I am a 40 year old woman who started taking Doxepin in August for sleep, but found it helped so much with Interstitial Cystitis, I decided to stay on it even though I began to gain weight almost exponentially. I have severe sleep disorder issues, so having the pain of IC lessened dramamtically at night was a godsend. Unfortunately, during the last two months I also took Neurontin for Fibromyalgia and Seroquel for sleep, meaning for the last two months I have taken three big weight gain associated meds. I have put on 44 pounds in 4 months with little or no diet change, except for about 2 weeks. The weight gain is abdominal for the most part, and actually aches. To add a complicating factor, I am hypothyroid and started seeing a new endocrinologist in September, and she dramatically lowered my dose at that time.

I discovered that I was pregnant about 3 weeks ago, for the second time after a miscarriage early in the year. This weight gain is so dramatic and uncomfortable, and my new obgyn (we moved) doesn't seem to believe it's been this fast or dramatic. I can prove I was a normal weight a few months ago with medical records, but my weight has now put me in the
"high risk" category and I have to have way more contact with doctors and am having a lot of anxiety. I don't like doctors that much, as I had these other illnesses years before they were accepted medical disorders and have taken a lot of abuse. I'm also very worried about this weight gain's effect on me. I'm having trouble breathing, sitting, or bending to put socks on. Here I am about six weeks along, and I look like I'm ready to deliver triplets.

I have a complicated medical history, but still- to gain this much, this fast is causing me a great deal of difficulty. I am trying to taper off the Doxepin with my prescriber's help, but given my sleep problems the doctors seem to want me to stay on it, even though it really doesn't help with sleep on it's own, it just makes the bladder pain at night less intense. I'm torn. I wasn't happy with the weight gain and was trying to go off the meds anyway, but without a modern sleep aid I was having problems doing that. I don't want my baby to be harmed by any medications. And I can see now that the brief relief from some pain was probably not worth it, as my belly hurts all the time and I'm having problems breathing. My questions are:

Is a weight gain of 44 pounds and counting, in 4 months, expected on the medications I've been taking?

Is abdominal pain and a feeling of bursting muscles typical in a weight gain of this extremity?

Is there anything I can do to lose this excess weight now, or do I have to just accept it until I deliver and then worry about trying to lose it?

I work out often, at least 2-3 times a week. The obgyn seemed to believe my problem was not exercising enough, but I can guarantee that is not the problem. A year ago I was at my normal, 128 pounds. In August I was about 10 pounds over that. I am not typically an overeater, I lean vegetarian, and I have no nutritional deficiencies.

Thank you for your help.