Chronic fatigue syndrome and weight loss surgery

[Rach38 0]

I am wondering if anyone with a diagnosis of chronic fatigue syndrome has had bariatric surgery. I am curious as I am contemplating surgery and if it helped or made symptoms of chronic fatigue worse

[summerseeker 2,367]

I have Fibromyalgia which I believe to be a little similar. I was told by my surgeon that the surgery would not change my Fibro. It hasn't. I overdid it yesterday and I am totally wiped out today. I am in tired, painful agony.

The other thing to consider is how your meds work with a small stomach and the other pills you have to take. I have a huge Calcium tablet that has to be taken away from other pills. I take antacid/ nausea tablets twice a day. These line my stomach and I feel they stop my pain medication from working well. Straight after my surgery, I was not able to take them as crushed up they taste vile.

[ChunkCat 737]

I have chronic fatigue and fibro. I'm having surgery Nov. 1st. The surgeon said the surgery may help in terms of being less weight to carry around and less inflammation in the body, which may result in less pain, but it really depends on the person and the cause of their disease. I'm hopeful things will improve a little, even if it is just letting me move better on my good days, you know? If I can be more productive on my good days then I can accept my bad days on the couch with a little more grace. LOL

[LindsayT 599]

I was diagnosed with fibro before surgery. My pain and fatigue were awful. After surgery, I have zero symptoms. I'm not sure if it was a misdiagnosis or if it was something to do with surgery. My only pain now is the areas I have confirmed arthritis.

[ChunkCat 737]

I thought I'd update this since I'm 2 weeks post op. The other day I was sitting on the couch and noticed I felt energy in my body. Like, excess energy. In fact, I realized I have more energy now than I did before surgery---and I'm still recovering from a major surgery!! How is that possible? How much better will it be when I'm recovered? I have not felt extra energy in my body in longer than I can remember. At least a decade.

The surgeon thinks it is from the reduced inflammation in my system. All I know is that yesterday I went to the grocery store and was standing and roaming around for nearly an hour. I haven't been able to do that in years, my partner took over all the shopping duties. It seems like a small thing, but anyone with fatigue knows it is actually a very big thing! Today I was able to cook two meals and do the dishes, something else I haven't been able to do in a while.

I'm sleeping better at night and going to bed pleasantly tired because I've actually been able to do something with my day besides sit on the couch! This is so foreign, but welcome... I had no idea the surgery would or even could do this!! If I knew I would have had this done a decade ago. I'm just rather blown away at the moment...

Edited November 18, 2023 by ChunkCat