Obesity Comorbidities

Hi . Thank goodness you are in remission. I am glad they caught your cancer early enought to treat it. That must have been a scary and stressful time. When weight gain comes as the result of treating another medical condition, people can often feel defeated. You trade one condition for another, but I hope the trade-off was worth it for you and that the bipolar medication is effective. I have a friend who is obese and was on track for bariatric surgery, having lost about 40 pounds on her own in the six months prior. Then she started Abilify for bipolar disorder. She regained most of that weight and took herself off the surgery list, but she wasn't upset. She says she feels happy and in control for the first time in decades. I wish that for you. Please know we are here for you whenever you need support or a place to vent. Hugs. - Lori (Team Member)

I too am happy to hear you are in remission. I feel having multiple health conditions makes it even harder for us. Just wanted you to know you are not alone.

Thank you so much for sharing this. Depression can be really tough to navigate and is so much more common than a lot of people think. I also have depression. It comes and goes in waves/episodes. How do you experience your depression? If I may ask, do you have someone you can talk to like a therapist? I know it's not everyone's cup of tea but I find it helpful to have someone outside of my everyday life that I can share and reflect on things with without judgment or pretense. Do you do anything that seems to help life some of that depression when you feel it coming on? Thank you again for sharing. Really appreciate it and really glad that you found us here. 💙 Kayleigh, Obesity.net Team Member

Welcome to the community, . I am glad you found us. Those are some challenging health conditions. Do you take medication for your PsA and Lupus? If so, does it help? Is surgery an option for your brain tumors? I can imagine all three disorders make it difficult to exercise and to get a good night's sleep. I hope your doctors understand the impact of your comorbidities on your weight and that they treat your weight as a symptom, not as a cause. Do you have much support? We have sister communities for people with Lupus and PsA that might interest you as well: Lupus.net and Psoriatic-Arthritis.com. Thanks for joining the conversation. Best wishes. - Lori (Team Member)

That is so much to contend with, . It can be very difficult to exercise and eat well when you are always struggling with physical and emotional pain. Do you have much support? Is there anyone you trust you can talk to about the impact of all your physical issues on your mental health? Please know you are not alone. Depresssion, anxiety, and other mental health conditions are common for people with chronic illness and they should be treated just like any other symptom. You need and deserve help. Here is an article that lists some resources for mental health care: https://obesity.net/mental-health/general-resources. It might be a good place to start if you are not already getting treatment for your emotional issues.
Have you ever seen a registered dietician for help with your food requirements? A good dietician will work with you to figure out eating strategies that are easy to incorporate and don't leave you so stressed out. Most insurance companies cover the visits as long as you have a doctor's order. You don't have to eat perfectly all the time. Any change is good change and should be celebrated.
Please know we are here for you whenever you need us. You have a community of people here who get it. Gentle hugs. - Lori (Team Member)