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Female, 39, Prattville - AL, member since Nov 2007
Developed breast cancer at 36 during my second pregnancy. Had a mastectomy at 9 weeks pregnant, began chemo (A/C) at 13 weeks. Had little Ms Lauren at 34 weeks and completed chemo (Abraxane) on 6/6/6 (not a good day for some, but special in my world!). Radiation foll...
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Diet and Effexor Weight Gain
Jan 28, 2008 07:18AM
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After having seen two oncologists and getting the same pat answer "quit eating so much"... they have bigger fish to fry, I guess....my OB said the weirdest thing on the weight gain. "Do Atkins, give it 2 months and call me". So I'm day 3 of the Atkins diet. My husband is doing the diet with me. I'll have to say that right now I'm positive about it and even have seen some positive results on the scale after only 2 days.
I'm on the lovely drug Effexor XR to help with all the nasty side effects of Tamoxifin and if you read any of the posts on some of these forums, you'll understand that Effexor, no matter what the docs say, DOES cause weight gain. You crave SUGAR and CARBS and all sorts of weight gaining items.
So here goes! Perhaps this will be the key. I've a trip planned to the beach for my birthday in mid-March, so I hope I can at least get back down to where I was before Effexor...that's almost 15 pounds.
I'm on the lovely drug Effexor XR to help with all the nasty side effects of Tamoxifin and if you read any of the posts on some of these forums, you'll understand that Effexor, no matter what the docs say, DOES cause weight gain. You crave SUGAR and CARBS and all sorts of weight gaining items.
So here goes! Perhaps this will be the key. I've a trip planned to the beach for my birthday in mid-March, so I hope I can at least get back down to where I was before Effexor...that's almost 15 pounds.
I lost 60 pounds just following the 3 no's. No sugar, no fried foods and no white flour. worked great for me
Hey lhughes, I'm on Tamoxifen and Effexor XR too. Following the 3 no's just doesn't cut it when you have those two drugs combined. I've been on them for 3 years now and have been fighting my weight ever since. Thought it was just my coming off the chemo. Then there was a hysterectomy. I've worked my way up to running 4 miles+ every day, lift weights and do spot-specific exercises daily also, counting calories, am on thyroid medication. I'm gaining weight. I eat clean except for one vodka and diet tonic before dinner. Everything I try seems to work for a week or so and then stops. Now, I'm trying to come off Effexor. My doctor says that is why I'm having so much trouble stabilizing my weight.
Wow, sybldybl....how in the heck do you run??? I'm still trying to get my walking pace consistently up above 4 mph. I've been doing really well getting to the gym 3 times a week for 45 minutes of cardio, plus stretching and ab exercises at night with the kiddies. They think it's funny. :)
And, yes, the Effexor is the bad fiend in all this. I'm week 2 on 37.5 mg of Effexor. The headache has finally subsided. I can eat almost normally (with an occassional drink) and not gain weight like it's going out of style. However, because I haven't been diligent with Atkins, I haven't lost any more weight either. BUT that's better than continually gaining weight. Oh, and you will be glad to know that I blew my diet (and I mean BLEW IT BAD) this past weekend and it didn't have the lovely 5 pound impact, just 1 pound (which I deserved....there was a lot of chocolate involved...followed by AF). Gotta love AF. Still get those same bad cramps, bloating, irritable...you'd think I was in puberty.
Glad to see someone else like me is having the same issues. It sucks, doesn't it? Plus Effexor is freaking expensive. I'm impressed your doc agrees with the Effexor being an instigator of weight gain. Mine just thought I was eating too much. Not.
How much longer is your tamoxifen sentence? I've got 3 years 4 months remaining. I'm just hoping there are no incidences of cancer anywhere in the near future (near being, oh let's say, the next 50 years!!!).
Best of luck to you too!!! We all need some blessings after all that we go through!
And, yes, the Effexor is the bad fiend in all this. I'm week 2 on 37.5 mg of Effexor. The headache has finally subsided. I can eat almost normally (with an occassional drink) and not gain weight like it's going out of style. However, because I haven't been diligent with Atkins, I haven't lost any more weight either. BUT that's better than continually gaining weight. Oh, and you will be glad to know that I blew my diet (and I mean BLEW IT BAD) this past weekend and it didn't have the lovely 5 pound impact, just 1 pound (which I deserved....there was a lot of chocolate involved...followed by AF). Gotta love AF. Still get those same bad cramps, bloating, irritable...you'd think I was in puberty.
Glad to see someone else like me is having the same issues. It sucks, doesn't it? Plus Effexor is freaking expensive. I'm impressed your doc agrees with the Effexor being an instigator of weight gain. Mine just thought I was eating too much. Not.
How much longer is your tamoxifen sentence? I've got 3 years 4 months remaining. I'm just hoping there are no incidences of cancer anywhere in the near future (near being, oh let's say, the next 50 years!!!).
Best of luck to you too!!! We all need some blessings after all that we go through!
Ladies, Ladies- Thanks for all the info. Here I was thinking that it was all about the big "T" but it was the drug that was suppose to make it bearable. . .Effexor! What else is out there? I cannot take this anymore. I have bone pain, low sex drive, weight gain and I just feel like SH#%! I am definately going to quit something. I had herceptin at the same time as Arimidex and Lupron shots. The the bone pain was really bad, I changed to Lupron shots and Femora. Then I read that Lupron is the biggest problem when it comes to bone pain. So I started on the big "T". I feel the worst ever. I am tired and I ache all the time with sharp pains in my wrists, feet and ankles. I am 40 and this is not good. The additional weight gain is very depressing. If anyone has suggestions, I would welcome them. I want to loose the weight but most of all I want to feel better. Is anyone just doing Tamoxifen?
Lots of respect for all- Thanks for your help!!
Lots of respect for all- Thanks for your help!!
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