tunic ( very forgiving) to wear with your fav,bottoms.i find once i get a handle on the panic of seeing my expanding figure i can start to make the little changes that really do make adifference.I have the most terrible sweet tooth ,i dont deny myselfbut i do only take 2 bites.And i savour them whilst drinking my slightly sweet tea.I then count to 300 and i find the desire for more pleasing sugar / junk has left me.If you have a bad day eat the whole portion... tomorrow you can get back on the bike and soon you will see a difference.I hope you get thebody you wish for and i hope you remain pain controlled whilst obtaining it.

Best wishes

Brumchick.

[jt68]

Hi there. I sympathise so much with you, because I am in the same situation. Its not about how I look/feel, and I really couldnt give damn about other people's opinion on how I look, that's their problem. I've just reached the conclusion that the excess weight cant be helping my problems and losing the weight will be good for my heart/blood pressure and general health, so I joined weight watchers(ww online) 20 months ago, my weight was still not moving after a couple of months - despite sticking to the plan religiously, someone suggested that gabapentin / amitriptyline might be the problem, so i weaned myself off them, with advice from my very supportive GP. I upped my paracetamol/naproxen and use meditation and cognitive therapies to cope with the pain better. 18 months off those drugs and using the "no count" diet plan on WW and I've lost nearly 9 stone so far - i still have 6 stone more to lose to be a healthy weight. I wont pretend that it has been easy (food is great, no hunger pangs) I am still in constant exhausting pain with rheumatoid arthritis and fibromyalgia, sciatica, fatigue - I try and do my daily physio exercises as prescribed and try to move about as much as possible throughout the day, not always easy. So my plan is to lose the rest, in small steps, and try to cope with the pain, whilst I'm losing the weight. Once i get to my goal weight, I might start to take the amitrip again to help me sleep, but by then, I might be a little more active and sticking to the healthy eating plan should help me maintain a healthy weight.

So my advice to you would be, go to your GP, ask about coming off or changing some of your pain meds using alternative therapies, ask about weight management clinics, physio to help manage the pain, pain clinics with counselling - there are lots of incentives out there, your council might also have free schemes for losing weight (or join ww or other group) If you really want to shift some of the weight - you can do it, if your happy with your weight, then do as other's suggested and focus on being happy and yourself.

Wishing you all the very best

JT x