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The Lap Band Zone II: "Dealing with civilian response" By Aaron Grossman, Babyboomers.tv staff writer, "More Salt than Pepper" I had Lap-Band surgery six weeks ago. Since then, I’ve lost 45 pounds and my doctor has eliminated the massive dosage of blood pressure medication I was taking. For more information on what Lap-Band Surgery entails and my reasons for opting into it, click here . I’ve encountered mostly positive reactions to my decision of taking the somewhat drastic step of bariatric surgery in order to arrest my compulsive overeating. Actually, I’ve encountered only overwhelmingly positive feedback to my significant weight loss. That’s natural: I look better; I’m starting to resemble the person I used to be before I blew up into a medically obese creature; and, my sunny demeanor is returning in place of the cynical, clearly frustrated persona I had adopted during my long descent into “fattitude.” However, there are other reactions with which I find myself contending. Most commonly, there are many folks who just don’t know what Lap-Band surgery is. Or, others who mistake it for full-scale bariatric bypass surgery. My surgery was laparoscopic -- 5 small incisions used to insert the Lap-Band itself along with a “port.” Once explained, they silently nod their heads and I can hear them thinking … “Why would he choose this invasive technique just to lose weight?” Or, “What’s the matter, he can’t stick to a diet?” These observations belie the more extreme reaction which I have actually had said to me personally … “Surgery? That’s the easy way out of dieting.” In fact, there are just such reactions to news from Australia that the government is considering paying for Lap-Band surgery for morbidly obese patients who can’t afford the procedure. This, in an effort to forestall the exorbitant medical insurance costs of the consequences of obesity: high blood pressure, diabetes, cardiac conditions, strokes, etc. Click here for more details. But, when you dig a little further or just Twitter reactions to the news from Australia, there is a range of vitriolic (anonymous) email responses: • “Why can’t these fatties just stop their whining and shut their mouths?” • “This is such a f_ _ _ ing easy way out and a waste of taxpayer money for those of who really should lose weight by shutting their traps.” • “Why are governments looking at lap band surgery for obese people? Why not start by censoring what they put in their mouth first???” The diet / fitness / healthful eating discourse has never been serene. Witness Oprah Winfrey berating herself for her recent weight gain in the January, 2009 issue of O: “I'm mad at myself. I'm embarrassed. I can't believe that after all these years, all the things I know how to do, I'm still talking about my weight. I look at my thinner self and think, "How did I let this happen again?" There are many of us who were born into the “lucky gene club” --- they eat as much as, if not more than, the rest of us but their metabolism burns white hot and they go through life without fat (or guilt.) There are others who successfully work hard at achieving the balance of sensible eating, a fitness plan and a moderate lifestyle. However, Reuters reported in January, 2009 that “the number of obese American adults outweighs the number of those who are merely overweight, according to the latest statistics from the federal government.” • Numbers posted by the National Center for Health Statistics show that more than 34 percent of Americans are obese, compared to 32.7 percent who are overweight. Speaking for myself, I had reached my personal point of ‘no return.’ I had been on too many diets only to gain the weight back. While I knew I was capable of great discipline and had spent thousands of hours in the gym, the lure of food as an anesthetic to life’s woes had proven too great for me. After much research, attending numerous support groups and speaking with many post-operative Lap-Band patients, I concluded that the surgery would be right for me. The notion of inserting a tool which could physically signal that I was too full to eat more food resonated with me. So, off I went. To those who say it’s the ‘easy way out,’ here’s my reply: I went through both abdominal surgery and the attendant recovery from its unpleasant discomfort; I no longer drink coffee, carbonated beverages or distilled spirits; I will probably never again eat hard, crusty bread, well-done meat or anything else that can’t pass through an opening the size of a toothpaste cap in my ‘new’ stomach; if I do overeat, I’ll get sick, nauseous or vomit; in the worst scenario, I’ll be hospitalized from eating the wrong food or the wrong amounts. This is the ‘easy way out?’ On the other hand, in 6 short weeks, I’ve lost 45 pounds and have eliminated virtually all of my blood pressure medication; I can walk 6 ½ miles without getting winded or having to stop from joint pain; and, I am happy to do chores around the house again. I achieved this, in no small fashion, with the love and support of my family and, yes, relying on good old fashioned discipline to consume the right foods in the correct proportions. At the end of the day, Lap-Band surgery has empowered me to take control of my food intake and regain my sense of self. It has not always been easy and it is definitely not for everyone. But it’s working for me right now. The very best part … and it didn’t happen as a result of the ‘easy way out’ … is hearing friends and loved ones tell me “Welcome, you’re back again.” F. Scott Fitzgerald famously said “There are no second acts in American lives.” He was wrong – I’m living it right now.

