I am a carb/sugar addict too. It does seem more with the meds I have been on. I also from others here am wondering if my swelling is from the meds too. Trying to get into a doctor to get checked.
Bob I agree that you are an inspiration. Try to focus on all you have accomplished. To quit smoking after that long is a huge achievement. I know how hard it is to not want to go back to something like that. I try to remind myself that doing so though will just create more problems on top of the already. Finding other outlets to cope and feel better can help. Have you thought of seeing a nutritionist? Some can really help in establishing a plan and also for support. Short term goals are easier to face and small changes which in the long run add up.
Rare thank you for sharing your pool therapy experience. I have done it one time at Cleveland Clinic and my experience was not good because the pool heater was broken and why they had us in it I have no clue. I have been wating to try it again but fearful so positives are helpful

I understand your frustration Bob. I was fine before I quit my 2-1/2 packs a day. Soon as I stopped, all hell broke loose health-wise. People still say "oh, aren't you glad that you feel so much better?" Yeah, right. I never even imagined feeling this bad before I quit.

I still feel angry and cheated, but I've never picked up one smoke up in four years now. You can do it too. And it does get easier as time goes on, honest.

A diet high in sugar and refined (white) carbs, can cause water retention all by itself.

I have taken Lyrica and noticed the increase in appetite (carbs/sugars). I gained a couple pounds, but dropped the medicine due to ineffectiveness of the incessant burning on the bottoms of my feet.

I recently started neurontin (about 3 months ago). I'm up to 600mg TID and still don't find it effective. This time though, the weight gain is already about 8 pound. I'm not overweight at all, but don't like where it is going...and it's not working anyway.

I actually just sent an email this morning to my neuro about stopping and whether is needs to be tapered. I have read different things about withdrawal syndrome with neurontin.

Anybody have feedback on this? Thanks in advance.

***New to the forum, not to the fun***

........brought home a HUGE bag of ANIMAL CRACKERS!!
Whyyyyyyyy! I'm NOT kidding! This bag of ANIMAL CRACKERS weighs
like 5 Pounds!!! Was he trying to be CUTE???

Anyway, I am feeling similar to what en bloc is saying...... the Neurontin seemed to work at first (?) and I was taking a higher dose than I am now...but BOY did it mess with my HEAD.....let's just say the 'grim reaper' was tippy-toeing close by.....and he wasn't carrying cute little ANIMAL crackers ....

Not to steer David's original question away from the Lyrica issue......
but for those of us who HAVE tried the Lyrica/Neurontin and don't seem to be getting results......does it seem logical to perhaps bring up the subject of trying Topomax.....especially since this med is known for NOT causing weight gain? I've heard several people swear this was their 'wonder drug' .

Anyone else feel this way?......'they' say sometimes we have to switch gears and try different things before we land on the 'right cocktail'.......
I dunno ...... Topomax ?? yes? no?

FIVE POUNDS of ANIMAL CRACKERS!!! What was he THINKING!!!!

Mrs D I know. I don't know what my problem is. I don't know if it is lack of self control or what. I feel like I crave sweets so much and it has been an issue for awhile but really has become out of control. I am trying to get into a new gp for some bloodwork. Last bloodwork my blood sugar was increasing. Obviously from my past I use to be so rigid and underate but now it seems I go to the other extreme.

As for Topomax I thought that was used more for head ache and neck pain? A lot of people for that issue were on it at the clinic I went to for pain. Some of these meds I really question how well they work on the average from person to person. I rarely here someone say they are on only neurontin for ex and it work. It seems like they are on a mix of meds and who knows what helps and not. Also when time changes. When I first started neurontin I felt it helped and now I feel it does not at all. Maybe it is the time or the changes of the condition.

I too crave the sweets moreso when I'm on the higher dose of these meds. This has become very clear in my case! I even dipped the damn ANIMAL CRACKERS in VANILLA FROSTING!!!! omg it was delicious......
Lets please keep these awful guilty pleasures amongst ourselves

This is why I'd be willing to try Topamax!! But, yes, if I recall, it seems there were some negative percs that went along with this med.....the kidney thing being one of them........
........Hmmmm, would I be willing to sacrifice a kidney just to avoid the sweets??

Daniella, I seem to recall you are using Seroquel...? Still?

That would certainly be a culprit for carb cravings!

Many medications do this.

I am reading a good book, very creative, scientific and interesting. I saw the author on Dr. Oz's show and ordered the book. Dr. Oz says on the show, he and his medical staff vetted the things shown that day as accurate and helpful.

I started doing the 30 gram protein breakfast (no carbs) and I have NO hunger at all during the day. It is difficult to get 30 gm some days, but I have done this for over a week now very successfully! Steak Omletes work best, but sometimes I just have some left over chicken or a pouch of salmon instead.

Here are the links... to improving your life:
Please watch all 3 videos:
http://www.doctoroz.com/question?query=Tim+Ferriss

I am hoping for myself to lose 30lb by summer! So far I have lost quite a bit in the first month alone! (I started cutting back on food right after
New Year's when our cat Tippy suddenly had that stroke. I just couldn't eat at all. Then I found Weezie and she keeps me too busy to eat much too! Then I happened on the Oz show, and am in earnest now to follow Ferriss' plan)

The book is currently 1/2 off at Amazon. And it is a HUGE book.
Over 500 pages. There is much more in it than just fat loss.

After watching the videos (it was just an accident I tuned that show in ! ) I was convinced to buy the book and try it.

Warning... those using RX drugs should NOT do the grapefruit part of the suggestions.

Thanks Mrs D. You have such a good memory. Yes I am on serequel. My doctor mentioned that if we increased the dose anymore we would have to watch my blood sugar. I feel regardless my docs don't monitor my bloodwork enough. Even with Cymbalta which on here I read can cause liver issues and I have had the problem in the past they don't monitor me.
I watched those videos. I am going to look for that book. I have a gift card I can use. I swear I have no will power. The thing is I could care less about things like fried foods but anything with sugar I crave. Good luck on your weight journey. I am really setting a goal about the sugar and have heard protein helps. Can you have yogurt? Greek yogurt is high in protein.
Rrare I can picture the animal crackers and frosting. I saw a big bag of those at Walmart.

What appears to be working for me well are two of the 3 suggestions from those videos.

1) 30 grams of protein for breakfast, no white stuff, and only slow carbs during the day... veggies, beans etc.

2) the cold packs. I noticed an improvement after 2 days of putting the cold packs on my upper back and upper chest and neck.
I was actually warmer during the day, and even too warm at night with my usual PJs... so my metabolism is perking up.

This weekend will be my "binge" of pizza. He states in the book that if you diet every day, your thyroid stops converting to T3 and your metabolism goes down. The controlled binge stimulates T4 conversion to T3 in tissues and the binge for that one day does not damage your results from the diet itself.

I expect 10 lbs at least for me first lost is mostly water weight.
I have read that one molecule of sugar/carb holds 2 molecules of water. So when the sugar goes down, the water leaves.
So my goal is really 20 lbs of overweight fat. Then I will lose some over summer like I do, and continue into fall, and see what happens, then.