Question:
Why can't I loose weight gained due to medication?

I have gained almost all my weight back due to the medication Lyrica. Before the surgery, I weighed 267lbs and that was in 2005. In 2006 I had lost down to 125lbs and I was so excited, until I was diagnosed with Fibromyalgia. I was so much pain, that I was willing to do whatever the doctors said to do just so that I could feel better! I started taking Lyrica in 2007, and I wasn't having as much pain but then I started gaining weight. I had gained 40lbs within 5 months, I was okay with it at that point because I was feeling better and I decided to start excercising again and try to loose the 40lbs. Then my weight gain started becoming a nightmare, instead of loosing the weight I gained even more! So that's when I decided to talk to my doctor about my weight gain, and she informed me that was one of the side effects of Lyrica. I decided to stop taking it because I didn't want to gain my weight back, but I have gained all but 45lbs back of my weight before the surgery!    — butterfly30 (posted on September 30, 2009)

October 1, 2009
I'm so sorry. Your experience underscores the need to inform your physician of your weight loss surgery, and ask questions about any medication he prescribes. If you are still having problems with your fibromyalgia, I suggest going to a Physical Therapist who is familiar with the treatments that can relieve your pain. If the problem continues to be severe, I recommend seeing a specialist. Ask your family doctor to refer you to someone they trust (or consult another physician if your family doctor doesn't know where to send you). Don't get too frustrated. Remember the surgery has not let you down. It is still a good tool to help you loose weight and regain your health. I've had medical setbacks, as well as just plain falling off the wagon (ie: eating the wrong foods). Every time I hit a plateau or gain a little weight, I just go back to the basics. I follow the guidelines my surgeon has given me a lot more closely, and start an eating and exercise log. That helps me identify where my problem lies. In the last 5 years since my Lap-Band surgery, I've had my ups and downs. But I am at my goal weight, I'm healthy, and I feel 20 years younger. I would not give up the way I feel for anything. Hang in there! God Bless
   — KimM