The Lap Band Zone II: "Dealing with civilian response" By Aaron Grossman, Babyboomers.tv staff writer, "More Salt than Pepper" I had Lap-Band surgery six weeks ago. Since then, I’ve lost 45 pounds and my doctor has eliminated the massive dosage of blood pressure medication I was taking. For more information on what Lap-Band Surgery entails and my reasons for opting into it, click here . I’ve encountered mostly positive reactions to my decision of taking the somewhat drastic step of bariatric surgery in order to arrest my compulsive overeating. Actually, I’ve encountered only overwhelmingly positive feedback to my significant weight loss. That’s natural: I look better; I’m starting to resemble the person I used to be before I blew up into a medically obese creature; and, my sunny demeanor is returning in place of the cynical, clearly frustrated persona I had adopted during my long descent into “fattitude.” However, there are other reactions with which I find myself contending. Most commonly, there are many folks who just don’t know what Lap-Band surgery is. Or, others who mistake it for full-scale bariatric bypass surgery. My surgery was laparoscopic -- 5 small incisions used to insert the Lap-Band itself along with a “port.” Once explained, they silently nod their heads and I can hear them thinking … “Why would he choose this invasive technique just to lose weight?” Or, “What’s the matter, he can’t stick to a diet?” These observations belie the more extreme reaction which I have actually had said to me personally … “Surgery? That’s the easy way out of dieting.” In fact, there are just such reactions to news from Australia that the government is considering paying for Lap-Band surgery for morbidly obese patients who can’t afford the procedure. This, in an effort to forestall the exorbitant medical insurance costs of the consequences of obesity: high blood pressure, diabetes, cardiac conditions, strokes, etc. Click here for more details. But, when you dig a little further or just Twitter reactions to the news from Australia, there is a range of vitriolic (anonymous) email responses: • “Why can’t these fatties just stop their whining and shut their mouths?” • “This is such a f_ _ _ ing easy way out and a waste of taxpayer money for those of who really should lose weight by shutting their traps.” • “Why are governments looking at lap band surgery for obese people? Why not start by censoring what they put in their mouth first???” The diet / fitness / healthful eating discourse has never been serene. Witness Oprah Winfrey berating herself for her recent weight gain in the January, 2009 issue of O: “I'm mad at myself. I'm embarrassed. I can't believe that after all these years, all the things I know how to do, I'm still talking about my weight. I look at my thinner self and think, "How did I let this happen again?" There are many of us who were born into the “lucky gene club” --- they eat as much as, if not more than, the rest of us but their metabolism burns white hot and they go through life without fat (or guilt.) There are others who successfully work hard at achieving the balance of sensible eating, a fitness plan and a moderate lifestyle. However, Reuters reported in January, 2009 that “the number of obese American adults outweighs the number of those who are merely overweight, according to the latest statistics from the federal government.” • Numbers posted by the National Center for Health Statistics show that more than 34 percent of Americans are obese, compared to 32.7 percent who are overweight. Speaking for myself, I had reached my personal point of ‘no return.’ I had been on too many diets only to gain the weight back. While I knew I was capable of great discipline and had spent thousands of hours in the gym, the lure of food as an anesthetic to life’s woes had proven too great for me. After much research, attending numerous support groups and speaking with many post-operative Lap-Band patients, I concluded that the surgery would be right for me. The notion of inserting a tool which could physically signal that I was too full to eat more food resonated with me. So, off I went. To those who say it’s the ‘easy way out,’ here’s my reply: I went through both abdominal surgery and the attendant recovery from its unpleasant discomfort; I no longer drink coffee, carbonated beverages or distilled spirits; I will probably never again eat hard, crusty bread, well-done meat or anything else that can’t pass through an opening the size of a toothpaste cap in my ‘new’ stomach; if I do overeat, I’ll get sick, nauseous or vomit; in the worst scenario, I’ll be hospitalized from eating the wrong food or the wrong amounts. This is the ‘easy way out?’ On the other hand, in 6 short weeks, I’ve lost 45 pounds and have eliminated virtually all of my blood pressure medication; I can walk 6 ½ miles without getting winded or having to stop from joint pain; and, I am happy to do chores around the house again. I achieved this, in no small fashion, with the love and support of my family and, yes, relying on good old fashioned discipline to consume the right foods in the correct proportions. At the end of the day, Lap-Band surgery has empowered me to take control of my food intake and regain my sense of self. It has not always been easy and it is definitely not for everyone. But it’s working for me right now. The very best part … and it didn’t happen as a result of the ‘easy way out’ … is hearing friends and loved ones tell me “Welcome, you’re back again.” F. Scott Fitzgerald famously said “There are no second acts in American lives.” He was wrong – I’m living it right now.

