Chronic fatigue syndrome, fibromyalgia & VSG outcome?

[Naturelover 27]

I have had chronic fatigue for 30 years - started back when I was young and thin - and diagnosed with fibromyalgia about 12 years ago. I am scheduled for vsg on 8/7. Would love to hear others' experiences around these issues and vsg. How was your recovery? How do you feel now? Improvement? Worsening? Thanks for your input!

[Christies 1]

I see by now you've had your surgery date. I came here with the same question. How are you feeling?

I also have chronic fatigue and fibromyalgia and the recovery is my biggest concern. I'm not scheduled for surgery yet. My consultation is this week.

[KNJScorpio 11]

I have also had the same diagnosis and I really hope that the surgery will help. I have never been "thin" and hope that taking off my extra weight will help. I am scheduled for August 29th. This week I had a bad flare up and I just hate it :(.

[Naturelover 27]

I see by now you've had your surgery date. I came here with the same question. How are you feeling?

I also have chronic fatigue and fibromyalgia and the recovery is my biggest concern. I'm not scheduled for surgery yet. My consultation is this week.

I am feeling remarkably well. I honestly couldn't get a straight answer from drs prior to surgery about how it might play out. Chronic fatigue dr said to be aware that surgery can always be a cfs episode trigger. My bariatric dr said in the patients he's seen, they have generally improved at least a little.

Pain is an issue and can't take anti-inflammatories. But, dr also said the surgery can sometime knock down inflammation.

Compared to my normal, I'm feeling great. And I'm hoping it lasts, but after 30 years of cfs, find it hard to not anticipate the downturn. But, doing my best, following all drs orders and getting all necessary nutrients, fluids, and movement for proper healing. And pacing myself. Plenty of rest both before and after surgery.

[Ladybug2659 8]

Been battling ME/CFS for over two years. Spent thousands on specialists. All the rheumatologist wants to do is to use drugs to suppress the immune system. No, not doing it. Discussed at length with bariatric surgeon who indicated that weight loss helps a normal person’s energy level to increase, and that joint pain is reduced by the fact that your skeleton is not hauling excess fat, straining connective tissue, and so on. I was told that if I elected the sleeve that I would have some improvement. It certainly did help my overall health and the fibromyalgia pain seems less intense (but I clearly grapple with it). I am down 50 lbs in 4 months, I did NOT bounce back like others do — it took me 3 weeks before I could function. The chronic fatigue was horrendous. I decided that because I had most of my stomach removed, that I would only eat healthy nutritional foods, clean organic foods and began my Probiotics. Fat stores toxins, I felt like crap as my body rapidly shed weight, hormones began to fluctuate and I seriously thought I had maimed myself further until I noticed that my vision wasn’t so blurred as before, the dry eye was better, I had less anxiety, sensitivity to light and startling at loud sounds. I went from Bone Broth to organic Protein, fish, veggies and keep craving REAL lemonade (no sugar). Introduced oregano oil as well as my bariatric Vitamin supplements. Started walking (5-10 minutes a day on treadmill). By 10 weeks out I was feeling almost human. At the core of my being, I feel there has been an improvement in my central nervous system but not one doctor can substantiate why. Considering where I was 1 year ago, this is a big turn around. I am by no means cured, I still have down days where I just need to rest. I budget my energy and log everything I put in my mouth. I have no cravings for carbs anymore, I don’t drink sodas and seldom eat bread or any kind of Pasta. Bottom line is that I believe that gut was the primary cause of everything going whack — add to that a high stress career, a history of having a horrible case of mono, massive antibiotics after surgeries. My body just shut down and I was getting angry and depressed because these doctors have no clue. ME/CFS is real. In my case, VSG helped me but it wasn’t easy. The struggle is real.

[KikiSue🙋🏼 22]

I have FMS & CFS as well, and am so glad I found this question and read your answers. I’m only into my 3rd month Pre-op and have wondered the same thing for a while. Even if it helps a little bit, then I’ll take it!! And like you said, just having the excess weight taken off of my knees and ankle joints will be a big help. I’m excited to get this journey started and start living life!!

