Meds for Fibro

Hi,

I am waiting my insurance approval for RNY surgery.  I hope to have surgery before the end of the year.  Yesterday at my last Nurse appt (weight/loss/diet supervised) the nurse told me i could no longer take Mobic for my fibro.  I have just recently been diagnosed (although no one has "officially" given me that "title" ) My PCP started me on Cymbalta and Mobic a few weeks ago.  I feel that the mobic is sort of helping? Has anyone else taken Mobic before or after surgery?  Also, has anyone read the book "What your doctor has NOT told you about Fibromyalgia"?  Or heard of taking Guaifenesin? (the main ingred in Mucinex)..Also, has anyone felt that their Fibro has gotten WORSE, since having WLS?  I am so worried, and feeling down about the fibro, hopeing that WLS will make me feel better, but not sure what to do?  Thanks for any input!  Karil

Hello!  I wish I could tell you RNY would for sure help you, but for me it has not. Mobic is a NSAIDS and RNY patients are not suppose to take it. I also take Cymbalta and Norco for pain. I haven't read the book about Fibro but am very interested in reading it. I have found we have to be our own advocate with our physicians because some understand it or don't want to. Keep on the boards and the best of luck to you! I am 217 pounds lighter!  Katrina 

I can't take pain relievers so I'm not familiar with Mobic.  My fibromyalsia has NOT gotten any better after RNY.  The only thing it did was make the doctors stop blaming the pain on my weight.  I am still very tired, still forgetful, still foggy, and still very much in pain.  I am walking with a cane now even though I'm down 70 pounds. 

However, I will say that the surgery got my blood sugar back to normal and I no longer have sleep apnea.  At least I don't think so anyway. :)

I hope the surgery helps you in other ways, but I wouldn't count on it for fibro relief.

I just read that you can't take pain relievers!  Why?  I don't mean to pry but when you have Fibro you need a narcotic medication to help you live your life.  The Cymbalta and others just take the edge off.  Is it personal why you can't take the meds or due to your RNY?  Please let me know, so we can help you.  If it is because of your stomach, try the pain patch and ok, I will wait til you reply.
Kristy

Sorry but I agree with the others that surgury didn't help at all. You may not be able to use NSAIDS but there are tons of other meds including narcotics that are available to use for the pain. I haven't read the book but there are lots of books available to help you learn more about fibro, the more you know and understand the disease the more you can deal with it. I have read about using guiafenisin but frankly am skeptical as to why it would work. Maybe others here have more info on that. Anyone with fibro just has to learn as much as possible about the disease and how it affects them because each person is different. Best of luck to you and larn to be patient with yourelf!

Thanks for the feedback.  I know it will not really help with the fibo, but i don't want it to make it worse.  Seriously, when i first took the Mobic, i thought it was a mircale, i was almost 100% pain free!  I thought to myself, if i had a choice between taking mobic and having wls, i would take mobic.  But then for some reason, all the pain, etc, came back, so now i can do without the mobic, if i have to to have WLS. 
When you take the guaifensin, you can't have anything with salicyc (sp) acid, and anything with plant extracts, so basically and creams, shampoos, lotions, toothpaste with mint, etc...and once you get all that out of your system, you start taking the "G" and your fibro gets worse, then better!  I am not sure, i feel like if it was really that much of a cure (by the way, the author does call it a cure for the disease). that more doctors and people would know about it.
Right now i take the cymbalta, mobic, and then tramadol in the evening, but my rheum is not wanting to give me the narcotics.  What is up with that?  i mean i can barely do anything!!!

oh, well, just wanted to rant for a bit, and say "thanks" for the responses :)

When  I had rny surgery in 2003 the doctors, pcp, gyno, all contributed my pain to being overweight.  I lost 100 lbs and soon experienced pain unlike anything I had prior. Then i was given the diagnosis of fibromyalgia, it hurt just to breathe.  The rhemotologist I started seeing put me on tramadol and the fentanyl patches gradually increasing to the 75mgs.  It made life better, I was not pain-free, but I could work (standing as an airline employee) and take care of my family.  My doctor advised me that the lack of sleep was a major contributor to my fibro, he prescribed Xyrem, which is a very strong sleep inducer in a liquid form that I would take twice a night.  It was expensive, but the insurance coverage I had at the time covered it, it is generally prescribed for narcolepsy.  I stayed on these meds for 5 years, eventually tapered down, today I only take the tramadol, after having to switch insurances, the Xyrem wasn't covered for fibro, and was denied, at 1000.00 a month I had no choice but to stop, sleeping is still a problem, but my level of pain isn't close to what it was following the rny.  Sometimes a dramatic weight loss triggers flare ups. I found that the patches were more effective than any oral medication I tried.  My weight prior to surgery was 250lbs and I got down to 135lbs, stable at 160lbs today. 

Actually  I think my fibromyalgia is worse since my surgery.I am six months out and have not been able to take an NSAID, I took motrin for pain and I feel that is part of the problem. The only anti-inflammatory med my surgeon will allow is celebrex.My family doctor is trying to get my insurance to approve it. Right now I take soma and vicodin es. I know everyone is different in what helps them.  But  I don't regret  having the surgery. Good luck.  JoAnn

Two meds that have really worked for me:

Lyrica
Savella

My fibro really hasn't changed since losing weight but my ability to cope with pain using exercise is much better.

Hope you find relief!

Kootenay

Dear Karil, I have been fighting off a respiratory infection for about three weeks, and have been taking a sugar free cough syrup with guaifenesin in it as an expectorant. I had heard this can help and I actually have started to feel better.So I just bought guaifenesin tablets with 400mg and am taking daily. Not really sure what the doctor that wrote the book reccommends, as I'm not sure of his name. If you are aware of book name, please email me.Thanks. I'm gonna keep trying and see how I feel, I figure it can't hurt. I'll keep everyone informed as to if I feel it helps.You may need to try different meds, but need to give the drugs a chance to work before you move on. Most docs don't allow mobic, you may want to check with your surgeon as, once  you have the surgery most don't want you on any anti-inflammatory meds as stomach much smaller and can more easily cause stomach ulcers. Mine allows you to take celebrex only, which i'm just gonna start tomorrow. Some of your meds may need to change after surgery, but can ask doc when  you go for preop visit. Keep in touch and let us know how you do. Sincerely, JoAnn