Doc giving me a guilt trip....

Hi Pam.  You'd probably get more response to this if you post on the main board.  But here's my experience.  The only meds that WLSers really aren't supposed to take are ibuprofen, asprin, nuproxin (things that irritate your stomach).   Tylenol and regular pain meds/narcotics are ok.  But long term use of these also have side-effects.  I know some people who don't exercise - still lose the weight but not as quickly.  In the beginning, all I did was walk because I also have terrible tendonitis in my ankles and couldn't tolerate much else.  Swimming is good too.  You don't necessarily have to join a gym to lose the weight.  Good luck with your surgery and your pain issues.
Tra

Hello and welcome Pam. Best wishes on you diet and surgery journey. I do all I can even if it is just gentle stretching, walking in place, even if slowly while doing the dishes or whatever I can. I do suffer pain if i overdo it at all. I was on alot of ibuprofen preop, though I had no diagnosis. The dr just said lose weight and it will go away. Little did he know I had fibro and a ruptured disk in my back. Hopefully your specialist appts got some help for you! Best wishes,
Shannon

It really annoys me that people in pain have to feel guilty about being treated for their pain. From talking with lots of folks who have Fibro I've come to understand that different "****tails" work for different people. Mine basically consists of 1 Norco and 1 Ultram every 4 hours 24/7. I also take an anti-inflammatory called Etodolac, and Robaxin (a muscle relaxer), and I can and do still have pain with all of this stuff. I was on Fentanyl pain patches for about 4 months, but the Dr who was treating me had no business being in the pain specialty clinic.  He ran me up to a higher dose than I needed and then left me there for about 2 weeks, which of course got me dependent on that dosage. When he finally dropped me down to a dosage that I could actually stay awake at, it was too late.  Since my body wanted the higher does, I started dropping into withdrawls every other day at the lower dose. It took me 4 months to get anyone, and I mean ANYONE to help me taper off of that stuff.  I've also tried time release morphone tabs, but I try to stay away from the seriously heavy duty pain meds.  My body doesn't take well to the dependency on them.

As for your doctor being afraid to subscribe pain medications, I'd find a new doctor. I received a RX for 180 norco and 180 Ultram per month. If there's a legitimate reason there should NOT be anything to be afraid of.  If your Dr is that afraid, I'd venture to say that he's not the correct Dr to be treating you. Just my opinion of course.  I couldn't even begin to live on 20 #5 vicodin per month. Plus Vicodin has more Tylenol than Norco which is so bad for your liver.

Good Luck
SF

Sorry to hear of the way you are treated. I am in pain management and on the patch and lortab. I am still in some pain but I cant imagine that much pain and the meds you get. I did have to be referred for trigger points by a rheumy and then my pcp, who is really a nurse prac referred me out for pain management. I have been on same meds for a year and may be time for a dose increase but we will see. I hope you get some help.
Hugs,
Shannon

Hi Shannon,
I went to my nutritionist and surgeon appts. yesterday. I have to satisfy my insurance's 9 month diet before I can have the surgery. My surgeon is upset that it has to take so long, so am I. I really need to get this done now. I had to also see the surgeon before my pain specialist would see me again. The surgeon told me this would not solve all my pain problems, which I already knew. It is really disheartening having to wait this long to have it. I guess I have no choice but to stay at the dose I'm on for pain meds since my pain doc won't change anything. With my insurance I am very limited to who I can go to and this makes it very hard to manage my conditions. I appreciate your encouragement. You have already had the surgery? How are you doing with it. I spoke with my ex-brother in law yesterday who had it 4 years ago and he is doing really well and says he would do it again in a heartbeat. He even had the open procedure instead of the laproscopic. So, I am really looking forward to getting this over with. I am miserable with all this extra weight on. I have to lose about 100 lbs. My frame was not meant to carry this extra weight. I had problems when I only carried about 40 extra lbs. My body just doesn't do well with extra weight. I have gained and lost so many times. Like everyone else. I am tired of it. Did you have any complications with the surgery. That is one of my fears. Thanks so much.
Pam

I had no major complications from my surgery at all. I ended up with small intestine bacterial overgrowth months after surgery. Once they finally diagnosed it, it was treated by several rounds of antibiotics. Only large hospitals have the machine to test for it so it took a while after going to my local gastro. I went back to where I had my surgery and they found it right away. That can happen with any abdominal surgery though. I also had IBS preop so had issues before. I wish you the best on your journey. Your time will be here before you know it. I had my surgery in Nov 05. I had spinal fusion Jan 8. Hoping for no more surgeries unless I can by some miracle have the money and strength for some plastics. I am disabled from fibro and DDD. Never thought I would be that way after losing so much weight. I am only 35, was found to be disabled last year. I have always worked and its been a big adjustment for me. Got divorced a little while before that. Life has been a roller coaster and I seek out help to deal with it all. I have many issues that led me to my food addiction that I need help with. The food is gone so i cant eat them away. Sometimes I overdo but I have to get myself back on track.
I would do it again in a heart beat too!
Shannon

Hi Shannon,
We have a lot in common it seems. I have had 9 abdominal surgeries, 5 in the last 6 years. I have an adhesions disorder from it and Fibro, and Chronic Fatigue Syndrome so I too am disabled. I am still waiting on a hearing date for my disability claim. I am in pain all the time. I know the surgery won't take all of this away but it will help me feel better and help with the diabetes, GERD, and sleep apnea, cholesterol and those things. I also was divorced last year after 28 years. So, I do truly understand all of your issues too. I am also getting help for them. I have a lot of intestinal issues already and am hoping that maybe some of them resolve with the surgery. The doc yesterday told me that the surgery won't take away my pain but will help. I am miserable being overweight. My frame isn't made to hold this weight. So I know it will help me feel better than I do now. And feel better about myself. Thank you for responding. I appreciate any help I can get.
Pam

I hope you are sucessful with your disability and wls. I hate it that you have to go all the way to a hearing. I dont know how but I got mine in 3 months. I had many drs records that matched exactly what I had filled in on ppwk. I requested copies of all my ppwk after being approved and they used excerpts of drs records to approve the claim. It was really a blessing. Its a struggle sometimes paying health ins out of pocket until i get medicare but I manage.
I can tell when I gain 5 lbs the difference in my pain levels. I dont know how I ever made it before. Sometiimes I think I was more active but I live on major doses of Ibuprofen pre-op.
message me anytime!
Shannon