Question:
Would appreciate any advice, as this situation is taking a toll on me.
I am in a great deal of pain every day with my hips and legs. I have worked closely with my PCP for my pain. After x-rays and no good reason she can find for my pain, she has referred me for a bariatric consult to Northwestern Memorial. I am 235 pounds at 5'4", so yes I am definately too heavy. What I am wondering is how you all found the strength to get through every painful day while waiting. My 1st consultation appointment isn't until 9/22/03! (Yes, I am on the cancellation list) I am feeling pretty hopeless at this point, considering it causes me pain just to sit. It makes my office job almost impossible, not to mention countless other things. I am taking 6 medications every morning and evening to help with pain & swelling, however they don't do much. I can't take too much and still be able to function every day. See the problem???? I don't can't imagine how to get through the rest of this day much less 2 months until my appointment. — Angela T. (posted on July 24, 2003)
July 24, 2003
Angela, is there any type of physical therapy that might help. The reason
I ask is that I have arthritis in my hips and knees. Many times my hips
would lock making walking agony. I recently found an exercise bike that
fits me to a T (I'm short, most wouldn't work for me). I have been riding
it for 2 months now pre-op and my hips are really doing a great deal
better. Ask your doctor too about pain management classes. Maybe that
would help. I hope you find a solution and good luck with your journey.
— [Deactivated Member]
July 24, 2003
I can almost feel your pain. Does heat, as in a heating pad, heat wrap or
hot shower help at all? Perhaps cold packs? Does it help to get up and
move around a bit every hour or so (might help if stiffness is a problem)?
— Vespa R.
July 24, 2003
There's nothing like hip pain to get you down. I had a great deal of
problems with it befor surgery and still have some now after loosing 80
pounds. I thought it would go away by now. Anyway, this is what I do. My
hip pain is supposedly due to fibromyalgia. I went to a rhumatologist and
he prescribed muscle relaxers (12 mg of Zanaflex at bed time. This helps
my hip muscles relax after a day of walking, standing... In the morning or
throughout the day I use 2 ultracet tablets every 4 - 6 hours. Both
medications are through prescription so you will need to get them from your
pcp. Hopefully this will buy you some time befor surgery. Just remember
though, just because you have surgery does not mean that your hip pain will
go away. I could actually have very little to do with your weight.
— Jane S.
July 24, 2003
Hi Angela- I am also pre-op, and patience has never been one of my virtues
:o) I waited approximately 6 months for my initial consult, and it will be
about a year total wait until my WLS (Jan '04). I have horrible back and
leg pain, as well as the daily difficulties of being morbidly obese. I
truly understand your pain, as I am living it as well. This is what I told
myself due to the L-O-N-G wait I must endure: I could either spend the
rest of my life being morbidly obese, or have the courage to think that
this may be my last summer as an obese woman :o) I have another 6 months
of this hell to endure, and then there will be a light at the end of my
tunnel. I know it's very hard, but think about the timeline in
perspective: Six to twelve months left of hopelessness while waiting for
WLS, as compared to a lifetime of hopelessness without WLS. Try to gage
important events in a positive manner, such as this will be the last
Christmas I will be obese, or this will be the last flight that I'll have
to ask for a seat belt extender. It's not easy, but I hope it helps. Good
Luck :o) Mea
— Mea A.
July 24, 2003
I know a lot of people that have excellent chronic pain management using
the Duragesic patch. Maybe you could ask about this? Shelley
— Shelley.
July 24, 2003
Sounds like Fibro to me. I've had it for more years than I want to think
about. Taken the pain pills, only to feel like a doper. I had a Doc explain
to me that I was sitting too much, don't laugh his explanation was a bit
more than that. I put off trying the water aerobics for years. Pre-surgery
I went to start excercising. I loved it and was able to walk farther than I
had in years, not to mention I slept like a baby, and the cool water
reduced the swelling. On the other hand, before I actually decided to have
WLS.... I was checking into the possibility of having a nerve block done,
botox. Don't forget post-op, you must walk!! Best of luck.
— Tricia J.
July 24, 2003
Angela, something else you could look into is something called
"restless legs syndrome". I don't know the clinical name, but it
is a sleep disorder. I have a friend who has it. She is on medication that
helps with the pain. Something you could ask your PCP about. As far as the
waiting.....Tom Petty said it best "The wai-ya-ting is the hardest
part"... :o)
— SweetDragonfly
July 24, 2003
I had a similar problem before my WLS. I was in so much pain that I was
just miserable and yes, I do have an office job. Luckily I have a pretty
high thresshold for pain. We discovered that the way my weight was
distributed it was pressing on nerves to my legs. I had lost the feeling
on the outside of my right leg and the bottom of my right foot and in my
right leg, the muscle spasms were at times unbearable. My doctor
prescribed darvocet for the pain as needed and put me on muscle relaxers.
