My long-time private psychiatrist hasn't been as concerned about my weight as he's been about my blood work results. He actually is concerned about them, in many ways more than my GP or nephrologist (kidney doctor) that I see at least a couple times per year. My psychiatrist has bugged me a lot in the past about exercising more. He is right that I should, but I still don't for various reasons, even though I used to be an avid exerciser. Once he suggested I try becoming a vegan. Oh my! I tried for two days and it was not happening for me. I asked if he was a vegan or vegetarian, and he said "No". I don't think being a vegan is necessary at all, but I definitely should adjust my eating. I know it, but it is tough. Only occasionally do I manage to diet successfully, but it usually ends when a mood episode (mania) develops.

I remember several years back first hearing about Metformin for weight loss. That was when I was at my heaviest. I was on Depakote and Invega at the time and had been depressed for quite a while. I asked him about it and he literally yelled "NO!!!!!" I didn't say any more. Then only a few months back (perhaps 9 years later) he brought up Metformin because he heard so many good things about it at a psych med conference. He decided to prescribe it for me (as his first patient he prescribed it for). I got home with it and researched it more to find it was contraindicated for people with kidney damage. Ooops! I called him about that, and he told me to stop taking the Metformin. The next time I saw him he kinda apologized. He did look guilty about it. He is lucky that I adore him. Some patient out there might have filed a complaint. I told him that he was lucky to learn a bit more about the med from someone like me, rather than the type that would complain.