Obviously I have no experience in this area but I'm responding to this to remove it from the no reply section so that it's exposed to people using apps and maybe responded to? But I've seen dozens of women respond to weight gain and how it correlates to TOM.

My husband and I enjoy eating out quite often, hence the weight gain. Now I’ve learned to deconstruct meals to take in protein first, then non starches, starches, then fruit. Wish food establishments wouldn’t charge for a full meal when you’ve taken out a good portion of the no-no foods.

Thanks for writing this ladies. In many ways its similar you your stories. In a nut shell: 1 year. slow but steady with a butt load of stalls thrown in for good measure. did not quite get to goal. 2 year. Get to within 5 pounds of goal, then lost my way and gained to 22 pounds above goal. HUGE sad face! I took my eye off the ball... I started acting "normal" (eating without being accountable) I had a big eating vacation, to NOLA, I had an injury that kept me down for a few months, I had my mom in law visit for 10 weeks with happy hour every single day. 3 year. Tried several methods to get the 22 pounds off and reach goal. Georgia turned me onto the 5:2, and I managed to get to goal in year 3. Took up birdwatching, walking, kayaking and continued bellydancing... loving a more active lifestyle. Really enjoying dressing up. Half way through year 3, mom got sick, and a pile of not so nice things moved into my life, job, home, relationships, sick and old dear dog.. then mom died. I fell back off the wagon, and just hung on the best I could. My weight started going up again.... and emotional eating and the holidays collided. I finally managed to get the weight gain to slow down and stop.. I started getting the good habits back on track... put my fitbit back on, started using myfitnesspal every day, every meal, every bite.... and started fasting two days a week again regularly. Still a few things I could tighten up... but not to bad. Unfortunately, the behavior that got me through the last push goal do not seem to be working the same way they did the first time.. but I am only 7 pounds from the high end of my goal range, so really thats not TOO bad all in all. My skinny jeans are tight. My cholesterol is up. My Dr says lose the weight, but its going really slow. I know stalls all too well and its not putting me off my task, but its a chore. I consider myself a success. Peoples eyes still bug out when they see me... even after 4 years. I hope I can go the rest of my life this close to goal... I really don't know how easy that will be. If it gets much harder than it is now, I don't know if I can pull it off, but so far so good (without saying it was easy) I just had my 4 year surgeversary on Jan 19th 2015.

I agree it is a lifetime project, but I would also like to point out that for many normal weight people it is also a life time project....people who have NEVER had weight problems also gain weight, they notice it, they cut back, they get to the gym, they pay attention to how their clothes fit, they take care of that 2 or 3 or 5 lb weight gain that happens when you live your life! They may not have had to lose 50-100 or more lbs like we all did, but the fact is, WE DID and we are right there with them now because this surgery gave us that opportunity. So now, with the support of everyone here, we can say, OK then....I'm up a few lbs and I have lots of choices of how to get rid of those (5:2, th3 5 Day Pouch Test, more exercise, cutting out eating at night for a week or so, fill in the blank for the right choice for YOU. And remind yourself that what ever you decide to do, it isn't for a full month, or a full year, that finally this is NOT overwhelming and at least for me, before this surgery, whatever the diet choice of the month was, I just knew I would fail....now I know I won't!!!! I also have old habits creep in, so you know what? I indulge them, but in small amounts and I also do the 5:2. And when I'm not perfect on the 5:2, I at least always have two days a week that are NO WINE/NO COOKIE days...(because those are my two downfalls). And at 3.5 years post of and 61 years old, I am at goal and I feel great. Just say NO to pity parties because we have all come way too far and we are closer to our healthier selves than we are to our old selves....

