FibroDiva

Thank you so much for the words of encouragement. I've been following my daughter's news station online and changed my thought process like you suggested. If I focus on my weight loss process and concentrate on preparing for Thanksgiving, my daughter and granddaughter will come and get me and take me back to Peoria where I will be able to spend the holiday week with them. We are going to volunteer to help those who loss so much.

Yesterday an EF4 tornado ripped through the area where my daughter, her husband and infant live. This is a picture of the area around the news station where my daughter is Executive producer and her husband is a teleprompter techinican. They were not home or at work, they were upstate visiting his mother where an EF3 tornado touched down. Everyone is ok but I spent all day fighting the urge to eat out of stress and worry. It took my daughter and her family 6 hours to get back home, normally 2 1/2 trip, driving through debris and high winds. Even though they are home safe and sound, even though their home sustained no damage, I am still worried and struggling with the need for emotional eating. I know eating is not going to help my daughter. I know that overeating will only make me sick, but old habits are soooooo hard.

I didn't have a cath but I had a drain hose. There was a lot of pain until after the drain came out one day after surgery. Once the drain was out, I was up and walking.

It's important to get adequate Protein everyday. Once you are post-op get your Protein shakes. If you can't stomach the shakes , I can't, then try juice smoothies with Protein powder added.

Congratulations on surgery. I had my surgery at Little Company of Mary and I was on liquid for about 6 weeks. It was terrible because I could not handle the protein shakes. After about 6 weeks I was able to start the soft foods. Now I'm eating regular foods, I can only take 1 or 2 little bites but I find if I mix the protein powder into soft foods, I'm getting in all the required protein.

Welcome and congratulations. I am 56. I made the decision to have my surgery on my 56th birthday. My granddaughter was getting ready to turn 1 a month later and I just realized I wanted to be around for her. My surgery was exactly 6 months after my 56th bday. Now as we approach the holidays I am delighted that I can run after her, pick up, carry her, and climb the stairs after her.

In 2012, long before I had made the decision to have surgery, I had pre-paid for a conference in Las Vegas that took place September 2013. I had surgery August 2013 and told my doctor about my planned trip [i live in Chicago]. He would not release me to fly or drive for exactly 30 days. Luckily 30 days was 2 days before my trip. I had to take blood thinner shots for 4 weeks post-op and that led to the risk of bleeding. Be careful and make sure you talk with all your doctors and even try to get a second opinion about flying after surgery.

Thank you. I was able to update my ticker. Now that you ask, I can't remember if it was on the blog or not.

I can see my tickers when a post in topics but I cannot see them on my blog or update them. :-(

Hey ladies, are you able to update your tickers? Can you see them on other areas of the site? I can see my ticker when I post comments but I cannot see it on my blog and I cannot update it.

I've been posting handouts that my personal trainer gave me when I was preop. I started an album that you can see by clicking here. If you cannot view and/or download the items just let me know and I can send you the PDFs.

I'm very pleased that my Fibromyalgia doctor insisted that I go to physical therapy. After about 3 weeks of Fibro oriented PT, my physical therapist then began working in the exercises that my personal trainer suggested. I do see that I am gaining strength and toning. However I can not get rid of the Bat Wings and cottage cheese thighs. They are not as bad as I had feared but they are there.

I've been posting handouts that my personal trainer gave me when I was preop. I started an album that you can see by clicking here. If you cannot view and/or download the items just let me know and I can send you the PDFs.

You're welcome. And Holly Clare if you can think of any, please feel free to add to the list.

Sometimes we [people with Fibromyalgia, women in general, parents, grandparents, older alduts] have to remind ourselves to STOP. We are so use to doing things for others, to putting others first, that we neglect our own needs and health. It has been difficult for me to do this in the past, but since my surgery I have begun to practice putting myself first. Sometimes I have to remind myself of the flight attendants speech, "in case of an emergency, put your oxygen mask on first and then turn to help children and others around you". Here is a list of 10 things we should type up and put on our mirrors or frig to remind us that we need to stop doing in order to take care of ourselves. The following list is from an article written by Adrienne Dellwo for about.com Today I will stop: 1. Overdoing it. 2. Criticizing myself. 3. Blaming myself. 4. Believing other people's negative opinions about me, Fibromyalgia, and weight loss surgery. 5. Having unrealistic positive expectations. 6. Having unrealistic negative expectations. 7. Putting myself last. 8. Giving up on new treatment options and/or lifestyle changes for my Fibro too soon. 9. Letting stress overwhelm my life. 10. Asking why. Click here to read to complete article

When I finally made the decision to go ahead with WLS, the first person I talked to was my Fibro Doctor. He did a work up on me to make sure that my thyroid was working probably and even now, 3 months post-op, still monitors my thyroid. He explained to me that as a person with Fibromyalgia I have a risk of developing thyroid problems and this would counteract any benefits I reap from WLS. Here is a great article on Fibromyalgia's affects on weight.

