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Topic: RE: Hello, I know its been a long time
I had gastric bypass in 5/03. I went from 308 and size 30/32's to a current 145 and size 10 petite. I've had Fibro as long as I can remember; probably since my teens or early 20's.
When I first lost the weight 6 years ago, people always said to me, "You must feel so much better, so much more energetic." Well, I don't, with the exception of being able to walk without pain in my feet and knees. Otherwise, I ache all over all of the time. I have no energy, and I have never gotten inspired enough to get off the couch.
I have all the other fibro symptoms as well:
migraines
depression
carpal tunnel syndrome
TMJ
Pain Med Addiction
Yes, Fibro sucks, WLS doesn't cure it, but it sure did help a lot of other things:
I haven't broken a toilet in over 6 years
People don't stare at me in public places
I can have my picture taken with my family, and attend family functions without fear.
Clothes are MUCH cheaper
I'm not the fatest person in the room (or anywhere near it) anymore
I don't have to sleep hooked up to a machine to help me breathe.
I don't care if I eat or not anymore. (I've switched addictions unfortunately.)
Anyway, good look to you, no matter what you decide is best for you. I'm just glad I did it, and I've never regretted it for a second.
When I first lost the weight 6 years ago, people always said to me, "You must feel so much better, so much more energetic." Well, I don't, with the exception of being able to walk without pain in my feet and knees. Otherwise, I ache all over all of the time. I have no energy, and I have never gotten inspired enough to get off the couch.
I have all the other fibro symptoms as well:
migraines
depression
carpal tunnel syndrome
TMJ
Pain Med Addiction
Yes, Fibro sucks, WLS doesn't cure it, but it sure did help a lot of other things:
I haven't broken a toilet in over 6 years
People don't stare at me in public places
I can have my picture taken with my family, and attend family functions without fear.
Clothes are MUCH cheaper
I'm not the fatest person in the room (or anywhere near it) anymore
I don't have to sleep hooked up to a machine to help me breathe.
I don't care if I eat or not anymore. (I've switched addictions unfortunately.)
Anyway, good look to you, no matter what you decide is best for you. I'm just glad I did it, and I've never regretted it for a second.
Topic: RE: Flares......!
I simply remember my favorite things.......
...and then I don't feeeeeel sooooo baaaaaaddd!!
Thanks a lot for the reply! I think i'll give that method a try. My doctor's attitude was much more personable on the second visit, and she did comply with some medication requests. For example, I've been on Soma for a while now for back spasms, and I asked her to take over writing that for me, to keep as many meds in one place as possible. She said she didnt like Soma, but wrote for some anyway to use if I need it, and also wrote for Skelaxin, another muscle relaxer that doesnt have any sedative affects for during the day. AND ACTUALLY gave me a refill!!!!! I couldnt believe that I wasnt going to have to call the office in 30 days & go through that routine! I will be making my 3rd appt in May and I hope it goes as well. She told me to call her if I had a bad flare. That in itself made me feel like she was saying " I believe you, and I'm going to help you" Some days are better than others but if things stay the way they are now I might can live with this beast!!!
Thanks again, and thanks everyone for "listening"
Patti
Thanks again, and thanks everyone for "listening"
Patti
I simply remember my favorite things..........and then I don't feeeeeel sooooo baaaaaaddd!! 
Topic: RE: Flares......!
I don't know if this will help you or not as we are all different, but I find that if I crack my percocet or vicodin in 1/2 and take it every two hours instead of a whole one every four hours, that really seems to keep my pain at bay...my only issue right now is my doc will only give me 12 a month and that is nothing. I have 4 kids and am very conscious of when, how and why I take any narcotics, she has been our family doc for 11 years and so I find this a bit unreasonable.
Also, her PA is adamant that there are NO malaborbtion issues with RNY patients and we all know that's a crock of poo!
Also, her PA is adamant that there are NO malaborbtion issues with RNY patients and we all know that's a crock of poo!
Jennifer Louise
236/112/goal 125
236/112/goal 125
Topic: RE: Problem with pain med mal-absorption?
