Hi there - I am a 5 1/2 year post op that was diagnosed with FM back in November.  In the last 4 years, I had a cervical spinal fusion in my neck (C5-C6), and have major back pain due to a fall down stairs in 2005 (before WLS).  I thought the weight loss would help with that pain, which it did, until the disc in my neck herniated and had to be removed (2 years after WLS).  I didn't start having the all-over body pain until sometime at the beginning of last year.  After seeing a rheumatologist, I was also found to be severely anemic (my ferritin level was a 7).  I've since been having IV iron infusions.  At one point I was having them weekly..now every 2 weeks.  I'm just not sure if my diagnosis is really fibromyalgia, or if this is all related to the anemia, which can cause muscle and bone pain too. Not to mention, between the surgeries, injuries, and Lyrica for FM, I've gained back a LOT of my original loss.  So FRUSTRATED!! Anyone ever hear of a similar situation on the boards?  Any help would be sincerely appreciated!

D

I learned to cope with FMS and arthritis using Tramadol every 6 hours.  Then I got an entire different type of pain in my hips and a few months later down my leg.  Eventually diagnosed as sciatica.  I also have one arm that gives me a lot of trouble.  I was sent to pain mgmnt to get shots in my lower back and lower neck.  This stops both the two areas of pain. 

My first indication of pain issues started as a child with my knees.  The Drs called it "growing pains".  These pains continued into my adult life and were renamed "Restless Leg Syndrome".  I went for years with very little sleep.   In my 40s I started aching everywhere and thought perhaps I'd been bit by a tick or something but was diagnosed as FMS.  I'm not sure that I don't have CFS as well because I am always weak and tired.

At that time, I was told the Arthritis Foundation found FMS to be a disorder caused by lack of RIM sleep which would make sense in my case since I got very little RIM sleep due to my knees.  Eventually I hurt so much that I couldn't differentiate one pain from another.  So I lived with this for years until an MRI of my knees found very mild arthritis and an arthroscope was done.  This did not help so I've had several injections with no added relief.  If I miss one dose of Tramadol, I can't sleep at night due to the aches in my knees.

It is difficult to figure out what pain is FMS and what is arthritis or something else.  Now that I get the injections my overall pain has lessened and the FMS mostly comes in flare ups when I do a lot of housework, travel, exercise, etc.  Otherwise, I have a degree of pain that I have learned to live with. 

I was given a pain patch after RNY for 18 days.  During that time I honestly had zero pain (except for the herniated disc) for the first time in my life.  And, I was able to get up early and sleep all night.  As soon as my 18 days were up, FMS and arthritic knees returned and with it the inability to sleep through the night.   I wi**** had been a pain med for longterm use.

I started FMS when I was younger and not overweight.  I pushed through exercise and ended up with plantar faciitis and knee problems.   I am miserable with the extra weight on top of everything else so had the band first which failed and then RNY.  Thus far, I am very happy with how I feel with RNY.   Personally, FMS has always felt better when I cut out sugar and white carbs.  I was tired/weak prior to surgery and doubt that changes but one can always hope.  I ate a lot of protein prior to surgery and believe it helped me heal quicker than I expected.  I had an open surgery and it closed within two weeks to a pink line on the outside. I did not have any infections or problems.  I did stay home four weeks.  I haven't worked since we moved six years ago.  I no longer felt I could be reliable.

I take Tramadol every 6 hrs.  I use to take Mobic as well but can't since RNY.   

I've been researching medical journals about fibromyalgia and wls and many doctors have seen a drastic improvement with fibro pain, actually. I had surgery two months ago and I can already tell my fibro is better. I bumped into a sharp corner and the pain was... Normal? Or closer to normal than I've felt in a long time. It didn't burn, it didn't ache, it didn't linger, it was strange and amazing. I think it depends on what causes fibromyalgia in individuals. But this is the most important thing, the surgery will help you no matter what. There will be less pain because there is less weight. For some, it's not much of a difference, for others it's a great deal. Also, the surgery will help you diabetes, blood pressure and sleep apnea, you can't lose.