[Naturelover 27]

Seeing the new posts to this thread, thought I would add an update. Thanks to those who posted. ME/CFS & fibro are real. It’s so great when we can come together and share our experiences. As anyone with these diseases knows, we are dealing with illnesses of isolation. If you haven’t seen it, make sure to watch Jennifer Brea’s documentary UNREST about ME/CFS. She’s created a movement that is actually making some progress in getting adequate funding for ME/CFS research.

I am now almost 10 months post op. Surgery date was 8/7/17

HW 223

SW 209

CW 140

i can only speak from my experience... my recovery was pretty easy. No complications. My doctor at Stanford is quite conservative and cautious (former head of American Bariatric Society), so I seemed to have more rules around surgery and food than other friends that I met online through this site who had surgery at the same time. I embraced the guidelines, understood they were there for a reason, and radically surrendered to the process. I was prepared for the worst, but expected the best.

Felt pretty awesome (for me) even the week after surgery. I was prepared for a massive crash, so I was grateful when that didn’t happen. I felt pretty great for a couple of months. Then started to have serious issues due to a tumor on my adrenal gland that has likely been there for years. In fact, the bariatric surgery probably helped bring this to light, as I was getting frequent blood work and we noticed a concerning trend.

So, I have been quite ill for months as other drs tried to figure what was going on with this adrenal issue. Will have surgery for that later in June. And it complicates the picture.

That said, my surgery was a complete success. I feel like the obsession with food has been lifted completely (I’ve done a lot of work with this over the years). A year ago, due to bone on bone knee and excess weight, I was barely able to walk to the bathroom and was ready to get a walker at the ripe old age of 46. I now move around the house and can do errands with little to no pain in my knees. I can even took a 2 mile hike a few weeks ago. I paid for it after a bit, just with knees, but it was possible.

My energy levels have been better. I still feel exhausted if I stop to think about it, but I have been able to get out of bed most days and get out of the house, which helps so much. My body feels like a friend now, rather than my foe.

It has been amazing to have the experience of losing weight this easily. It’s always been a horrible struggle for me. Especially in the last 10 years. Couldn’t lose. Only lost 1.8 lbs on 2 week pre-op Liquid Protein diet. At that point, the dr even admitted that he couldn’t guarantee that this would work, but said “we hope that cutting out the stomach will change your hormone profile and your metabolism.” And it feels as if that is what happened.

At my 6 month post op, when I told him I haven’t had any improvement with chronic pain (I also have a cluster headache syndrome and damage to neck and back from multiple accidents when young), he said that he is hopeful that around a year my inflammation levels should drop and, hopefully, I will start getting some pain relief at that point.

I feel lighter not just in body, but in mind and spirit as well. And, even though my decision to have surgery was 100% based on improving my health and being able to walk and postpone knee replacement, there have been other benefits as well.

I am smaller than I was at my wedding 25 years ago. I can put on clothes and basically everything I try fits. I’ve been doing a lot of shopping at the fancy local thrift shop since my sizes keep changing. The other day I bought a beautiful size 4 designer dress and it fit! That’s a number I never thought I’d see. This part is just one of the fun perks. But, something that is smooth and fun for me now, rather than a struggle to find something that would button over my 38G chest.

I’m so grateful my knee replacement dr started me on this journey. I was at the point where I loved myself and embraced my curves. But, I can love myself thin as well.

If anyone has specific questions or wants to connect, please PM me. I am happy to answer any questions, either on this thread or privately. Good luck to you all on your journey of healing! 💖

[Frustr8 7,886]

Okay, CFS is chronic fatigue syndrome, Fibromyalgia I know and battle with , but what is ME? I feel like I should know already, but acronyms elude me at times.😪😮😜

[KikiSue🙋🏼 22]

Naturelover,
I’m sorry to hear about your adrenal tumor, but so glad that you’re feeling better after surgery with your FMS and CFS. That gives me so much hope!
I am going to PM you.

Frustr8 - ME is Myalgic Encephalomyelitis

[KikiSue🙋🏼 22]

Naturelover... for some reason it won’t let me message you.

[Frustr8 7,886]

Thanks KikiSue, another evil thing to contend with. Like RebaMcEntire's song Naturelover is a "Survivor", I am glad I have,met ladies like her along my bariatric Journey.❤🌷😜🌷