What is your vitamin D level? RX d is useless. It is D2 and it is in oil and we can't absorb anything in oil. We need dry D3 which is watersoluable. The dosage is the same - Dry D3 from vitalady.com at 50,000 units, depending on your levels is how often you take it. IF you are taking prescription D, I tend to think you level is very low and will need to take the Dry D quite often at first to get your level up. The range on lab report says 30-100 but we really need it to be between 80 and 100. This gives us protection from various forms of cancer and osteoporosis. Low levels of D will put you at risk for osteoporosis and since we malabsorb, you need your levels higher than most.
How much B1 are you taking? I was deficient in B1 and was told by my NUT to take 100mg 3 times per day. This got my levels back to normal and I continue at this level to maintain.
I really suggest that you find a NUT that specializes in WLS. It is imperitive that you have some type of follow up. Many Endocrinologists have NUTs with WLS background.
Here is a list of labs that I get every 3 months.
CBC, Comprehesive Metabolic Panel, Iron, TIBC, Iron Sat %, Ferritin, B12, Folate, Vitamin D (25 - 25 Hydroxy), Phosporus, Calcium, PTH, Vitamin A, Vitamin E, Vitamin K, Lipid Panel, Zinc, Magnesium, Selenium, Copper, Vitamin B1 (Whole Blood), TSH and T3, HemA1C
How much B1 are you taking? I was deficient in B1 and was told by my NUT to take 100mg 3 times per day. This got my levels back to normal and I continue at this level to maintain.
I really suggest that you find a NUT that specializes in WLS. It is imperitive that you have some type of follow up. Many Endocrinologists have NUTs with WLS background.
Here is a list of labs that I get every 3 months.
CBC, Comprehesive Metabolic Panel, Iron, TIBC, Iron Sat %, Ferritin, B12, Folate, Vitamin D (25 - 25 Hydroxy), Phosporus, Calcium, PTH, Vitamin A, Vitamin E, Vitamin K, Lipid Panel, Zinc, Magnesium, Selenium, Copper, Vitamin B1 (Whole Blood), TSH and T3, HemA1C
Topic: RE: New here
what type of anti-imflammatory do you take? I'm curious because I thought NSAIDS were the only anti-imflammatories out there and I know for me they are a no-no so I was just curious as to what you were taking and if it's something I can use for break through pain because the meds I'm using now are wonderful at night, but around 4 my pain comes back and there is no way I can take the gabapentin and be functional enough to drive and care for my 4 kids, it just makes me way to tired.
thanks,
Jennifer
thanks,
Jennifer
Jennifer Louise
236/112/goal 125
236/112/goal 125
Topic: RE: Problem with pain med mal-absorption?
Hi
Thanks for the reply. Yes the Mylan patch is the best but could no pharmacies here in San Diego that carried the 50 mcg. ones. So I got the insurance to pay for 20 patches of 25 mcg per month. I am wearing two, but change the oldest one every 48 hours and my max for breakthru is 3 lortab 10/500. Right now I am in a good place---very active,
After 8 years post op I found a new gastro. doctor. I told her I didn't have post-surgery follow up except for the first 6 months. She checked my vitamin levels and found I was deficient in B1, Calcium, and D. B12 I have shots and I get iron infusions (iron sucrose) about once a year for 10 doses. With my B1 and D (Rx'd the D) I am feeling so much better! I think our pain gets worse when we are tired and push our unmwilling bodies around!
Take care and yes MYLAN patches are the best!!
Thanks for the reply. Yes the Mylan patch is the best but could no pharmacies here in San Diego that carried the 50 mcg. ones. So I got the insurance to pay for 20 patches of 25 mcg per month. I am wearing two, but change the oldest one every 48 hours and my max for breakthru is 3 lortab 10/500. Right now I am in a good place---very active,
After 8 years post op I found a new gastro. doctor. I told her I didn't have post-surgery follow up except for the first 6 months. She checked my vitamin levels and found I was deficient in B1, Calcium, and D. B12 I have shots and I get iron infusions (iron sucrose) about once a year for 10 doses. With my B1 and D (Rx'd the D) I am feeling so much better! I think our pain gets worse when we are tired and push our unmwilling bodies around!
Take care and yes MYLAN patches are the best!!
Topic: RE: Problem with pain med mal-absorption?
