Georgia Pritchett

You have my sympathies! No NSAIDs is very hard with fibro. I have to do it because of my kidney issues. But some days, it's really difficult to get out of bed with the pain. Here's hoping you don't have an ulcer.

I haven't gotten that far yet. I'm still pre-surgery. I think I can make it on what they give me for pain relief during surgery. I tend not to like the dissolving meds (at least not the dissolving migraine meds--those actually made me throw up). I do fear having a fibro flare post surgery. My flares seem to follow no set pattern, unfortunately. My last abdominal surgery didn't trigger one (2004, ovary and cyst removal and that was an open surgery because of the size of the cyst).

This topic is one I'm really worried about. I just tried to go off abilify (for the 3rd time). I made it longer this time but then had a fibro flare and, frankly, I was close to suicidal before I started the abilify back up. I need my mood stabilized. I won't be having surgery until late August/early September but I was very happy to find that I could do liquid abilify if I need to be off pills for too long. We talked a little about it before but now I'm going to really make sure I know exactly what I can and cannot take post surgery per my doctor.

I had to give up nsaids a couple of years ago because of kidney damage. It is difficult with fibro, migraine, and tension headaches but I did make it. You can get Tylenol with caffeine and no aspirin which does help my tension headaches. Aspirin free excedrin. And I have a script for tramadol, too.

My husband wasn't keen on the idea at first--but I told him the stats of success from dieting versus surgery. I've lost weight 4 times in the last 15 years (more than 40 lbs each time) but never been able to keep it off. Losing isn't the problem--keeping it off is. And it's hard to argue when I have HBP, sleep apnea, painful joints, high cholesterol, etc. He's worried because I have migraines and fibro (although there are studies that show migraines improve for WLS people, too). But healing from the surgery may be more difficult for me. That means I'll need more help the first couple of weeks. Now operation Get the Operation is a family event. I don't know if it was the surgeon or I finally just got through to him.

I am going to have to think this though a bit more. I don't know that now is the best time to switch. She's so empathic about my pain issues even though she's never had pain problems.

I am 1/2 way through Emotional First Aid but I don't have the other one yet (it is on my list).

My therapist has been great as I've navigated dealing with clinical depression. She has helped me learn coping skills for my anger and boundary issues. She doesn't specialize in pain issues but I really feel like she helps me. But, she's not into weight loss and obesity issues at all--as a matter of fact, she struggles with her weight more than I do. She's been supportive as I've made my surgery decision but I don't think we've addressed WHY I overeat or HOW I can deal with that very well. I know the sleeve is only going to be a tool and I really think I need to look for another therapist who does work with obesity and weight loss. Has anyone else out there changed therapists because of surgery? Were you happy you did? (BTW, she's been my therapist for almost 5 years now). Georgia

I have not lost weight on Paleo (I am pre-surgery) but for once in my adult life, my cholesterol levels are good. The post surgery diet doesn't scare me because I am already eating very close to that.

Thanks for posting this. I have at least 1 friend who believes this (it's discouraging me from letting people know I'm thinking about surgery).

I'm going to be trying the Cefaly (new form of TENS for migraine sufferers). I hope to bring my headaches down prior to surgery. I know that having headaches seems to trigger more headaches (I get more sensitive to my low end triggers plus they mess with my sleep which makes them worse). Georgia

Thank you guys! I hope I'll be in the "it doesn't help or hurt" group (I would love to be in the fewer migraines group but my daughter weights 100 lbs sopping wet and she gets worse migraines than I do). It helps that no one has said surgery made it worse. And, while I think it's important to look at things from all perspectives, I wonder if part of my worry on this issue is just over worry. Realistically, I have had migraines when I changed my eating before but they've never persisted as long as I ate at least 3-4 times per day. Georgia

I have multiple chronic illnesses but the one that actually worries me when considering surgery is my migraines. I have seen the research that says that migraines improve for most patients. But, one of my triggers seems to be not eating. I have discovered that eating more Protein means I get to eat less often (and let's face it, I must be eating more than enough to be in this boat!). But I really do have issues if I don't eat something at least 3 times daily and right now (because I'm more sensitive to triggers because I've been getting more migraines for other reasons), I am eating 4-6 small meals per day. Has anyone had their migraines get worse after surgery. I'm not talking about that temporary worse from the post surgery diet change--I can handle that. I mean worse say 4-6 months post surgery. Georgia

I'm a city government employee with PersChoice. I'm just starting on the process. I have my list of hospitals close by and I decided which one to use--Good Samaritan in San Jose (healthgrades). It's also the cheapest range from Anthem's website. I went through different surgeons who use Good Samaritan and picked out the one to see. I have my first appt on May 16. Georgia