Pain after WLS

I am having WLS in May. I was diagnosed with fibro and RA two years ago.  I have heard and read it somewhere that any trauma or surgery increases the pain. Is this true and how long will it last.

Well I was already on codine for back pain when I had surgery and mine was lapband and done laprascopically so not much cutting involved. I didn't notice any real difference in pain or any additional pain from my surgery but like I say it probably depends on how invasive your particular surgery is. Also in case you aren't aware the WLS won't improve your fibro. Some folks go into it hoping it will lessen their pain but since it is a muscle disease it won't really help the fibro. Losing the weight tho will certainly help other pain from being obese so the surgery will be well worth it anyway! Good luck with your new life!

Your pain will be a little worse to begin with right after surgery. After a couple months though it will go back to normal. Now WLS will NOT make your fibro better AT ALL!! You will hurt like hell the first couple months so brace yourself for it. After that though it will be ok.........

I had not been diagnosed with Fibro when I had my RNY, however looking back I showed many symptoms. The pain after the surgery was worse then any I had felt before, but ti was surgically related, not like the normal pains I felt. Does that make sense? My fibro didn't get worse from surgery. Lucky me?

Thank you for responding. I am very excited about surgery. I do not tolerate major well. As long as my fibro pain does not get worse immediately afterwards I think I can tolerate the pain from surgery. Besides it will be worth it!!! I wish you all well on you weight loss journey and can't wait to be there with you!!!

Any kind of trauma or assault to your body can send you into a Fibro Flare. I had my revision to a ERNY July 2 ,2008. My incision did not even bother me that bad. The worse thing I remember was I went right into a Fibro Flare. I hurt so bad all over that I stayed a few more days in the hospital. I was on a morphine drip and it did not go for me. It felt while I was laying in bed that the springs from the box springs were coming up and digging in my body. I ached like no tomorrow but I was impressed with the incision pain. I had some pain  don't get me wrong but compared to the Fibro I was almost crying and hyperventilating. Ask your surgeon if he does the Q ball pain thing. My surgeon does not use it. The pain lasted about 2 weeks and I walked around the hospital as much as I could because I did not want to get back into the bed. Good luck in May and think positive. Just because I almost lost it with Fibro you may be totally different. Good Luck and be pain free.

Dawn

Hi Dawn,
This is exactly what I was referring too. Thank you for sharing, and I hope you are doing well now. I have heard of fibro flare, and I am hoping and praying this does not happen to me. I just want to be prepared for anything. This will be my first surgery since my diagnosis of Fibromyalgia, and I am a bit anxious about it (as if it is not obvious). Thank you for sharing and for the well wishes.

TONYA

 

Hey Tonyag3!

I wanted to let you know that although I was also VERY concerned about pain after surgery, I can tell you that it is not bad for everyone.

I had laproscopic RNY Gastric Bypass Surgery two weeks ago tomorrow and have had severe Fibromyalgia for a few years now.  Leading up to the surgery my team of doctors opted to stop most of my meds to keep things as simple as possible and I was very nervous, so I was obviously tense and in more pain than usual.

But I am happy to report that I came through the surgery better than expected (things are always more complicated with Fibromyalgia) and my recovery has been no more painful than my day to day presurgery pain.  The anesthesia and morphine button help to completely relax you so that is a good immediate pain reliever.  And after surgery, get up and move as much as you can, not only because they tell you to to prevent blood clots, but it will also help the Fibro.

I was very aware what pain was from the surgery (and/or the gas they tell you all about that they blow you up with) and my Fibro pain.  Happily, very little was from the surgery.  And the pain that was from the Fibro I dealt with the same as I would any other time, heat pads, walking, stretching (just not my belly), moving.

And now, almost two weeks later, I am feeling a bit of a flare, but that is to be expected.  I can handle it knowing that it is for the best.  Flares are a part of life and if I am going to get them anyway, I think the surgery is a justifiable reason for one!  And the incentive of the number on the scale dropping a couple of pounds a day helps keep my spirits up!

As for whether the surgery will improve your Fibromyalgia or not, that remains to be seen.  I do not feel any different (but it's only been a short time), but part of my decision to have the surgery included recent research that shows up to a 90-percent improvement for some post-surgery Fibro patients.  I have come to accept that Fibro is a part of my life.  If it is reduced by the surgery, GREAT!  But if not, I will be an overall healthier person and that can't help but improve my Fibromyalgia in some way.

Good luck with your surgery.  And the best advice I could give you is take the next few months to get yourself into the best shape mentally, and physically that you can.  You will have to loose some weight before surgery anyway and active people recover better after surgery.  So start early with the protien shakes and daily walks.  Keep the stress as low as possible and really begin preparing for your new life!

Best Wishes!!