I suffer from tachycardia, GERD, COPD, IBS, and a few other medical problems that I've forgotten the name of. Nearly all of them can be traced back to anxiety and/or other psychiatric problems (in fact even my obesity can be traced back to "stress eating"). For these medical and psychiatric problems I take a lot meds (somewhere between 10 and 17 or so). I need a professional nurse to dispense them and remind me to take them twice daily, and I take them myself with semi-regularity 2 additional times a day.
One of the meds makes me particularly hungry, Clozaril. It's the only med that seems to be effective for the symptoms of schizophrenia that I suffer from. Now and in the past I've been prescribed topomax (topomirate) as an appetite suppressant (one of its off-label uses). In the past it worked very well. Fantastic, even. Now that I'm on Clozaril the topomax doesnt seem to work to do anything but help me maintain my weight of 370 lbs or so. Another problem with the topomax is that I build up a tolerance to its appetite suppressing effects very quickly, so, they have to increase the dosage every week or so. Eventually I begin having unpleasant side-effects from the topomax like feeling very "blah", "dull" and having thought blocking (often cant think clearly or complete thoughts). Eventually, so that I can undo my tolerance to the medication, I will have to stop taking topomax for a few weeks, during which time I'm afraid I'll gain a lot of weight now that I'm taking clozaril.
Another complicating factor is a strange habit I picked up when I was in school and working. I would eat all my food for the day after school and work and go to bed with a full stomach. Somehow this became a habit that I seriously cannot get out of. It's like an addiction. Very bad addiction. The only time that I'm able to stop is when GERD becomes quite severe, sometimes even then, it doesnt work.
The clozaril also zaps my energy quite badly.
With all of this in mind, my question is, what are my options as far as weight loss go? Are there any varieties of bariatric surgery that are a possibility?
Thanks for all help!
EDIT: I wanted to also ask how healthy/practical/smart drastic calorie restriction diets are (less than 300 to 500 calories per day). It has worked in the past for me. In fact, it seems like the only thing that has worked. So even if there is some risk involved, I'm prepared to do it.
One of the meds makes me particularly hungry, Clozaril. It's the only med that seems to be effective for the symptoms of schizophrenia that I suffer from. Now and in the past I've been prescribed topomax (topomirate) as an appetite suppressant (one of its off-label uses). In the past it worked very well. Fantastic, even. Now that I'm on Clozaril the topomax doesnt seem to work to do anything but help me maintain my weight of 370 lbs or so. Another problem with the topomax is that I build up a tolerance to its appetite suppressing effects very quickly, so, they have to increase the dosage every week or so. Eventually I begin having unpleasant side-effects from the topomax like feeling very "blah", "dull" and having thought blocking (often cant think clearly or complete thoughts). Eventually, so that I can undo my tolerance to the medication, I will have to stop taking topomax for a few weeks, during which time I'm afraid I'll gain a lot of weight now that I'm taking clozaril.
Another complicating factor is a strange habit I picked up when I was in school and working. I would eat all my food for the day after school and work and go to bed with a full stomach. Somehow this became a habit that I seriously cannot get out of. It's like an addiction. Very bad addiction. The only time that I'm able to stop is when GERD becomes quite severe, sometimes even then, it doesnt work.
The clozaril also zaps my energy quite badly.
With all of this in mind, my question is, what are my options as far as weight loss go? Are there any varieties of bariatric surgery that are a possibility?
Thanks for all help!
EDIT: I wanted to also ask how healthy/practical/smart drastic calorie restriction diets are (less than 300 to 500 calories per day). It has worked in the past for me. In fact, it seems like the only thing that has worked. So even if there is some risk involved, I'm prepared to do it.