I just don't know what to do????

I just don't know what to do right now. I've been waiting patiently to have the vertical sleeve done, I've done all my pre-op requirements and I was waiting to hear back from the doctors, as he was meeting with BCBS of PA which is what I have (personal choice) well the meeting was on Monday and I called because they didn't call me and I felt that 4 months is a good enought amount of time to know what the heck is going on. Bottom line my doctor said he didnt' get something and I faxed it right over then the doctor called me back and told me that my insurance will deny the sleeve and if he appeals it they will deny it again. He said that the bypass is just as good a surgery and it will work fine with my fiboro. My question is my pain meds are now (some not all) SR and CR like my Ambien CR. I thought with a bypass you can't take things with extended or controlled release. I told my DR about this and he just said that once I lost atleast 5% of my body weight I probably would not need most of the meds that I"m on right now. I personally feel like he is talking alot of junk right now to save his darn face,

I'd love to here from they bypass people here to see how well they are doing with being able to take medication needed for firbro??? So I'm never going to take advil or motrin again??? I just really don't know what to do!

My understanding is that with RNY, you will not be able to absorb the extended release meds ever.  Also, with RNY, NSAIDS are an always NO NO.  I will occassionally take ibuprofin for a bad headache or some arthritis issues and do okay with that..  But it's only once in a while. 

As far as your issues going POOF gone after RNY, that's probably not true.  Certainly, if you have knee pain, it will lessen but if you've worn out your joints, wt loss isn't going to suddenly repair your joints. 

My fibro is about the same as before surgery.  Sometimes better, sometimes worse, as in right now.  I take Trazadone, flexeril and cymbalta at bedtime and am finally sleeping better.  I take hydrocodone once in a while for the pain when it starts affecting my life too much.

 

 

Don't settle for the surgery type the doctor wants you to have because it is easier and less work for them. Besides, he doesn't have to do the appeal process, you do so no skin off his back. I hate it when they try to bully you, not all doctors are like that but some will because if you want the sleeve and go for the sleeve and get denied you might not have a different surgery type and then they are out money. Sometimes they just want the easiest route for them to make quick money. I hate to say that because we would all like to think differently but sometimes it is the truth. So you go for the surgery you can live with, if you are comfortable with RNY then go for it. Chin up, let me know if I can help!

I used to take Ambien until my daughter found me sleepwalking.  Be careful with that sleep aid.  I switched to Tylenol PM to help me sleep.  But I use the duragesic fentanyl 25 mcg pain patch and Norco as a break though med.  I am doing much better now.  I don't have to worry about malabsorption with the patch.  I was getting frustrated with my pcp because he wouldn't help me with my Fibro.  He was afraid to give me meds.  So I am now in a pain management clinic and they understand that we really need the skills and pills.  If you can, try to find a pain management clinic to help you.  I had RNY in 06 and lost 90 lbs and thought oh great, I can do anything now.  But then I got this Fibro and was in bed for 3-4 months until I got the right help.  Don't give up and keep trying different meds until you find one that works for your life style.  Best wishes,
Kristy

Your doc doesn't seem to know much about fibro because WLS isn't going to help the fibro one bit. Fibro is a muscle disorder and while weight loss helps your joints it does nothing to help your fibro. I think all of us here agree that WLS didn't help our fibro at all.

Hey sweety!
So sorry your going through this. Your doc is wrong though. Yeah you will lose weight but it is NOT going to affect your fibro. For the first couple months your going to hurt MORE than you did before WLS. Your body is going to rebel and your going to hurt like HELL!!
Now with the surgeries. I say do which ever is right for you. I had the RNY and I am doing fine with it. I have lost 75lbs so far. I take an extended relief pill and it does ok. Does not last as long as it should so she gives it every 12 hours. You have to find what works for you.
If you have RNY though you should NOT take the NSAIDS. No matter what the doc tells you.
Find a pain clinic, that is your best bet to fight the FM pain......
Good luck and let us know what you end up with.....
Birdy

I agree totally with those who have  expressed the oinions that 1) you should fight to have the surgery that is best for you (talk to Teresa J - she successfully won an appeal and was able to get a VSG), 2) the type of surgery you have will affect the type of medications you can take post-op, and 3) weight loss does not cure fibromyalgia.  I am almost 5 months post op VSG and have lost 123 pounds; I am in more pain now than I was pre-op and I actually have an appointment tomorrow to discuss chronic pain management and the possibility of trying lyrica (which I've thus far vetoed because I am very sensitive to all medication and previous drugs that acted on "the brain level" (neurontin and topomax) either lead to feeling high all of the time or a serious decline in mental acuity.  I knew going in that weight loss wasn't a cure but was hoping for at least some symptomatic improvements and am sorry to report that thus far that just hasn't happened.  Part of that issue, I think is that I am more in tune with my body, listening to the messages it sends me, whether pleasure or pain, and am simply unwilling to tolerate the misery anymore.  As weird as it sounds, that's actually a good thing!

