JenniferVSG2011

Hi,
I am just looking into revision do to metabolic reasons and I am not sure I should. I had the sleeve 11/30/I2. I lost 60 lbs.
SW 289
CW 229
I have been stuck this weight for almost a year I go back and forth from 232 down to 228. It is soooooooo frustrating. I have been reading up and it seems I may have a issue????
I eat 1200-1300 calories daily sometimes less and it is mostly low carb less than 50 carbs a day. Infact recently I have been doing 20 carbs a day,
I don't work out like I should be I do work out at least 2 times a w aim for 3-4 though. This last week I didn't at all becasue I was sick but I am back in the game now.
Anyway, I am at my wits end the hospital where I had my surgery thinks I just need to keep trying the 1200 calorie plan. Obviously my body like where it is at!
UGH!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
So just curious if anyone has tried it for weight loss issues.

I definitely agree and am desperately hoping to get at least some degree of relief, as you have, and be able to exercise more. These are some of my top reasons for doing it

Thank you so much, I hope you continue to have relief and success as well. Your story definitely gives me hope!

I meant to respond directly to you! It's late here, but I will be back on tomorrow and hope to of some help! Thank you for reaching out. And don't worry, I post novels. I think it helps everyone understanding where you are at in your journey! [emoji4]

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Hi Taylor! I'm back! I had no idea this thread had gotten this long until I got an email about your response! I've been trying to catch up, but my pain is at a 6 right now. I will definitely hop back on here tomorrow. I have updates about what I've been experiencing and hope I can help! [emoji4]

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Hi Jennifer,
I know this post is over a yr old, and am hoping you are in a much better place now. Hopefully you have found some things that worked w/your specific situation to help you get the scale moving in the right direction again. But if not, or even just as possible add'l help for you or anyone else reading, these are my thoughts...
With my Fibro, I started having symptoms toward the end of my 1st weight loss program, which was physician supervised, using Phen-Fen, seeing a nutritionist & exercise physiologist. I needed to lose 30 lbs+/- and I lost 31. Titrated off the meds, but even before that, started having pain in my neck & shoulders which I attributed to my job as an admin (worked a 10 line phone while typing reports all day - phone always scrunched between ear/shoulder). I was still able to keep the weight off, but 6 mos later got pregnant & that was very difficult w/pain & fatigue.
Eight weeks after my daughter was born, I got back to the gym. Yes, it was painful. No, I didn't really Want to do it, but I worked hard to lose the weight the previous year. Plus the Y offered child care & that gave me 2 hrs per day to myself. I could work out for 1-1/2 hrs then use the steam room/sauna/jacuzzi (all helpful for pain) for 30 mins. Things that helped me were 1. Starting slow w/exercise & building up intensity (w/weights & cardio), 2. Stretching a lot as soon as I was done - like ASAP, 3. Using the steam room/sauna/jacuzzi at the YMCA, 4. Icing painful areas when I got home (some ppl prefer moist heat which is fine), 5. Using a topical pain relief aid such as Biofreeze - roll-on is convenient, 6. Getting a TENS unit for home use for bad areas, 7. Taking Zanaflex at bedtime to help w/muscle tightness & sleep, 8. Working out at a fairly intense pace actually works best for me for some reason (makes no sense, I know - endorphins, maybe?), but I do HAVE to slowly build up to that level whenever starting something new and/or after a flare-up or anytime there has been a pause in my work-outs. I literally start with 1 lb weights and build up to circuit weight training again. These are all the things that have helped me to stay active and lose weight despite intense pain from Fibro.
As far as appetite goes, well for one thing, I am at my highest weight ever rn because I hurt my back 10 yrs ago & it's been a snowball effect. That has significantly decreased my workouts much more than the fibro did. So, I can't speak to how all of this works after having had the sleeve, but will know more on that after my surgery 12/27/17. However, I was at a point after both my parents passed where my weight was up more than usual and just working out and "eating well" wasn't working. So, my family doctor let me take just Phentermine (since Fenfluramine is now off market) as long as I came to her monthly for blood pressure/check-ups, and also went to WW for better food accountability and the YMCA for workouts. That helped me lose about 25 lbs.
So, I don't know if appetite suppressants are allowed after WLS, but obviously there are new/different meds on the market now so is worth looking into (also helps w/energy & motivation to "just do it" when you are otherwise lethargic). Also, every person is completely different and I know/respect that. Some fibro patients are bedridden, some still work FT and take care of house/family. Just bc something worked for me, won't necessarily work for you, but I have 21 yrs worth of journals I've kept & those are the things that helped me the most. I really hope you are feeling so much better now. I'm sorry my posts are so long, it is one of my worst traits I think, I apologize. I try to edit but can't get my point across otherwise! Best wishes and feel free to PM me if you are still on here and want to talk or even if you have advice to help me since you are actually post-op!