I just noticed your post and have a similar situation with my skin with the fentanyl patches. I found that the generic patches, there are different brands - I go to CVS and I get the MYLAN brand and they are the best. They are tiny. I wear the 50 mcg patch - it is about 1 1/2 inches by 1 inch. It has no goey stuff on it. To avoid the rashes, I change it more often. You can get your doctor to write you the script for every 48 hours instead of every 72 hours, getting 15 patches a month, instead of 10. (I actually change them every 36 hours and get 20 but it is a large fight with the insurance company every 6 months and I don't think I will get it after this fall.) I don't think every 48 hours is a problem. The actual duragesic brand or other generic brands are 3 times the size and they are really goey.
For breakthrough pain, I take Percocet 7.5/325mg. When the pain is bad, I take 2 at a time. I always take 1 at bedtime and some days I don't take any and other days I take 2 during the day but I am given 60 for the month. If I ask for 90, they will give them to. For my surgery, I was given liquid morphine and dilaudid. I have no problems with my pain management doctors because I rarely ask for anything extra, actually some months I say I don't even need any percocet because I still have left over.
As far as the malabsorbtion goes, we absorb regular pills fine. We can't absorb long acting pills like oxycontin - the 12 hour or 24 pills but the regular pain meds that last 4 - 6 hours are fine. So, you won't get any help on that front.
I would try to go to a different pharmacy and ask if they have MYLAN brand patches or if they can get them for you. Then you can go up to the 50mcg strength. If you are on the higher strength, you won't need as much breakthrough medication.
For breakthrough pain, I take Percocet 7.5/325mg. When the pain is bad, I take 2 at a time. I always take 1 at bedtime and some days I don't take any and other days I take 2 during the day but I am given 60 for the month. If I ask for 90, they will give them to. For my surgery, I was given liquid morphine and dilaudid. I have no problems with my pain management doctors because I rarely ask for anything extra, actually some months I say I don't even need any percocet because I still have left over.
As far as the malabsorbtion goes, we absorb regular pills fine. We can't absorb long acting pills like oxycontin - the 12 hour or 24 pills but the regular pain meds that last 4 - 6 hours are fine. So, you won't get any help on that front.
I would try to go to a different pharmacy and ask if they have MYLAN brand patches or if they can get them for you. Then you can go up to the 50mcg strength. If you are on the higher strength, you won't need as much breakthrough medication.
Topic: RE: New to FMS and Feeling So Overwhelmed
Get another opinion on the WLS--it helps alot of things--my fibro is no better--but I am alot more comfortable (and shopping for jeans is alot more fun). Take your sister to some support meetings. It is hard to understand the differance between 'sleepy and fatigue' and 'sore verses the pain of FMS'--it will help her if she hears others. I also have food allergies and following the protein diet has not been a problem for me. You really need the support of people who know what you are going through. Christine
Topic: RE: all these meds...and work?
Hi Dorthe,
I have been dealing with Fibromyalgia for about 2 years. When my dr. put me on Lyrica, i had the worst feelings. I could not concentrate and just felt "high" all the time. I work in a medical facility, so this scared me because i take care of patients. He added Celexa on my next visit and this seemed to even out the problems with the fibro fog..but didnt really help the pain levels. Now i am on Lyrica and Cymbalta, and Nortriptylin for sleep (trying to get to stage 4)...and also aqua physical therapy. I feel 100% better. I cannot believe the change in pain level, so much better. I hate taking all the meds, but im afraid of going back to all the pain i was in before.
I am also having RNY in about 6 weeks, so i am excited that my pain is under control, so i can get on with the next phase of my life...working to make myself healthier.
Melissa
I have been dealing with Fibromyalgia for about 2 years. When my dr. put me on Lyrica, i had the worst feelings. I could not concentrate and just felt "high" all the time. I work in a medical facility, so this scared me because i take care of patients. He added Celexa on my next visit and this seemed to even out the problems with the fibro fog..but didnt really help the pain levels. Now i am on Lyrica and Cymbalta, and Nortriptylin for sleep (trying to get to stage 4)...and also aqua physical therapy. I feel 100% better. I cannot believe the change in pain level, so much better. I hate taking all the meds, but im afraid of going back to all the pain i was in before.
I am also having RNY in about 6 weeks, so i am excited that my pain is under control, so i can get on with the next phase of my life...working to make myself healthier.
Melissa
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