Fibromyalgia& WLS linked???
I've had fibro since I was 11, so that makes it (cough cough) 24 years now. If there's anything I've learned in that time, it's that nobody can seem to come to any sort of agreement as to what causes it and what to do about it. The current theory de jour is that fibro is actually untreated lyme disease that has run rampant throughout the body. That joins the list of fibro being the result of a virus, a genetic predisposition, or we're just plain crazy and lazy. The Canadian Red Cross just banned all fibro and CFS patients from giving blood for the mere fact that nobody seems to be able to get to the bottom of the problem and that it's better safe than sorry.
Given there have been documented cases of what we now are pretty sure is fibro in medical records back 100 years, I'm going to say no, the WLS didn't cause your fibro because it's a relatively recent medical procedure. Add to that the thousands of people who have fibro and didn't have any sort of surgery or medical procedure to kick start it, and the direct correlation starts to look thin. Who knows? Maybe the stress of the pre-op diet, surgery and recovery did it. Lord knows stress has been around long enough...
Given there have been documented cases of what we now are pretty sure is fibro in medical records back 100 years, I'm going to say no, the WLS didn't cause your fibro because it's a relatively recent medical procedure. Add to that the thousands of people who have fibro and didn't have any sort of surgery or medical procedure to kick start it, and the direct correlation starts to look thin. Who knows? Maybe the stress of the pre-op diet, surgery and recovery did it. Lord knows stress has been around long enough...
The last thing I heard was they do not know what causes Fibro or cfs but there was a suggested link between chenicals in our food supplt ( like preservtives) When I have anesthesia my fibro goes out of control, so I sought out a center that speciales in Fibro. I found that the Fibromyalgia & Fatigue Centers Inc had a office 5 hours away in Pittsburg PA ( they have several in the US) I went and I am so glad I did. Dr. Loya did much teaching and I could make sence out of a lot she was saying. The good news is I feel better now than I have in years, the bad news is insurance will not pay for most of her visits and only some of the treatments. I am lucky as I can pay for them and I have found out many contributing factors that caused my fibro to be out of control- correcting them brings it under control . The best news is I am not using my came indoors anymore !! Never thought I could get away with out it !
I am not looking forward to the anticipated flare after my RNY surgery but I at least have hope I can handle it.
I am not looking forward to the anticipated flare after my RNY surgery but I at least have hope I can handle it.
I was diagnosed in 2008 after years of doctors telling me nothing was wrong. I suspect I've had it for most of my life but it got really bad after several things happened in a five year period. Horrible/painful divorce, first surgery ever, and was unknowingly living in a toxic dump because the condo above mine had bathroom leaks that went undiscovered for a long time and the inside of my bathroom walls and ceiling were covered in the most dangerous black toxic mold - Stachybotrys.
Anyway, I don't do well with meds and I don't want to add side effects to my list of troubles. I got really lucky in 2008 while visiting the rheumatologist who diagnosed me. He was a big jerk because I didn't want to take meds and he acted like I was retarded or something. I just happened to notice a flyer taped on the door about a foot from his head that talked about a pain mgmt group at the hospital that would teach you how to deal with FM without meds. Ummmm..... HELLO?!? He never even mentioned it! I asked him about it and he just say 'yeah, I'll write a prescription for it' but he never did.... I had to call him and bug him for over a month.
Anyway, I finally got in there and found out that it was the only group of it's kind in the country. It was headed up by a student doctor and a physical therapist with a supervising doctor that rarely showed his face. This program was amazing and I'm so thankful that I got to be a part of it.
1. It was the first time that I've ever been around other FM patients and it was such an eye opener to listen to their stories and symptoms and realize I had many of them that I didn't even recognize! It was in this group that I recognized that I had sleep issues and had a sleep study and found out I had sleep apnea. The CPAP has helped a little but not as much as I hoped. A sleep specialist later told me that many FM patients so not improve with CPAP for some reason.
2. I learned some valuable tools to help me deal with stress and they did something truly amazing - helped me learn how to RELAX!! The used bio feedback computers and made us do it every wee****il we finally got our para sympathetic / sympathetic nervous system in tune. I learned deep breathing and how to meditate. I learned how to take care of myself better and not push through the flare ups like I always did (I refused to accept them).
3. They introduced me to some gentle exercise so that I had no excuse not to get up and move. A few DVDs that I loved and ended up buying are Rainbow Sun Qigong, 4 Minute Fitness with Dr. Keith Jeffery, and Mattress Yoga. All very gentle and very effective.
4. They taught me to recognize triggers and introduced me to Healing Touch and Reiki and things of that sort. (Yes, this is a hospital!! Amazing, huh?)
I didn't learn about supplements with them, I actually started taking classes with a well known naturopath / nutritionist and I learned a ton about diet and nutrition. Although I'm positive that the multi vitamin was a huge benefit and helped a lot - there are 3 supplements that I believe changed my life.