👍🏽

@Betty Trigo thank you. I love my surgeon, he's a neurosurgeon, not surgery eager, highly recommend and has a very nice PERSONALLY..wow!! Lol I appreciate the pt advice. I need pt now! Yikes. Hugs hang tough

I've had 6 spinal surgeries and it's not easy to find the best doctor. Whatever you do be sure to follow up with plenty of physical therapy, it makes a world of difference.

Hi your post attracted my attention as I have been lurking. I have psoriatic spondylitis after years of misdiagnosis and need spine😶 neck surgery. I was in a wheelchair but walk now mostly unassisted. Wls has helped my mobility and self image despite ARTHRITIS I grew up with. Grrrrr. Good fortune!!

Hello, There are so many forums, I don't know where to start. I also have an arthritic condition, Ankylosing Spondylitis, that has changed my life drastically. It took at least 10 years to finally get diagnosed. It started with severe lower back pain in my 30's, then loss of range of motion in my neck and spinal surgeries on my forties. The disease attacks the spine and sacroiliac joints. My last spinal surgery resulted in a spinal cord injury and disability in my early 50's. With lots of physical therapy, I can now walk with a rollator for short distances.
I've been overweight all of my life, which I believe affected many aspects of my life. I carry a lot of sadness due to having spent so many years hating my body and disappointed in my inability to lose weight. Since my disease is progressive, I decided to finally have the gastric sleeve surgery in hopes that I can be as independent as possible. I backed out 2 years ago, but now I'm ready.
I'm on day 4 of 14 day pre op diet. I'm looking for a support group.

@Sherrie Scharbrough Whew, that's a catalogue of medicines I'm relieved to have avoided! But you're so right about the catch-22 of exercise and fibro. It's one of the top reasons I had this surgery.
.
I'm struggling to get to the point where exercise doesn't knock me out for the next day now.

I was diagnosed formally with fibro in January 2016 after the symptoms I'd been living with for years got way worse following a major injury. I don't take the same medicine as you, but I haven't had problems with any of my meds since about 10 days post-surgery. (Took forever to get them all down the first week and a half!)


What I DID have was a big flare following the surgery. The pain wasn't unbearable, but the exhaustion and weakness really hit whenever I over-do activities. I missed Wednesday of this week entirely due to falling exhausted into bed after a busy Tuesday only to wake up Thursday morning. I attribute that to the additional strain on my body from healing. The GOOD news so far is that the flare has been causing significantly less pain than pre-surgery flares. Hopefully that's a Thing and not a coincidence.

That's wonderful! Thanks so much for your time.

I was diagnosed with fibromyalgia, cauda equaina syndrome, failed lumbar surgery syndrome, and diabetes. Took all but diabetic meds after surgery in October til January. I didn't stop taking them from side effects. I just stopped and realized I didn't need them anymore. 3months the only prescription I have is b12

I have Fibro and Lyrica has been massively helpful for me. I'm having a bypass later in the summer. I'm hoping I can still take my meds for it. Does anyone have trouble with it post-surgery? I'll ask my rheum. also on my next visit. We've agreed that weight loss will be highly beneficial for my joints/tenderness regardless.
My bigger issue with my Fibro is that I get these electric zappy shocks all over (like a neuropathy of sort...I've had shingles 3 times, feels like that kind of zapping)...and the Lyrica has been huge it stopping the pain. Dealing with the zapping is rough! So happy my meds work, but will I still be able to take it? It was like magic to finally get relief.
Thank you for any shared experiences.