I had surgery on 11/29 and have lost 26 lbs. Now, it has seemed since I started pureed food (mushies) I have stalled. No weight gain....just not moving. I am getting in 60gm's of protein a day and doing what I am supposed to. Although, at my last appointment he told me he expects a 21% weight loss by 30 days. So, I am good as of right now. Thing is, you can't exercise for another so many weeks. I live in Michigan, so walking outside right now is not an option. I need to invest in a treadmill I think .

Hey guys! So I have yet to get lap band, but I am really interested in getting it. I have looked into a few times and each time I think to myself that I can just lose the weight myself by dieting and working out alone. I think I am finally ready to take the first step and talk to a doctor about getting this procedure done. I’m 20 years old 285 lbs. have awful asthma as well as lower back pains and knee pain. I know I need to do something about this issue while am young. I am hoping that I can get some real information from people who have had this done! I know the basic information that you read online, but what are some of the things that you experienced pre and post op? “(examples: hunger, food you can eat, can’t eat, exercises and when you can start exercising, pain, weight loss and then weight gain, rapid weight loss and extra skin..) I am hoping to gather as much information for myself so that I can better prepare myself…. Also…are any of you picky eaters? If so did you find that to be an issue for you after the surgery? Really any information would be great! -Heather

I am almost 2 years out from VSG. I lost 60 pounds in the first year but have stalled for most of the 2nd year. I regained 10 pounds and if I let myself, I can eat more than I thought I would be able to. When I went to my pain management doctor last month, I got to talking to her about my sleeve surgery and my weight loss. She told me nobody loses weight on the pain medication I am on and most people gain weight. When I talked to my sleeve doctor, he didn't say much and just shrugged it off. This is very frustrating because I cannot be without my Lyrica (I have fibromyalgia). Is anyone else on medications where weight gain is the primary side effect? How has that impacted your weight loss after VSG?

Hello I recently gained a few pounds. I am shocked! I am under 600 calories a day and I exercise pretty much EVERYDAY. I did the surgery last month. Did anyone experience this ? Thanks Dani B

I am losing slower, surgery on May 2nd at 218 and down to 193 today. I have PCOS and was on metformin for 12 years prior to surgery. I have a history of low progesterone levels. I even had to supplement the first trimester of my pregnancy in order to not have a miscarriage. It just dawned on me a couple days ago that I probably need to go back to using a little bit of progesterone cream daily in order to keep my hormones in check. Since I began doing this I’ve lost a pound each day. Keep in mind it’s only been two days, so I will continue monitoring the effectiveness of the progesterone cream. Some people it causes weight gain but if you really do have low progesterone and use just a little bit it will help keep you in balance and allow for better weight loss. Hopefully this is going to continue as I use just a little bit each day. Just thought I would share.

I have been 150.4 all week... Then went on a 17 mile hike two days ago and since then my weight has been up to 153-154! I know better to freak out as I have had plenty of BP support reassuring me its my muscles repairing themselves and the weight gain is temporary. I didn't make goal... But I'm hiking 17 mile hikes!!!! Living life at goal! Loving life at goal! Now on to the next challenge to get me to my stretch goal! I just want to see the 140's... Even if it's just for one day!!!!

I guess I am lucky -- my doctor is only requiring a liquid pre-op diet for one day. And I have been told NOT to drink protein drinks before surgery as they cause weight gain. Good luck!

I'll answer the same way kgremmy did. *What are the major differences in pregnancy before and after the VSG procedure? None at all. ( I was sleeved in November 2011) *Did you have weird cravings? It seems like you would not because the Ghrelin is gone. Nope. Never had craving with my first pregnancy (before VSG) and neither had cravings with my second pregnancy (after VSG). I just wanted to eat all the time. Probably because can't eat much in one sitting. *Did you gain a lot of weight? Was it a struggle to gain the weight? Gained a ton of weight! 55lbs. Wayy wayy wayyyyyyyy too much. I voiced my concerns to my doctors, but they said it was ok and didn't seemed concern about it *Were you nauseous? more than normal. Not at all *Were there any concerns about taking in enough food for the baby? Never, I was constantly hungry and believe that's the reason why I gained so much weight. *Anything else noteworthy? Yes, eventhough I had no weird cravings I did want to eat the "comfort food" You should just snack as much as you want, but stick to veggies and fruits and nuts. *It is strange but I can't seem to fine a lot of information on this topic. I just want to make sure I am prepared...* I know, I fell the same way. I had my baby 3 months ago. Healthy little boy. I lost 30lbs within the first couple of weeks. I still have to loose other 25lbs to be on my pre-pregnancy weight. It is not coming off, but to be honest I have not gone back to eat the weight I was eating before and I have not resume my excesice routine. I'm exhausted! (due to my fibromyalgia and also have 4 yr old and work full time). I just took my first step into going back to my routine and started to log everything that goes into my mouth. It is a big help. good luck! Maria.

