Thanks everybody for this really helpful information.

Finz - I also have a strong family history of type II diabetes and progressive weight gain with aging. I have been using a calorie counting app since New Years (still sticking to my resolution mid way into the year!). I notice in the past month I seemed to stop making progress, and your post explains why... It is probably the neurontin. Your advice is really helpful because maybe it will help me be more careful with my healthy diet goals from now on.

Bram - my stomach isn't as tough as it used to be either, because of all the NSAIDs I took when this started and wasn't diagnosed right away. I have been taking Prilosec almost every morning because I thought the voltaren would cause problems. I was going to drop the Prilosec when I drop the voltaren, but maybe I will stay on the Prilosec. I love spicy foods, and I've found I can still have them occationally if I also take an extra Prilosec in the evening on the days I eat something really spicy, since my problems have mostly been with reflux when lying down.