Weight gain ? And meds

well I have read all the messages regarding weight problems  are we all females that agree that we are putting on weight with these meds, or is it that the guys dont like to admit toweight issues.  at this moment  I am struggling to type this as it seems if I get slightly streesed my pain increeses sorry will finish part 2 later  jocelyne  UK.

Hi jocelyne:

I will answer your question about whether males other than females have this problem in gaining weight.  Medicines don't choose who to put weight on.  Personally, I really don't trust these newer meds.  First of all you don't know what it is really made up with.  Secondly, many are synthetics so it is full of chemicals.  Just check the ingredients of each and every one.  I bet many are not even listed.  In the day, there were a lot fewer meds but people lived good healthy lives until they did die of various illnesses or being shot or hung.  grin  They only lived to 50 or maybe 60 until their demise.  I'm talking about the early to the later 1800eds.  Certainly medical technology advanced and we can honestly say that many vaccinations that were developed wiped out terrible diseases like polio, plague, smallpox and the like.  Medicine in those times didn't contain the ingrediants that we have now.  It did what it was supposed to do.  A lot were antibiotics that worked.  Now, we seem to be resistant to many.  Personally, I feel that many drug companies got out of hand and are making big profits, not caring arout if what they make is safe anymore.  Getting back to our real concerns about medicine.  You and I are made of different matabolisms.  I also believe is due to hormones in the body.  Women may be more prone to weight gain because of different chemical makeup in the body.  Do we really know what these medicines can do to us?  When you watch all these new medical commercials on TV, look at all the warnings that they can have.  I guess the drug companies are made to do this so you are aware of what can happen if something goes wrong so they will not be responsible for any interactions that are caused.or be sued.  Personally over the many years, I have gained one important thing and that is wisdom.  I do a lot of looking into things, ask questions and then decide.  Doctors and drug companies don't really like you to investigate and diagnose your own medical problems and whether some medications are good for you.  What doctors prescribe feel that it can help but they don't know whether the medication is safe or not.  Doctors are given so many samples of newer meds so they can give you a one or two week supply to try it out.  I have had all kinds of reactions to certain meds.  I had drugs to were made for cancer patients like methotextrate which made me sick.  I been on prednesone which made me gain weight.  Steroids will make you put on weight and they can be dangerous as messing up your kidneys.  My wifes brother was put on heavy doses of steroids which damaged his kidneys and eventually died at a younger age because of complications.  I saw him before he started on these drugs and afterwards he put on at 3x the weight he has been.  He looked bad and felt bad.  I bet he also was on a lot of pain pills.  All this took it's toll.  His face looked like it didn't belong and was all puffy.  I do blame the medication he was on long term but doctors didn't realize this would happen. Even though he was taken off of these meds, it was basically too late.  So, there you have it.  I am not a medical doctor or nurse or pharmacist.  Personally, I believe that we as patients are not told the truth about meds.  I am just a patient like you who is vulnerable to the misgivings of the big pharmas who are out to make as much profit as they can and all due to politics.  This is my belief and I am allowed to say this.  I am not going to blame anyone or anybody.  It just is!!!  Well, all on this negative not let me say one thing that is positive.  Keep a positive outlook, take care of yourself, do your research, ask questions, and look into some holistic ways you can deal with it.  Take care and bell well.

many good hugs

mel

Thank you, just a few words to say, it scares me when Im put on a new drug, living on my own these days, since Chas passed..  I have such a lot of meds that I can no longer take, because of having a rash, or trouble breathing, I go to bed and have my phone on fast ring for two people  first is 999 for medical help, and the second one to make contact with my son.  Its a scary  time  (is that spelt )  oh well  may be I have invented a new way of spelling "scary"  - shhhh  I am having a small bottle of    "Tiger" beer. and yes I know should not drink with meds but some times its a way of making my evenings a little less lonely.

Right folks  time for my bed  ouch just looked at the clock  its 1.45 am

Night folks  I did not realise when we started this subject on putting on weight.   it would have such an impact.

jocelyne  UK

Hi jocelyne:

Even though I take pain meds, I still have a beer once in awhile.  One or two won't make much difference other than to relax me.  I had hard drinks, usually 1 but doesn't wipe me out.  I know I can drink some within reason and not go overboard.  Why not have a little fun?    We certainly deserve it!  Hey, don't worry about the spelling.  I make mistakes too.  When you say "ouch" it's 1:45 am, I may  say "ouch" its 3:30 am.  Sleep is weird for me.  I take a few naps a day more than ever.  I am tired most of the time even when I get up from sleep.  At least I won't have the pain at the time I do sleep if I sleep OK.  I guess 999 is like 991 in the States.  My daughters have the keys to our apt and can get in if needed.  Also each apt. has a emergency call system where you just pull on a cord.  Thats nice to have.  I was thinking of getting one of those alert systems but haven't decided yet.  Lately, I have been losing my balance and falling.  Just 1 and 2 days ago, I was at the kitchen counter ready to feed my cats.  I got a strange feeling not like I was dizzy but became very wobbly.  I knew my legs were weakening and if I didn't do something to break my fall, it can become serious.  What I did was to slowly bend down and my legs about ready to give out, I let go of the counter and dropped to the ground.  The distance was little so I really didn't hurt myself.  However, I did not have the strength to get up.  My wife was asleep so she didn't know.  I did not think it was anything to call 911 so I stayed there and fell asleep for a short time and when I woke up I was able to get up.  If I fell from a standing position, I could have hurt myself banging my head on the cabinet or floor.  I had two falls, one landed me in the ER and hospitalized for concussion and the other smashed my forhead which swelled up and hurt bad but over time, the swelling went back down and the black and blue disappeared.  I still have the bump on my head.  My wife was asleep but woke immediately when she heard the bang.  It's a good thing that she did as I was dazed.  With our condition, we cannot afford to be in a situation like this.  It can be dangerous and our lives can be at stake.  So, you take care, don't fall, have someone nearby or have an alert system and just be careful.  You never know when Pain will become unbearable and unable to function.  Talk to you later.

mel

Hi Mel  I promise Im going to bed now  I have read your letter,  yes my neibour about 4 doors away  I live in a bungalow which I rent from a housing association.   Margret has a spare key for my front door, so she can get in  if I need her or if she has not seen me putting rubbish in the bin  or she has not seen my cat  which you cant miss he is white  not any other colours on him.  Margrets husband is on oxygen  all the time so he sits and watches  out the front  (I could not sneak a fella into my place)  with out him seeing  who and what time  a visitor leaves the close.   I know that because before having the shingles  I did meet a fella and he came over to see me, and we sat talking all night. (nothing happened  but it could have but Im a good girl)  lol  Her husband asked who  I spent the night with,  he does not have any life as such because he can only walk from his bed room to the lounge/toilet etc. any way  my bed time  night  night  Jocelyne From Cambridge UK