I gained weight recently when I started on Lithium because my dose was too high. I basically became an eating machine! I’ve been through this so many times. I’m mad at myself because once the extra lithium was out of my system, I kept eating. This happened to me with Seroquel as well. (Seroquel is an anti psychotic- lithium is a mood stabilizer.) I know people who have been on lithium and have not gained a pound! It’s the same with Seroquel- I know a guy who has been on it for ages. No weight gain! It’s depressing
I will just have to have some more chips and salsa to feel better.;)
I know that I could have stopped the eating. I didn’t. So now I have more weight to lose. Doesn’t it feel like a never ending cycle! I remind myself that it took me many years to really manage this illness- this means there is hope! I can manage this weight problem.
Darn it! We already have rotten mood swings. It’s just unfair that we have to worry about our weight as well!
I’m doing something about it!
I will keep you posted.
Julie
I gained about 65 pounds while taking Seroquel in combination with sleeping pills. I don’t know if it was the seroquel itself, or the fact that I was sleeping a lot due to how the sleeping pills affect your sleep patterns and energy levels. But I did lose all the weight through hard work- eating less, exercising more. It was difficult, but now I’ve only probably gained 8-11 pounds of it back. I’m still at a healthy weight for my height. I am happy with my body because I know what size I wear and since I know that, I feel I don’t need to know the actual number of pounds I weigh on the scale. I hate the scale. And I know I’m gaining muscle weight due to exercising, so I don’t want to know the number because of that. I eat what I want to eat, but I try to eat less of it and I have to tell myself that not every day is a day for a treat. I hope everyone who is concerned about their weight to just not worry so much about it, but do the best you can. Just try to exercise more, and eat sensibly and you’ll be fine!
Hi Em,
wow! Fantastic encouragement that I need myself. It’s great to hear success stories! Julie