1. Magnesium. Apparently most people have a deficiency and as soon as I started taking it my headaches went from daily to just getting the PMS migraines. (I have major hormonal imbalances).
2. This is the wonder drug.... It's a systematic enzyme that you take on an empty stomach and it just helps they body do what it's suppose to do in a more efficient way. It's called Vitalzyme and it's not cheap but it's amazing! When I first started taking it I had to take like 8-10 a day but they came out with a more concentrated gel cap and now it's only 2-3. I can sure tell the difference when I stop taking it! I stopped for a surgery I just had 8/10 and haven't got back into taking all my supplements yet and I feel like total crap! Once I start taking them again it will take 3-4 days before I notice an improvement. They're awesome and they're supposed to benefit over all health.
3. I was too paranoid to take sleep meds (prescription addictions seem to run in my family). I searched for natural stuff and nothing worked or there would be something bad in it. I finally found a supplement and thought I would give it a try because it seemed to contain all of the things I read about that are supposed to help sleep and there wasn't really anything bad in it. It's made by Irwin Naturals and called Power to Sleep PM. Great stuff!! I don't take it every day but if I'm having trouble falling asleep I take two and I'm out like a light in about 20-30 minutes and I don't feel any different in the morning. It has Valerian extract, Hops extract, Passion flower, GABA, Melatonin and more! I've seen it in health food stores for about $30 for 60 but I buy it online for about $16. I just click shopping link on Google website to find the best prices.
Anyway, I don't do well with meds and I don't want to add side effects to my list of troubles. I got really lucky in 2008 while visiting the rheumatologist who diagnosed me. He was a big jerk because I didn't want to take meds and he acted like I was retarded or something. I just happened to notice a flyer taped on the door about a foot from his head that talked about a pain mgmt group at the hospital that would teach you how to deal with FM without meds. Ummmm..... HELLO?!? He never even mentioned it! I asked him about it and he just say 'yeah, I'll write a prescription for it' but he never did.... I had to call him and bug him for over a month.
Anyway, I finally got in there and found out that it was the only group of it's kind in the country. It was headed up by a student doctor and a physical therapist with a supervising doctor that rarely showed his face. This program was amazing and I'm so thankful that I got to be a part of it.
1. It was the first time that I've ever been around other FM patients and it was such an eye opener to listen to their stories and symptoms and realize I had many of them that I didn't even recognize! It was in this group that I recognized that I had sleep issues and had a sleep study and found out I had sleep apnea. The CPAP has helped a little but not as much as I hoped. A sleep specialist later told me that many FM patients so not improve with CPAP for some reason.
2. I learned some valuable tools to help me deal with stress and they did something truly amazing - helped me learn how to RELAX!! The used bio feedback computers and made us do it every wee****il we finally got our para sympathetic / sympathetic nervous system in tune. I learned deep breathing and how to meditate. I learned how to take care of myself better and not push through the flare ups like I always did (I refused to accept them).
3. They introduced me to some gentle exercise so that I had no excuse not to get up and move. A few DVDs that I loved and ended up buying are Rainbow Sun Qigong, 4 Minute Fitness with Dr. Keith Jeffery, and Mattress Yoga. All very gentle and very effective.
4. They taught me to recognize triggers and introduced me to Healing Touch and Reiki and things of that sort. (Yes, this is a hospital!! Amazing, huh?)
I didn't learn about supplements with them, I actually started taking classes with a well known naturopath / nutritionist and I learned a ton about diet and nutrition. Although I'm positive that the multi vitamin was a huge benefit and helped a lot - there are 3 supplements that I believe changed my life.
1. Magnesium. Apparently most people have a deficiency and as soon as I started taking it my headaches went from daily to just getting the PMS migraines. (I have major hormonal imbalances).
2. This is the wonder drug.... It's a systematic enzyme that you take on an empty stomach and it just helps they body do what it's suppose to do in a more efficient way. It's called Vitalzyme and it's not cheap but it's amazing! When I first started taking it I had to take like 8-10 a day but they came out with a more concentrated gel cap and now it's only 2-3. I can sure tell the difference when I stop taking it! I stopped for a surgery I just had 8/10 and haven't got back into taking all my supplements yet and I feel like total crap! Once I start taking them again it will take 3-4 days before I notice an improvement. They're awesome and they're supposed to benefit over all health.
3. I was too paranoid to take sleep meds (prescription addictions seem to run in my family). I searched for natural stuff and nothing worked or there would be something bad in it. I finally found a supplement and thought I would give it a try because it seemed to contain all of the things I read about that are supposed to help sleep and there wasn't really anything bad in it. It's made by Irwin Naturals and called Power to Sleep PM. Great stuff!! I don't take it every day but if I'm having trouble falling asleep I take two and I'm out like a light in about 20-30 minutes and I don't feel any different in the morning. It has Valerian extract, Hops extract, Passion flower, GABA, Melatonin and more! I've seen it in health food stores for about $30 for 60 but I buy it online for about $16. I just click shopping link on Google website to find the best prices.
Most Active
Recent Topics