Yes, hopefully the ER you go to will have a bariatric surgeon on call. It sounds like a slip. I have had one, I keep a lose band now. Better a slight weight gain than permanent damage to your body! Best wishes.

Well I had my follow up appointment with my dr today! After hearing my story of what all had been happening she sent me right upstairs to her favorite OB...After talking with the OB and running alot of tests she is thinking that my depo shot and the lapband are fighting eachother...Basically one stores estrogen and one makes you get rid of it so they were battling since June and I think by the looks of it the band one...She says that my depo days are deffinately over...So she also has me scheduled for an ultrasound next friday just incase its something else and I have a follow up with her on the friday after that to get all of my testing results back and to talk to her about a new birth control method...She had mentioned the mirena which I had never heard of before...I just sits right inside the uterus and you dont have to worry about birth control for 5 years at a time, no weight gain (which I had alot from the depo) and it doesnt use estrogen at all (which is exactly what I need)...She said in most cases the patient doesnt even bleed during that time of the month but maybe spots just a little...I told her that it sounded better than finding a huge diamond in my christmas stocking...She will call if anything abnormal comes up with my tests but says if she dont hear from me that everything is fine and can wait till my follow up...Of course we have to wait on the mirena until after all my tests are back cuz she dont want to add insult to injury if something else is wrong...So far the estrogen pills are working pretty good, just a little spotting right now but nothing like it was thank goodness...It can only get better from here on!!

Well I had my follow up appointment with my dr today! After hearing my story of what all had been happening she sent me right upstairs to her favorite OB...After talking with the OB and running alot of tests she is thinking that my depo shot and the lapband are fighting eachother...Basically one stores estrogen and one makes you get rid of it so they were battling since June and I think by the looks of it the band one...She says that my depo days are deffinately over...So she also has me scheduled for an ultrasound next friday just incase its something else and I have a follow up with her on the friday after that to get all of my testing results back and to talk to her about a new birth control method...She had mentioned the mirena which I had never heard of before...I just sits right inside the uterus and you dont have to worry about birth control for 5 years at a time, no weight gain (which I had alot from the depo) and it doesnt use estrogen at all (which is exactly what I need)...She said in most cases the patient doesnt even bleed during that time of the month but maybe spots just a little...I told her that it sounded better than finding a huge diamond in my christmas stocking...She will call if anything abnormal comes up with my tests but says if she dont hear from me that everything is fine and can wait till my follow up...Of course we have to wait on the mirena until after all my tests are back cuz she dont want to add insult to injury if something else is wrong...So far the estrogen pills are working pretty good, just a little spotting right now but nothing like it was thank goodness...It can only get better from here on!!

Pam, you've discovered the one thing that makes being banded so different from anything and everything we've tried in the past. So many people considering banding want to know why this might work where everything else has failed. Well--this is it! It works because it doesn't go away!! Of course we have to change our habits, and of course it can be hard sometimes. But this little band of silicone is our tool to help us stay on course, or get back on course when necessary. I've done what you describe several times. Changing our lives to the extent necessary to put morbid obesity behind us forever is not something that can be done overnight. Our bodies and minds NEED to take "breaks" once in a while, think about something else for a few days/weeks/months, get used to the new reality and internalize it completely. If we continually think we're on a "program" then occasional lapses in vigilance only lead to a sense of failure. I've worked hard to just BE smaller, eat less and more healthfully, and not treat my banded life as being one of constant dieting. The band is there when we're ready to refocus. Lapses don't lead to weight gain and disappointment and failure anymore!! :)