I was diagnosed with Fibro over 10yrs ago and had finally gotten to a point where it was manageable and I had fmla for when you had flares and needed time off work.. Then almost 4 yrs ago now in January of 2013 I got really sick with what I thought was the flu and went into what I thought was a flare.. Finally in July of that year after struggling trying to work using up all my vac time + fmla days because the pain was so horrible I went to a new doctor and ended up being diagnosed with Lymes.. And the developed Lyme induced arthritis.. So for you ladies that don't know what you have.. You might want to get tested for Lyme.. And a negative result doesn't always mean you don't have it.. I suggest you read up
Good luck with everything!!
Munky

So...I went on low dose oral steroids less than a month ago and while my pain has lessened...I've gained nearly 7 lbs. I'm going to start to titrate myself off by going to one pill every other night and tell my rheumatologist I want off all together. I think I'd rather have the pain than the weight gain and all the potential side effects.

I'm autoimmune and not only did I NOT flare, I've been in complete remission since the RNY. It is one of the reasons I had the surgery.
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I was hoping to find more of you out and about in this site! My surgery is Monday (RNY revision from a 16 year old VBG gone awry). I was diagnosed fibro about 5 years ago and was wondering if the surgery was going to throw me into a flare. I had to give up my methotrexate 2 weeks ago and for the next 3 months and I already notice a difference! Any real fibro difference with weight loss?
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That's what I figured... My rheumatologist didn't know either. I think it is an endocrinologists secret lol. Seriously, it's what they do- and like all specialties, have their little "trade secrets", tips and tricks.
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Sorry!! About the oral steroids to taper off quickly
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@@jenjenp
Your last question- " why doesn't my rheumatologist know about this?"
Know about which? Lol. We covered a LOT of ground in this post!!!
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Hi am just seeing this now. Thank you for responding. I did get off prednisone about 8 months ago. But it started to come back and about 2 months later I couldn't take it and went back on. My rheumatologist says cut down till I feel pain. Then start methotrexate. Shots. So I can continue to get off prednisone. I did have all the testing done. They did suspect fibromyalgia ms. Lupus RA etc Till all tests were done.
I will look into seeing an endocrinologist. I did tell the dr about prednisone. He said it was fine and I may lose slower. I am now 9 weeks out and lost 20 pounds. 10 more the week before surgery. I was "only" 201 day of surgery. I would like to lose faster but. I really want to get off the prednisone. Thank you and why doesn't my rheumatologist k ow about this?
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I guess I was living in a bubble for a long time as I was so not aware of how many of us live with chronic pain. I still remember when my doctor did that stupid pain scale and I said my pain on one particular visit was 4-5 and he said it looked to him like my pain level was worse based on how I was walking/sitting, etc.
I reminded him that pain was subjective and since my highest pain was more than most people could bear, my version of a 4-5 would likely immobilize someone not used to living this way.
I do my best to not have it impact my life...or impact it as little as possible.
I'm glad this thread is here...to get input and advice and just comfort in knowing I'm not alone in dealing with this.

Rough. I had decided to pursue nursing as a mid-life career change, with the goal of becoming a nurse practitioner. I loved ER nursing, but especially with my primary symptom being in my feet and making it incredibly painful to stand, and treatment compromising my immune system, I couldn't stay bedside. I miss the heck out of it.
Luckily in my former life I was a data warehouse analyst, and a good one. So I changed my grad school track from NP to Healthcare Informatics (will graduate Dec 2017 god willing) and am back behind a computer. Where I didn't want to be, but at least it's an option that gets me off my feet, pays well (better than nursing), and with all of the assistive tech available, I'll be able to keep doing it as long as my brain works.