I wish you the best of luck on your journey towards a healthier, happier, and longer life.

~Namaste~

Amy

Hi Monica, Is there any reason you might not consider the DS= Duodenal Switch? The Sleeve you want is the 1st part of the OP and the RNY rearranges the small intestine for Malansorbtion in a similar fashion- kinda "best of both WLS worlds" for some of us! - unless you got the initial horror story like I did when I first phoned 2 doctors' offices & was told was told inaccurate info about DSers needing IV nutrition and it being and OP for ppl very much heavier than me* not true & the IVnutrit. stuff-rare- if ya do not keep up your protein & vits & minerals like supposed to.the thing is Luke the Sleeve not many docs do the DS but LOTS do the RNY! I see you have been waiting a long time and also you are from PA- me too ((waves)) I also have BC-BS Personal Choice **they have approved my DS with Dr.David Greenbaum in NJ for Apr 27 - Surgical Specialists of NJ - they have 3 docs - each one does different WLS proceedure and so they are familiar with DS & Sleeve & RNY & the LapBand too- I had originally wanted the DS,but like I said got the Mis-info for 2 PA offices and and believed them; went to info meeting for RNY at one hospital kinds far from home- nut excellent team of docs & staff, then someone my son knew had RNY much closer to home- so went to his team of docs- Our insurance Did approve - had pre-admission tests &all other tests & evals done- passed all but 1& Even got up to one or 2 weeks before surgery date & doc postphoned it-seemed more like he was really cancelling it.I was devastated-but it was TRULEY a BLESSING -then Nurse said that The RNY is not for everyone-(and there IS a reason you are interested in the Sleeve!) I Went back to the beginning- even the Band- looking into proceedures- and my particular body's med problems- & asked question on the Sleeve & DS forums which helped really in my final choice- if for some reason I Could not hv DS- I wd want the Sleeve but our insurance does not cover it- nut maybe there would be some reasons like severe intestinal problems and your docs support 1000% to help get approval- nut if your doc says you cd have RNY then he's going to work on small intestine too so that's not problem- but if you really want that you appeal it!!! I believe I need the malansorb-component to help me loose + keep weight off & My doc is willing to 'tweak' how much he take of the small intestine so I can still take my Fish oil caps! You my really like your present doc, but you need to have a digestive system YOU can LIVE with,Monica, so before you commit to ANYTHING plz go to the info sections of the DS & RNY & SLEEVE forums and even just look at the pictures of the stomachs & pouch etc **for the DS you will have the SAME functioning stomach as the Sleeve with your Plyloral Valve- so it will churn your food, rare chance of dumping, whatever meds you wd take with the Sleeve you wd most likely be taking with the DS stomach- no offense to RNYers but the mOre I find out about both Proceedures, the more I realize how much the RNY was not for me & the DS is - maybe you just need to TALK with someone who does the DS to just find out IF you cd live with that? You aRE allowed to talk to other docs & even visit them and if you change your mind you can switch docs & have records sent or you pick them up take to new doc- might not need to re-do some tests & evaluations- tis OKAY There are 2 docs in our general area that are listed at OH #1) Dr. Bonano(spell?) I think he is with Abington Hospital- he is either in Langhorne or Levittown #2)Dr. David Greenbaum of Surgical Specialists of NJ - he does the DS& partner does Sleeve- plus do RNY- so can tell you of all 3 so have choice :) keep in mind - with fibromyagial so much hurts- get what you will be most at peace with and can live with the best- you are not obligated to stay with any WLSurgeon nut must do what is best for you -pray about it plz :) [and read some of the DS posts & know that some get revisions from one proceedure to another sadly- but DS has very good chance of loosing & keeping off & diabetes cure too] Take care, Kameko