New here. Does WLS help with fibro pain?

I am pretty new here, this is actually only my second post.

I am planning on RNY surgery this spring. I just had my psych eval today, so I am now waiting on insurance approving everything.

Like many, I have fibromyalgia. However, I only take an NSAID when it flares up badly. I took Lyrica for it a couple years ago, gained 40+ pounds and never lost it again. I hate taking anymore meds than I have to, so that's why I push through the pain when it's mild. I do have a narcotic when it's REALLY bad, but only take it like once every month.

Someone told me that after surgery, after the recovery period, that my fibro shouldn't be as bad. (I must admit, it gets REALLY bad this time of the year, the fatigue, fog, it horrible!) Is it true that losing weight will help??

 

Welcome! The answer is yes and no, hows that for helpful? For most of us it really doesn't help alot I'm sorry to say. However for some with joint pain it gelps a great deal getting the weight off. Now most surgeons don't allow NSAIDs after surgery so you might want to look at the vertical sleeve gastrectomy as a surgical option. They can take NSAIDs after healing, or you may have to just use the narcotic. You might also try cymbalta or savella for your fibro. I gained like crazy on lyrica but not the cymbalta. The surgery probably won't help the fog and fatigue those just go along with the fibro. I can honestly say my lap band surgery (lost 70 lbs) didn't do a thing to help my fibro in fact it is worse now than it was then so don't look for too much relief unless like I said it is joint pain more than fibro pain. That said the surgery and weight loss are going to make you feel better all over just getting the weight off. Good luck to you!!!

 

Thank you for an honest answer. I guess we will just keep on plugging along and do the best we can.

Also there is a natural product called OPC-3 that has helped a lot of people with fibromyalgia.   If you want further information, you can e-mail.

I had RNY a little over 5 months ago and while my joints feel better, my overall Fibro experience is the same. I still hurt and have the fog. And I think my fatigue is actually worse. I work out 5-6x a week, but am exhausted and have to push myself to go to the gym and then come back home and take a nap. 

So overall, I would say NO. So far the surgery hasn't made a difference with my Fibro. Sorry, but with the weight gone, my joints feel better.

I had the VSG eight months ago.  I also have fibromyalgia.  I didn't notice a big difference right away.  I still have flares, but now I notice they aren't as often.  My surgeon told me the first 6 months postop, your body doesn't know what it's doing. She said to be patient.  She said some people do have improvement of their symptoms with the weight loss.  I have lost 90 lbs since my surgery. The fatigue is 100% better than before.  I have more energy than I've had in years.  The rest of the symptoms are about the same. Now I only have flares once or twice a month versus once or twice a week with constant fatigue.  

I am almost 2 months out (wow seems longer. ) but mine has lessened almost to nil! I have many 0 pain days!!! I mean none! Granted I am on cymbalta and butrans patch and loratab for breakthrough pain. But before I was popping norco like its candy! I had 2-3 days when the weather was up and down. But compared to what I dealt with before.... I am in utter shock! I still don't like to be touched in certain areas (those trigger points). My doctor was sooo very happy!!! She said I was a poster child for them. Mine was bad I had to get some shot in my ass about 2 days before surgery to get me over a hump!

But when I asked my surgeon: his answer was yes, No, Maybe! He explained in some it goes away and is entirely manageable. Maybe not just not go away I should say.... No, some seem to have seen major flare ups. And maybe because we are all different.

Like I said I am only 2 months out. So I hope mine continues to stay on this track. My next step is to go from 20mcg of butrans patch to 15mcg by cutting out a quarter of it instead of going down by 10mcgs in one week and work way down.

Btw... My rheumatologist was unable to handle me on my need for pain meds. I had to switch to a pain specialist. Most get dx by rheummy then move to pain specialists.

Just FYI

Feel free to ask me if u have any questions.

Weight loss itself won't directly affect Fibro, but if being smaller means you exercise more and sleep better, and are mentally stronger, then that will definitely help with Fibro symptoms. 

If you really want to lose weight and keep it off, go for the Full Monty...the Duodenal Switch.   I'm 4 years out as of yesterday, and I lost a  total of 245 pounds.

I have both lupus and fibro, and I haven't had a major lupus flare since I lost my first 75 pounds.  My top weight, aided by prednisone for the lupus (it was the only thing that worked!) was 405.  Now, other medicines work when they would not before,  to keep the flares to a minimum.

If you have RNY, you will not be able to take NSAIDS, because of the danger of ulcers and pouch bleeds. Even people with unaltered stomachs can experience stomach bleeds from NSAIDS. People with the DS still have natural, albeit smaller stomachs, esophageal and pyloric valves intact.  Despite what most doctors will tell you, to scare you away from the surgery, is that there is constant diarrhea ( You may have a little more during your first year, while your body is readjusting to the new configuration) but the DS by far has the best numbers on maintaining the excess weight lost, and you will still be able to take NSAIDS.

You will have to make sure that you get lots of protein, 90-100g daily, and your pill taking regimen will grow exponentially with the DS, as it is highly malabsorptive, and taking numerous vitamin, protein and mineral supplements are non-negotiable if you want to stay healthy and well-nourished.   Eventually, your RNY malabsorption will go away,  as new intestinal villi grow more dense, and overcome the malabsorption.  That doesn't happen with the DS.  New villi do grow,  but they can't become dense enough to defeat the malabsorptive portion of the DS. With the RNY, after about two years, the "honeymoon period" it's called, the villi will defeat the malabsorption, and you will again be sentenced to a lifetime of  restrictive dieting.  I'm not a good dieter when it comes to that, and believe me, I've been on every diet known to man since the age of 10!  For the first time, the DS has made it possible for me to eat like a normal person, protein first, of course. In fact, I probably eat more now than I did when I was SMO.

As a lupie and fibro gal,  I already had the pill taking part down pat, and to get rid of the weight of the two extra people I was carrying around with me was worth it.  I now only have to take prednisone for severe flares, and as I said, I haven't had one that was unmanageable since I lost my first 75 pounds, two months after I had my surgery in 2009. I am currently taking a medication tthat works to control lupus flares, and it's working very well for me. My surgeon also proactively removed my gallbladder and appendix, to eliminate the possibility of  abdominal surgery for appendicitis and gallstones. Lyrica, for me, is a miracle drug when it comes to fibro.  No worries about weight gain.  The DS takes care of that.

I no longer walk around wondering if I'm going to end up in the hospital hooked up to a bolus of steroids,. I'm prepping now for excess skin removal, which will end my purchasing of Lotrimin by the case to fight fungal skin infections, which happen in the folds of redundant skin, no matter how thoroughly I cleanse and powder my skin. The staged surgeries will take a year, and then, my focus turns to trying to get off disability, which wasn't even possible to think about before the DS.  I have already started coursework for a second Bachelor's, and I'm hoping to become a RD, specializing in bariatric nutrition (pre-op, post-op and no-op!)

I was all set for a RNY, until I found not one, but two surgeons in my home state who performed the DS.  Sadly, my first surgeon passed away before I got my surgery, and I had to begin again with the new surgeon, and a program two hours away from home.  It was well worth the trip.

Think twice.  Cut once.

 

My FMS seems to have lessened.  I attribute it to the weight loss and the way I eat now.  I have always noticed that it flares with more sugar and white carbs such as rice, pasta, etc.  I eat far less of these things now so believe it has helped.  However, the fatigue is the same.  If I am real busy one day, the next I am exhausted.  Thus, I make sure to get in my vits, proteins and water.  The fatigue is even worse when I don't.