Queston

I went to my fibromyalgia MD this week, my visit went very good (she was very pleased that my pain is under control so much I do not use my cane) I asked her about the malabsortion and the medication after surgery. She advised me against the surgery (RNY) due to there is a good chance that my symptoms will really worsen again.  She also encouraged me to do diet and excersize as tolerated to loose weight, now we have the thyroid medicine corrected .  I am now on the fence, so my question is what are your experances ith this.  I was not expecting the pain to get better but had not concidered that it would worsen  due to not being able to absorb enough of my medicine.
Thanks ,
Lyn

I don't know about RNY but you could consider either the VSG (sleeve) or lap band neither of them cause malabsorption. Personally I would recommend the sleeve if possible, not all ins co allow the sleeve. I have read some others on here with RNY have had more issues after surgery, hopefully some of them will respond.

Thank You for responding

With my experience of being almost 5 yrs post op RNY, it is actually any surgury (not weight loss related) that could cause a flare up of Fibro.  I had a partial hysterectomy 3 yrs ago, and that is what set my Fibro thru the roof.  PLus any trauma whether physical or mental, can cause a flare of Fibro.  Physical being a car accident and mental being a death in the family.  During my flare, I had a couple of deaths around 2 months apart, so I had a triple whammie.  I also take a thyroid supplement and have for about 15 yrs.  I use the Fentanyl patch since I don't absorb all of my meds, and I use Norco as a break thru med.  I do find that my thyroid dose changes but it does that anyway due to changes in your body.  Perhaps the Duragesic Fentanyl patch is a good choice for you if you do have wls.  I use the 50mcg.

Thank You, I know my fibro flares post op, that is why I looked into the Fibro&Fatigue Center.  I can not believe how good I feel now, and how much more energy I have.  I had days I could not stay awake today I made home made asparagus soup, baked squash( will freeze soon)  and sweet potatoes froze beets turnips and rutabaga.  I would not have been able to stand long enough to chop up the veggies for the soup before due to pain and fatigue.  I am concerned because after this taste of feeling good I don't want to go back to the way I was in August.  Thank You for responding
Lyn

Pre op I was dx'd with polymyalgia.   Just the hips and shoulders. 

Pre op I had low thyroid levels and was taking 88mcg of synthroid.

Post op - at 4 years - full blown fibro.  Vicodin is the only drug that touches the pain.

Post op - I have been dx'd with Graves disease.   The meds they are using to control this are also wreaking havoc with my white blood cells.   I am currently in my 3rd week of a cold that has left me weak, hoarse, coughing 24/7.  The doc is calling in a 2nd script of something else to ease the cough but still viral so no antibiotics will work.

Vicodin use has been upped to 2 x a day from 1 time a day.  Because I work full time, I only take my pain meds at night.  

I think I would look at a surgery that does not create malabsorption.  I am also protein deficient, and take mega doses of Vit C and D3 (dry D) 

Iron is low side of normal. 

Do a lot of research - I don't know that the surgery made it worse, but it is very hard to deal with both pain meds and deficiencies since we don't eat much.

Tink

Thank You you are confirming what she was telling me.  I found out that thryoid med is usually T4 that breaks down into T3 and reverse T3  what reverse T3 you have covers a like amount of T3, mine was high.  My new medicne for my thyroid now has T4 and T3.  My Doctor is from the Fibro and Fatigue Centers ( there are many of them) and I can not say enough great things about them.  I have gone from a daily  pain level of 4/6 to having some fibro pain free days.  My energy has skyrocketed and I have a general feeling of well being.  I do not want to mess that up !  I take lots of supplements and even give myself shots 2x week but it is ALL WORTH IT !  One of the things I am taking is for correcting hormones. That may be able to help with your problems.  If you want to look them up let me know.

Both my T3 and T4 levels are elevated.  I am taking a med that is supposed to 'shock' my thyroid into being a good little girl.   Since the levels are coming down very slightly, the endo say's I'll probably be taking it for a year.

We'll see after that.  If not enough progress they will consider taking my thyroid out.

I'm glad you have found relief.  I will continue seeking that also.

I had fibro prior to my lapband surgery and have to say that after losing a few pounds, high weight was 303, lowest was 239, I felt so much better.  I have developed problems with my band and am revising to RNY in January, if all goes as planned.  I haven't even given it a thought about making my FMS worse and don't plan to either.  I know that losing more weight will help me even more.  I use to could not do dishes without having to sit down after every dish.  I can now wash dishes, do the laundry,  ugh, hate laundry, and lots of other things without sitting down.  The exercise and weight loss will help.  I would have gone with the sleeve but my insurance does not cover it. 

Thank You for responding.  I went to the surgen today and tried to explain my dilemma, Dr Johnson listened  to some things I said but told me that he did not feel that absorption would be a problem then I answered that  "isn't that why post op patients get megga doses of vitamins?"  I think he kinda did not know how to answer me as I tried to explain my concerns and the opposite ends of the spectrum my primary and fibromyalgia Dr's are at.  He kept cutting me off when I tried to explain and he came up with have your fibromyalgia Doctor write a letter stating why she feels you should not have it done.  So I will call her in the AM for that.  I think I was taking to much of his time.   I may call for a second opinion.   I asked about a gastric sleeve but he did not know if insurances in this area covered them, that would be a better option as I am trying to wean off the celebrex now ( just realized it was an NSAID).  If I can't get off of that it is another issue. 
I am down to 288 with my braces and shoes on so lost more than the 5% needed for the lap band so he suggested that we try to get insurance clearance for that, although he would rather do a RNY with my BMI. 
He also said I was a high risk due to my clotting history.  I actually told him how I felt when I started this venture.  I felt that I would not live through the surgery, but that I hurt so bad from the fibro and the arthritis I did not care if I died during surgery. 
Now that my pain is under control I do not want it to come back. I am able to do more now due to decreased pain so I want answers before I decide if and what surgery to have.