Obesity-LIFE THREATENING at this point.Help,Please?

it's the medication that is causing your obesity. Ask your doctor to take you of the med, and try something different. Eating and exercising should really help, but it does take time. Get of the med, and keep dieting/exercising daily, & you'll be normal in no time =)

I hope you get better!

I sympathize with you. Are you still taking the Seroquel? What exactly is it for anyway? Have you considered changing doctors? I would if my doctor refused to work with me, rather than against me. Obesity is at epidemic proportions, as you well know. I'm also seriously overweight and understand. Have you tried swimming? Also, my endocrine doctor has me on something called Symlan (similar to Byetta). It is a shot that I give myself twice a day, generally breakfast and dinner time. The drug, though geared for diabetics to help keep the blood sugars from spiking too high, is known to help decrease eating. I am finding that it's not necessary to stuff myself senseless anymore. Probably a good thing, right? <smile>. Have you been checked for diabetes, by any chance?

I was diagnosed with sleep apnea as well and though I have the machine, I honestly cannot get used to it. I don't always stop breathing. It happened a year ago while I was in the hospital for rapid heart rate. I hate having the forced air hitting me and honestly, I don't sleep as well with the machine as I do without it. Have you had the home study test? Is that how you were diagnosed?

All in all, hun, I'd say switch doctors before this one kills you. You're not intaking that many calories and you are exercising, so something is pretty off.

Wish you well. Good luck.

I was 336 pounds and went down to 260 pounds, and have only rebounded to 282, so I still have kept most of it off even after 4 years. I know how to do this.

Also, you need to consider that certain medications can make your body hold on to calories, or make you crave food while impairing your judgement about how much you are taking in, or both, either of which will cause you to gain weight.

If the medicine is not working for you or has unacceptable side effects, like weight gain until it threatens your life, go to another professional for a second opinion and say, "I have been taking X and I need to know if it causes weight gain. If it does, I need an alternative medication or treatment that won't."

Remember, YOU are in charge, NOT your psychiatrist. Don't give him the power to decide whether or not you must take what he prescribes. Vote with your feet, find a doctor who will listen to you and not deride you for your weight. If you can get a medicine that doesn't do that and lose the weight sensibly, you won't need medication to breathe, because taking the weight off your chest (literally) will make breathing easier.

YOU are the front line for defense of your health, NOT your Psychiatrist! This country does too much "sick care" and not enough health care, and only YOU can control what happens to you.

The question where you can see my detailed answer, which I gave to someone else in this same section is:

"Is there anyway to make my stomach slimmer and for me to lose weight without spending a fortune?"

My best reccomendations are there. Do NOT go for gastric bypass, it is a mistake.

It sounds to me like you have a thyroid problem. If what you say is true, that you do not over eat, and that you DO excercise, there can be no other possible explanation. You should have your blood tested for hormonal imbalances, etc. Maybe you could even sue the doctor or the company of Seroquel. First thing first, get off the medication.

Now, have you had any birthcontrol lately? I once took the Depo shot and gained thirty pounds in a month. It's still on me, regardless of diet and excercise.

You need to see another doctor, and you need to get your bloodwork done.

Here's a list.

1. No more Seroquel. Try something natural like Saint John's Wort, or a complex B vitamin.

2. Excercise, but make sure you don't overdo it, and you MUST eat.

3. Get your blood tested for hormonal imbalances.

Good luck. I hope this helps. I really hope everything will be okay.

I don't know if the Seroquel is the problem, but it sure is suspicious. However, if you are using it to keep serious psychotic symptoms under control, it may be difficult for you to get a doctor to listen to you, or to make a really well-informed decision as to whether or not it is the problem.

I don't know a lot about Seroquel, but it's probably not a good idea to stop cold turkey with any psych drug. What I do not understand is why you haven't found a new doctor? Your doctor should ALWAYS listen to you. Even if your doc tells you you have to stay on the drugs, a GOOD doctor will explain the reasons sufficiently that you will feel okay about it. If you need to stop the meds, or try different ones, your doctor should be open to that unless there is a really, really good reason for you to be on it. You might try to find a new doctor.

The below link may be interesting to you.

The doctor that refused to let u off the medications needs to be sued ...those medications is what causing you all these problems. go sue him or drop him and get a better doctor! and to get your weight down, just keep on eating healthy and excersiing the right way. Get a better doctor and have that new doctor help you. For the foods that you need to stay away from for a while now is junk food and foods that contain too much sodium (salt). Do not go for surgery unless if it's reccomended by a better doctor. I sincerely hope that everything will go well for you and that's you'll be back on track again. Best of wishes and luck to you!

I think that if this change is so obvious & your Psychiatrist is refusing to change your meds then it is time to seek a second opinion. As a nurse you should know this. Set up an appointment with another Psycologist.

As a nurse, you also know that different meds affect different people in different ways. This is another reason to seek a second opinion. Considering you are still depressed & more so due to the weight gain, I would say that the Seroquel is not working & your current Psycologist is either blind or doesn't care. Get a second opinion...

I had the exact same problem when I went on an antidepressant! I gained 100 lbs. and have not been able to lose it; also, I have not taken the medication in over 3 years now.

It was the worst mistake I have ever made in my life. Taking the medicine that is, the depression that came from my weight gain far outweighed any problems I was having to begin with.

I don't know how to help you here. You need the assistance of medical professionals to get you through this. I have been contemplating gastric bypass at this point.

Ok let me help you! I have lost over 50 pounds in 3 months! I have water fasted off and on for 3 months and have not gained a pound back! I am fasting again and have lost 10 pounds in 4 days, but at first you will lose water! After you fast eat healthy to keep the weight off! I walk 3-5 miles a day on my treadmill! Water fasting is hard but will give you results! Also, this has been the most mentally challeging thing I have ever had to do, but I will not die for weight reasons! People will say fasting is dangerous, but food has more danger! You can IM or e-mail me latinatexas@yahoo.com

Ok ... Trust me ~ I have been there ~ I lost a lot of weight and also inches in my waist using the "no diet" weight loss plan found on the link below. I now use the plan on Tue & Thur only and I am still loosing some. It is very easy to use and it taste great which helped me to stick with it for the duration that I needed to reach my goal as I now am just maintaining. I now sleep much better, I too had a sleep study but no longer use my c-pap machine. I am 45 and I have tried many things in my life to loose but this has beat them all combined. I am praying for you and best wishes to you. Remember, you can do it if you stick to it ... I did ... The Rev

You should talk to your psychiatrist about getting onto a different drug. Whatever's wrong with you can't be helped by massive weight gain. If the drug is causing the weight gain, having surgery won't help. You'll just gain it back.

Have you tried PRESCRIPTION weight loss pills not over the counter garbage? I've had great luck with Phentermine--it's cheap and if you are 100 lbs overweight your doctor should have no problem prescribing it for you. Have your MD talk to your PSY about your health issues.

WLS is hard to get approval for. I have sleep apnea too and that's not enough anymore, you need MORE co-morbidities.