We also at the same time began a 1600 calorie a day diet during the time I
was trying to get approval. I even lost 41 lbs pre-op due to that. After
I had my surger in August 2002, I began by walking 1/4 mile a day and have
worked up to as much as 2 miles a day. I've regained feeling in my leg and
foot and occasionally still have some muscle spasms, but they're not bad.
But remembering the pain, it's strong incentive to stay on the nutrition
regieme I'm on and stay exercising. I do a combination of walking, biking
and isotonic exercises. Since the surgery I've lost 150 lbs in addition to
what I lost pre-op. It just takes taking it one day at a time and working
with your PCP to get through it, but start your dieting now--it will take
the edge off the surgery an get you started on a new lifestyle now. If you
start now under your PCP's guidance, if your insurance requires physician
supervised dieting like mine did, you'll be all set. Start now getting a
diet history together. Most insurance companies require it these days.
Start now getting medical letters of necessity together. It will shorten
the time to approval. I started in January 2002 and it took through one
appeal to get approval in May 2002. Good Luck!
— Cathy S.
July 24, 2003
I don't know your particular situation, but it might help to be evaluated
for depression. Chronic pain like that can sure lead to depression, and
that can make it that much harder to feel better. Just a thought.
— Kimberley E.
July 25, 2003
OMG...You are NOT alone. I had such terrible pain while I was pre-op, I
just didn't know how I was going to be able to make it until the day of
surgery. The pain was so terrible, I could not stand out of bed, I had to
crawl to the washroom more mornings than not. It felt as though my feet had
been cut off and I was walking on the fresh stubs (graphic..sorry). I did
not want to take any medication unless it was going to help the problem. It
would get better and feel great, but by the end of the day I was once again
in unbearable pain.
After losing just the first 15 lbs, I was releived. I could not believe
such a small amount made the WORLD of difference. Nobody would have been
able to convince me of this preop. I knew my weight (265, 5'2) was a
factor, but was also convinced there was an underlying cause of this. I
was right. It was due to severe sprains while I was younger that just
didn't heal right. But the weightloss made things so much better that I
don't need any medication for it.
At 3 months post, I am down 55 lbs and even the smallest amount of pain is
rare. I am now able to walk several miles and work out regularly. Preop I
couldn't stand to walk at all.
I, too, had my surgery at Northwestern in Chicago. The waiting period is
enough to drive anyone nuts, but the care is outstanding.
If you ever want to talk, just drop me a line!!
Best wishes! Diane
— Diane S.
July 25, 2003
I am sorry that you're going through so much pain I will pray that you are
able to cope with it. But unfortunantely for me, my pain is worse after
surgery. Before surgery I was able to take pain meds and the love of my
life 800mg Motrin three times a day. After surgery no Motrin. I knew this
before surgery but I thought, I'm in pain everyday taking all this medicine
surely after surgery I can handle the same pain. To my surprise all of
the meds I was taking was actually relieving some pain. Every day I have
to force myself to get up. I hurt all the time. The only thing I can take
now for pain is Tylenol arthritis, which allows me to walk around with
pain. I just want you to go into this with your eyes open wide. Look at
the meds you are taking now and find out if you can take them after
surgery.I'm 105 pounds lighter but still hurting. It's hard to walk much
less exercise. But you do what you have to do. I would do it again
knowing that I would still be in pain. Best wishes:)!
— Kimmie C.
July 25, 2003
Hi there. I get this question all the time as I work for a gyn specialty
office...women ask "Well if I can't get in until Sept for my consult,
what do I do about my pain in the meantime?" I hear frustration,
anger and most of all, fear, coming through in their voices; fear that they
won't outlast the pain. All I can say is this....call your PCP and demand
a referral to a Pain Management Specialist in the meantime. This journey
from consult to surgery, for me, lasted 9 months and I am not trying to be
discouraging...only realistic. It's not fair to you to suffer while you
are going through the paces for your weight loss surgery. Your pain issues
need to be addressed NOW. Good luck and let me know what your doctor
says!
(lap RNY 2-10-03 starting 282/now 201/goal 150)
— RedHeadBeauty
July 26, 2003
I can truely understand your frustration! I have fibromyalgia and there is
no guarantee it will be better after surgery (Sept 4). Thank goodness I
have a drug regimen for chronic pain and depression that stems from it! My
journey is about to start on the losing side, but to get to this point took
4 years of persistance and appeals..
My best to you in your persute(sp). Hang in there. Sometimes you have to
be the squeaky wheel and most of all your own advocate!
Lynn
— Lynn G.
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