Hi Everyone, Today is my two year bandiversary!!!! I was hoping to be at goal today but I had a very long plateau and a slight weight gain due to the fact that I quit smoking in preparation of plastic surgery in August. So now I have six weeks to get to the 170's!!! There are lots of things I want to share, but many of been said by other tenured bandsters here on this board. The most important change in my life is that I can do most anything!!! I fly airplanes regularly, go to theme parks and do all the coasters, go to Water parks, play with my kids and chase them around and I have lots of energy!!! Plastic surgery is the last part of my journey and then I need to maintain my losses. The one thing I have found is that if you really want to gain weight with the band, it is quite easy to do so. No matter how long you are banded, you have to stick to the plan. meat and fish first, then veggies and last carbs if there is any room left. And exercise is so important. No matter how big you are, it is possible to get exercise if you really want to do it. NO EXCUSES!!! LOL SO today for my second bandiversary, I am going to see my plastic surgeon to finalize all of the details of the procedures that he will be doing tag team with another plastic surgeon. I am having an abdominoplasty, medial thighplasty, breast augmentation with implants to help my saggy boobs! I am excited, but also nervous. It is anticipated that my surgeon will remove about 14 lbs of excess from my stomach and thighs. Yucchhh! But hopefully the results will be worth the pain!! I am scheduled for transformation on august 3rd. I changed the date from June 15th cause I am moving, packing and in the process of building a new house, so the June date didnt work. I want to thank everyone who has offered me great advice over the last two years!!!! Babs in TX 334/18-/170 -154 6/23/03 :rolleyes :laugh :rambo

I totally relate to the frustration of stalls and even periods of weight gain that this graph shows. I found something that helped me deal with it the last time I was losing weight. There’s an app called a Happy Scale that uses statistical averaging to show you what your weight loss would be if you factored out the bloated days, etc. It gives you a smooth curve on the graph. It helped me a lot.

I was shocked. Before my massive weight gain I was 270lbs. Avg pant size 38. I started to develop sleep apnea which really got bad over time. When I finally got checked it was in the severe stage 65 episodes a minute. by time I was diagnosed I was 380lbs and pants size 52 (I like them loose). All this happened within 3 years. I had about 10 new pants I havent wore since weight gain. Im 10 weeks in, and now im at 287lbs. Im still very big, but the weight loss didnt hit me until I didnt have any clean pants (havent done laundry... I work 2 jobs.. dont judge im not lazy..lol). I had to attempt to try one of these pants on since I had a party to go to and all stores were closed. I jumped into a size 44 and it was still too big. I believe im currently a size 40 I jist havent checked. Its summer I been wearing shorts all summer and surgery was in jun. So we will see. Sorry for long story im just really happy with my surgery getting to sizes I havent seen in years.

Ahh yes it’s crazh though @Matt Z I intake between 300-500 calories per day and I mean I know I work it off. I’m walking 2 miles a day and 2-4 times hitting up the gym for my cardio. And of course sleeping burns like 700-800 calories😂 i know it’s still early in the game for me but I hit the ground running after my surgery and this little stall and only 1lb per week thing is killing me !!! Maybe your gaining muscle. That has happened to me in the past we’re I was gaining muscle and losing inches. So that little weight gain your having isn’t necessarily a bad thing.

i'm not for trying to beat the system per se, but what marimaru said is very true and worthy of more national discussion: isn't it just as "immoral" to go and push your weight up even more just to qualify for WLS? immoral to continue abusing yourself when you know that it's wrong? i believe so. that's why we need to push to make medicine more preventative, WLS included! lapbands are just as revolutionary and life changing for those who want to reverse a (quite often) yo-yo weight gain at 50 pounds as it is to reverse a 200-pound one. many people who are within 50-60 pounds of their goal weight are hanging on my their bare knuckles! and if they know themselves and their life-long struggle, that's a PRIME reason to 1) have the surgery and 2) make insurance companies and the FDA understand that stepping in to relieve the pressure, pain, and possible (inevitable??) climb to a higher weight is good medicine.

I decided to go back on BC pills and not have another mirena. I think that was a factor in my weight gain after my pregnancy.

You could very well be in what is caused perimenopause, although that would be early. It goes on for 10 years before actual menopause. Insomnia can start in perimenopuase. Sometimes doctors will prescribe anti depressants for people who can't sleep. some of them cause people to feel drowsy but you have to be careful cause the side effect for a lot of them is weight gain. if he offers you any antidepressant, look it up online.