I am a surgical candidate, still trying to decide on a surgeon and a hospital/program in the NY Metro area.I have Rheumatoid Arthritis and Fibro. I am on heavy duty medication which will need to be stopped before my surgery. I am hoping to have a successful vsg!!!Any experienced people with input would be so welcome. Let's share information and support each other since we have special challenges with our conditions.Best wishes to all!

You're right. I have to be selfish right now. The funny part is that I'm not usually the type of personality who cares about what anyone else thinks or says. I definitely march to my own drummer....! I'm not sure why the negative opinions of my husbands family has bothered me. I guess I care about them even though they piss me off to no end. I told my husband I need some healthy boundaries where they are concerned. So I have put an emotional block up where they are concerned for the time being. I also told him I need to get a psychologist in place for long-term help in dealing with my anger toward them. Actually, I think I'm kind of a hot-head. I am not sure why... I've never felt like I was this way before. Maybe it's the stress from all the realization that change is necessary. Maybe it's that I resent people trying to control me. Actually, that definitely pisses me off. I don't like when someone tries to manipulate me through guilt or whatever. Anyway - thanks for your message!!!

Seems that you all have one or more of the same issues. I don't have any of those, but I do have MS. My right leg has incredible tone which makes it very difficult to walk. I use a cane due to balance issues and falling often. I am terribly lucky to not have pain. I do have restless legs which is under control as long as I take my Mirapex. I refuse to take any of the MS therapies due to the side effects and the fact that they don't make any of the current symptoms go away.I can't wait for my surgery because carrying all this extra weight makes it even more difficult to move a round and it's exhausting. Thanks for this group.

Hi I just found this thread and wanted to know if u had the surgery? I did last April and I too have MS. And have had a flare since then.

I haven't been on in while either, since surgery in March. The whole insurance game is a real drag! As for finding a doctor who takes medicare, seems they are all slowly shying away from it. Don't understand it, seems having medicare just doesn't pay sometimes. I wish you all the luck in this journey. Support from friends and family is soooo important to our success. Why are they not supportive of you in this endeavor? Seems a very selfish stance on their part, if you ask me. Proving them wrong may just be the way you will need to react to their negativity. Show everyone that you can be successful and happy and just fine with or without their support. Then when they need you support, be indifferent. Passive Aggressive, I know, but sometimes people just make me mad. It's easy for others to judge when it's not them that is going through the struggle. They just don't understand or don't want to. YOU ARE WORTH IT!!! Remember that. We have been living in a type of prison and we are ready to be free and enjoy life the best we can with the limitations of our illnesses. We no longer need the limitations of being overweight. I have only lost 40 pounds since March 28 and I admit I thought I could cheat the system a bit. I am now back on track and have lost 3 lbs in 3 days. Due to having MS and it's summer, I do not exercise like I'm supposed to, but as soon as it cools down, I have promised myself to get back into it. The hardest part of the whole thing for me. Just know that the only person that matters right now is YOU and forget about everyone else. You can do it!

Ok read page two. Glad u succeeded. Yes our weight Loss is slower but still a loss. I'm maintaining since flare six month ago. Been in wheelchair but haven't gained what I'd loss. So I'm happy about that. But also not getting enough Protein.

Update on your progress?

I also have RA and I have a very high anti-CCP level...meAning I have a very aggressive form of RA. I have my very first appt to see a surgeon tomorrow morning. Those of you with RA, can you share your experiences post-op?