Preparing for Gastric BP with Fibromyalgia

I am in the process of fulfilling my insurance companies requirements to have gastric bypass and I have fibromyalgia and chronic fatigue syndrome.  I am looking for information on how things have gone for people post surgery.  Recovery pain, medication tolerances, etc.

I know that the surgery will not cure my fm (diagnosed 10+ years ago) and it has been bad no matter what my weight.  I'm doing this because it will be better for my body overall and I am tired of fighting the weight battle with the fm and the cfs.

Working in therapy on depression issues (including over-eating) and ready to get this done. 

Thanks for your input.

Msfrogz

I can't give you any info since I'm banded and I am glad you realize the WLS won't help the fibro so many folks think it will and are so dissappointed that it doesn't. It has to help in general just to get the weight off so I wish you the best!

Welcome to the board...
I had Gastric BP Sept 26, 2006.I have had fibro for years and severe arthritis.I have 2 artifical knees, and just had a shoulder replacement Aril 19th.
I was 470# when I started went clear down to305 now am 335. All of my surgeries have flared my FIBRO but I deal with it. Loosing weight has not helped my arthrits nor the fibro. I seem to cannot loose any more because I can not do much exercise. I have tried and havebeen in so much pain each time I try.
I am also 63 yrs old. BUT I am glad I had my surgery and it is still helping me not eat too much and I do not eat no, no's like too much sugar ( I try to stay with anythng under 10 grams).
I still now get very hungry, which it was nice in the beginning of no hunger. So if you look at sugery as a help not the whole answer to it all that is realistic...
Keep us informed how you are doing.Pam

 Thank you so much for your feedback.  I am looking at this as an opportunity to start over, kind of even the playing field a bit.  I am expecting a bad flare but I think that it will be worth it to get some of this weight off.  I am ready to give up all of the habits that got me where I am and do the work to get it off.   I have enough to deal with with the fm and cfs without the issues related to my weight.  

I had surgery on Monday 6/28 and have had fibro for about 10 years.  I don't expect the surgery to help the fibro but I keep telling myself it can't hurt.  I am hoping that losing some of the weight will make me feel a little better when I exercise.  I take so many pills now trying to control the pain that I want nothing more than to get in a swimsuit, go to a water exercise class and not feel like everyone is looking at me.  I know water exercises work because I did them for years.  I no longer have the same place to go and going to a gym doesn't work right now, to much pressure in my arms, shoulders, hips and knees.  I am using my surgery as a tool and there isn't a tool made that can work by it'self.  My biggest hope is to someday not have to take a handful of pills to get through the day.  Maybe, just maybe RNY with help.
I hope things work out for you.

I had my RNY 04/11/07 and I had been diagnosed with Fibro and I honestly believe that my RNY surgery has helped my Fibro.. its not nearly as bad as it HAD been.  Oh yes, I do have days when I just have to go to bed but they are few and far between.
Good Luck!  

I have fibro, chronic fatigue, myofacial pain, arthritis, and the weight kept going up. I was totally against anyone having WLS but then I realized how much my life had changed for the worst. I felt useless and guilty because my kids no longer enjoyed my company. Finally, after being approved, I decided to get the lap-band but changed my mind to Roux en y because I decided to go "all the way". Also, I had grown tired of all the pills.
My biggest concern was pain and I made that very clear since I was already on opiates. After surgery, I was given 1mg of morphine every 10 minutes and YES, as expected, I began a really bad flare. Yes, it was painful, yes it was scary sometimes and yes it went away. Everybody's different. For me, it was worth it and over all the fibro has gotten better as well as the myofascial pain. I'm still kind of tired but it's only been a month but walking.  I'm still struggling with the pills but haven't needed opiates for FM/MFS pain. My surgeon has had patients with fibro and he says that those patients don't complain about pain. It's not a cure, but considering we live with so much pain, having less of it is a big relief for most of us...Go for it!

I was dx with fibro several years ago. I took Lyrica for it for about a year and then stopped. At first I thought it was a miricle cure, but after several months I realized I was in just as much pain as before.
I had RNY a little over a year ago and I have to say my fibro is not worse, but it is not better. One thing to note is that NSAIDS can not be used after surgery. I take hydrocodone 4x a day which works best for me now, but I wish I could take motrin once in a while. I want to say since I have lost weight I feel the best I have in a long time. I have increased energy and longer endurence when I exercise. The pain is just something I need to tolerate.

 Thank you all for your replies.  I wish that things were done and I had a date but I still have to wait.  I just want a chance to start over with my weight so that I can exercise and get out more.  I am so uncomfortable and hurt in ways that I know doesn't have to do with the fm or cfs.  Mentally and physically ready to move on.  :)

I have had what they now tell me is fibro for about 15 years.
It was mild, usually just pain in my shoulders and hips.
Oct 2006 I had RNY because I was spilling protein so the doc said it was the beginning of kidney failure.

I was taking a handful of pills daily.  I was taking Vicodin about 4 or 5 times a month.
Post op - I am taking a handfull of supplements with 3 scripts.  One to assimilate Vit D better.  Cymbalta and Lyrica for fibro that flared worse after my surgery.  Still on the Vicodin, but now Daily, at least twice a day.

The amount of supplements will equal the amount of pills you are taking now.  DS is perhaps less likely to deprive you of your vits, RNY will make you malabsorb not just food and calories, but vitamins and minerals too.

I am adding an endocronologist to my list of people that keep me alive.   At 60 I feel like I'm 80.  All because of the fibro flare. 

But the RNY
- remission for diabetes - I no longer take any meds
- remission of the COPD - I am just now starting to have the breathing problems again, but not taking meds.
- no more high cholesterol no more meds for this
- no more high blood pressure - I got rid of two pills it was taking to get this under control.

The pros far outweigh any cons for me with RNY.   I am happy that I had a few good years, and I'm confident that once we find the right combo of drugs, that I can have a wonderful retirement.

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