Ive been fighing the flu for a week today.(The sickest Ive been in 20 yrs). Im soo weak and tired and Im scared now. My body is saying "Dont do that RHNY". I need help here. My surgery is set for Nov. 30. I weigh 350,maybe alittle less after this week. I dont know if my body can take this wht and this fibro through another winter and I was so excited about a new life.

     Please tell me to go through with this surgery Ive been fighting for,  for 8 mths now. Is this the right decision? Idon't know what to do.

I've had fibro since I was 11.  Sadly, being a lady of leisure was never a possibility for me as I am not independently wealthy, but I was lucky enough to get sick young enough that I could plan my life around it.  I gave up the thought of a performance music degree and put my brain to work (not to imply that performance music degrees are brainless!)  Now I'm an environmental consultant but I'm still young enough that  I have to spend a fair bit of time out in the field.  Every single day I come home in pain.  I've been fairly fortunate thus far in that I've managed to organise my own schedule so that I'm not out in the field two days in a row because some days when I get home I can barely move, but I know those days are going to end soon.  Pretty soon I'm going to be out every day and I may be in tears while working... it's happened before in other jobs.  I look at my steel toed boots with loathing because that pain goes all the way up your back and into your head.  The problem is that I want to be out in the field doing the work, but my body clearly has other ideas.

It is possible to maintain a static level of uncomfortableness that makes it possible to keep your full time job.  You will crash and burn if you push yourself too hard, and it's absolutely essential you get lots and lots of sleep.  Quality shoes make all the difference in the world, and it's even better if you can get proper orthotic insoles made for you.  You're still going to be in pain, but at least it isn't as bad.

My best recommendation is to get enough education to get you out of the heavy lifting jobs and insist on a high quality chair.

I am not recommending that anyone try this without the supervision of a doctor, okay? Ritalin is a serious drug. Nobody should buy it online and take it without supervision. That is medically and legally very risky.

The Roux works. I have my weight down to normal and below and my body pain down to the occasional flicker. My energy level has improved a great deal. On its own, I'd say it's like the energy level of a rather mellow, low-key "normal" person. Not an energetic, lively "normal" person. On my own, I take two hours to wake up all the way, two hours I really can't spare. I'd resorted to more caffeine than anyone post bypass should be consuming. On my own, I don't have enough energy to handle what I have to handle with any kind of grace. I have ancient parents to take care of and editing to do and a book to write.

After three months of a schedule I really couldn't manage, in a daze of exhaustion, I got a Ritalin prescription - from a psychiatrist who took a decent history and a careful look at the current situation and reviewed my medical records. She made a careful, considered decision.

This stuff helps a lot.

One of the advantages is that it gives me enough margin to deal cheerfully with unexpected messes, which will happen in a household with people who are very old and have health challenges.

It also extinguishes the last spark of appetite.

I am liking the mood effects and not getting any side effects strong enough to feel. It's a very great relief to expect that I can do what I need to do and not go to bed feeling that I just barely managed to survive the day and wouldn't have, given one more challenge. I like it.

Kathleen,
I am so sorry you are dealing with all the stress and pain.
It is so hard when we get extra stress as it makes us hurt so much worse.
Good luck at finding new doctors. I hate to change.
Please keep us up to date how you are doing and know that we do know exactly how you feel.

Trauma is my bet. I still have all my pipes but I've been under heavy strain/trauma's since my WLS. Fibro seems to have reared it's ugly head shortly after my brother was murdered in a home invasion (dad had already passed on, mom 6 weeks after I was born) 2 years ago. Since then, it seems I hurt all over.  I have to agree with one of the other posters, even my hair hurts. 

I personally try to keep myself away from people who tend to add stress to my life, my kids are one of them at this time. I am in the process of liberating myself from them and most of my responsibilites by retiring early and moving to a warmer climate (SF Bay area isn't warm enough for me). 

Lilli