The food and Drug Administration [FDA] is presenting an opportunity for our voices to be heard. On December 10, 2013, FDA is conducting a public meeting on Fibromyalgia Patient-Focused Drug Development. FDA is interested in obtaining patient input on the impact of fibromyalgia on daily life (topic 1) and currently available therapies to treat the condition (topic 2). The questions for discussion on these topics are located at the bottom of this page. For each of these topics, a panel of patients and patient representatives/advocates will present comments to begin the dialogue and will be followed by a facilitated discussion inviting comments from other patients and patient representatives. If you are interested in providing comments as part of the initial panel discussion, indicate so during the registration process. Participants for the panel discussions will be confirmed prior to the meeting. There will also be an opportunity for patients, patient representatives and others to provide comments on issues other than topics 1 and 2 during an Open Public Comment session. Sign up for Open Public Comment will take place the day of the meeting. Don't worry if you cannot physically attend the meeting in Maryland, you can attend via webcast also. click here for more information.

I am glad to see the new site is up and running. For a moment I was having withdrawal thinking I would not be able to see inspirational posts from the groups I enjoy, Where are the Over 50s, African American Sleevers, Chicago Sleevers and of course Fibromyalgia/chronic pain Sleevers.

I am glad to see the new site is up and running. For a moment I was having withdrawal thinking I would not be able to see inspirational posts from the groups I enjoy, Where are the Over 50s, African American Sleevers, Chicago Sleevers and of course Fibromyalgia/chronic pain Sleevers.

I use to wear sew-ins. Make sure the stylist does not use synthetic hair to braid the tracks.

I'm having enough trouble with Gluten Free/Nightshade free since my family is from New Orleans, I don't think I'm strong enough to go Paleo.

Welcome to the Fibromyalgia/chronic pain sleevers group Fibromyalgia and other chronic pain conditions can prove a major barrier to weight management. Research has shown that fibromyalgia continues to be a common but largely undertreated problem in overweight and obese patients and can often pose a significant barrier to increasing physical activity. So the questions I hope to see addressed in this group are: For those of us who have not had the surgery yet, what are your expectations about “How VSG will affect your Fibromyalgia/chronic pain?” For those of us who have not had the surgery yet, have you included you Fibro/pain management doctor as a part of your weight loss team? For those with Fibromyalgia/chronic pain who have already had surgery, did you see an improvement in your pain or an increase? Any experienced people with input would be so welcome. Let's share information and support each other since we all have special challenges with our conditions. Good luck and best wishes to all! We can do this!

I am will have my surgery on August 01, 2013 at Little Company of Mary Hospital in the Chicago Metro area. I have Fibro, degenerative disc disease, bilateral carpal tunnel and bilateral plantar fasciitis, and Migraine headaches. I was on heavy duty medication and could not tolerate them. I am hoping to have a successful VSG!!! I have had Fibro since 1992. I was a police officer and sustained a series of injuries on the job. I have been struggling with my weight ever since. Besides having a family history of obesity and obesity related death, the various meds used to treat my pain have resulted in my weight problems. Beside FM, I have sleep apnea, bilateral carpal tunnel and plantar fasciitis, degenerative disc disease, chronic fatigue, Migraines, high blood pressure and cholesterol I think I am realistic about my upcoming surgery. Even though I have heard that weight loss reduces the symptoms of Fibromyalgia, I am undergoing surgery to improve my overall health and reduce my obesity related risks. If my Fibro gets better, that will be a wonderful benefit. If my Fibro gets worse, then that is anticipated possible side effect.

And good luck to you Goslin. I was doing great before the weather changed. I do not do so good when it gets cold and snowy. If you can, ask your Fibro Doctor to prescribe physical therapy about 1 month or so post op. PT helps manage flare ups and fight flab as you begin losing weight. Make sure to ask for liquid, chewable, or dissolveable versions of any pre-op Fibro medications you might be taking.

My Fibro symptoms initially reduced quite a bit after surgery, I think that might be because I started physical therapy immediately [about 1 month]. However, now that it is getting cold I am going into a flare. I always had problems with my hips and with each pound lost I do see gradual improvement. Yes, as you get rid of toxins you will at first feel worse then things get better. Whenever you move back to food try to avoid wheat gluten and nightshades. I found as I began eating these categories of food, they caused flare ups. Good luck