Newby with Fibromyalgia

[ImaDucky 0]

I was lucky that I chose a female doc first. I just feel more confident that they will listen. My ob/gyn is also female. My mom messed around for years with her male doc and her fibro. He kept telling her it was all in her head.:thumbup: Twenty years ago the docs didn't believe in fibro. That is why I am so glad there are more females now. I remember going to a male doc when I was 20. I asked him to explain about something and he told me not to worry about it. What was then called the "God complex".:smile: Tina

I know EXACTLY what you mean Taz!... both my Dr's are female - incl. my OB/GYN and it was only when I found them that my condition was seriously treated. I am ashamed to say that I did find one female Dr. with the "yeah right" attitude and God complex , but one visit was all I gave her..hehe ... no wasting time there!

My poor mother was ill just like yours for the last 20 yrs. and no one there to help her, its only been since I've been diagnosed that she was able to find some help. I thank God that Fibromyalgia is at last named and considered legitimate.:thumbup:

[ImaDucky 0]

Hey Zoomomma!

Just wanted to wish you luck on your visit to your surgeon tomorrow!! Let us know how it went!

[ImaDucky 0]

hello. i dont have Fibro but i Do have Rsd/Crps. so i understand all about living with pain. i am also hoping the band /weight loss will help at least a little. any little bit helps a LOT .

Hi Rainenroses! I'm sorry to hear that you too live with pain. I'm also sorry to say that I don't know what Rsd/Crps. means. Would you elaborate please? And hang on to that hope - I think that may be half the battle.

[rainenroses 8]

well here is what RSD/CRPS is

RSD = Reflex Sympathetic Dystrophy

CRPS = Complex Regional Pain Syndrome

chronic neurological syndrome characterized by:

• severe burning pain pathological changes in bone and skin excessive sweating tissue swelling
  
• extreme sensitivity to touch
  

RSDSA :: welcome

American RSDHope

in my case i never had RSD/CRPS until about 3 years ago (approx. )

i was walking across the street ( my parents live across the road ) with an OLD thick crystal glass in my hand.....walking home.

i fell ( ankle gave way AGAIN )

the glass broke and sliced into my palm..........they say i lost over 2 pnts of blood at the scene.......severed an artery and the nerves in my hand.

due to an incompetent dr. ( the hand sr on duty was to "busy " to go to the er to check it out ) i was stitched up and sent home............

after 2 weeks ( yeah...OUCH!) i went to my appointment ...............after much arguing i saw a different dr ( who i LOVE ...he is awesome )

long story short..........3 hand surgeries, a nerve graft lots of therapy i am disabled, cant feel my dominant hand and now most of my right foot (due to graft )

i have rsd/crps in my hand,shoulder,foot,ankle..............

the websites i included can give all sorts of info on it.

Angie (rainenroses)

[ImaDucky 0]

Dear Angie (rainenroses),

Thank you for the explaination of the RSD/CRPS. It sounds extremely painful and I am very sorry to hear that your case was initially mishandled. Did you attempt to gain any satifaction through legal recourse? That wouldn't be my first recommendation, but it certainly sounds as though you had plenty of reason to do so.

On a lighter note, I was born in Indiana and lived there until I was 9. I loved it and still do. I used to live near Richmond, IN in a very small town called Lynn. Are you familiar with that area?

It's nice to find people who can become a support system. I feel a great need to relate to others during this lap-band life transition who also struggle with pain/fibromyalgia. Sometimes we can pass coping mechanisms on to each other as we press toward our goals.

I look forward to talking more as we journey!

p.s. Thanks for the sites!

Edited May 9, 2008 by ImaDucky
Addition needed

[karenn1 0]

I have fibromyalgia and I was banded May 7, as far as joint pain I feel better, but I'm having terrible muscular pain in my rib cage area, and back pain since the surgery, MD says I'm more aware of the band than most patients because I can feel it and I wonder if it is because I have fibromyaglia. It's been one month since surgery, and each day I wake up hoping today I will good, but I feel worse than I ever felt. I had 80 lbs to lose now down 20 lbs, but unfortunately I regret the surgery because I hurt so bad MD says there is nothing they can do other than to open me back up to see where the pain is coming from, hopefully it will get better. I haven't been able to go back to work full time because I feel too BAD.

[ImaDucky 0]

Dear Karen,

I've been worried about the pain of this surgery too, because of my fibro. and other issues. I'm sorry to hear you are suffering so much. When I had my gall bladder surgery it took me much longer to recover than the average patient. I did finally recover. Hopefully if you can bear this for another month at least - (it took me 2 months) I believe you will see a marked improvement. When were you diagnosed with fibro? Of course I'm not a Dr., but can tell you from experience that it is not unusual to suffer greater and longer than others from any invasive surgery due to our fibromyalgia.

Have you ever heard of 'going by the signs'? I wonder if the day of your surgery was not a 'good' day for that procedure. I firmly believe lunar cycles play a great part in all nature, from growing crops to having surgeries. I hope you don't think I'm a nut.. lol. This is not something I usually discuss with people...hehe.

I hope you feel better very soon. I will pray for your pain and recovery, that the Lord will ease your suffering. Melanie

[brandyII 9]

Imaducky,

What do you know of certain astrological signs and weight issues. I've read that Taurus and Cancer have issues with weight gain, do you know anything about that? brandyII, (:smile:not looking for another excuse)

[karenn1 0]

Well thanks for the concern, I actually started feeling 100 % better 3 days ago after I was given some Mona ' vie juice I drink 2 oz in am and pm, I noticed almost immediately I had NO more GAS, I was eating a box of Gas X's everyday and I haven't had one since I started drinking the juice, not to mention my energy has increased and pain has decreased. I hope it continues, because I fell like I can actually live with the Band now.

Also by the way I'm a Cancer July 12, I'm not sure if it was a bad day to have my surgery which was May 7, but it sure has taken a long time to recuperate and I'm a Home Health Nurse,

[vegwannabe 1]

... MD says I'm more aware of the band than most patients because I can feel it and I wonder if it is because I have fibromyaglia.

I was wondering how the Fibro decreased pain tolerance will play out after surgery. I've only recently been diagnosed with Fibro, after years and years of unexplained pain...you know the drill. Thankfully, my symptoms are fairly mild, mostly just aches and pains. I've been taking Lyrica (100mg 1x/day), but it's not doing enough to warrant the $50/month copay and the dizziness and nausea. (Sidebar - Is it possible to continue taking Lyrica (they're huge pills) after banding?)

I am hoping being banded and losing the weight will help overall. I also know that my Fibro is made worse by refined carbs (bread, Pasta, sugar, etc.), lack of exercise/movement, and hormones - including stress.

From what I understand about the Fibro Syndrome, there is no one cause or one cure. Losing weight might help, eating better quality foods might help, eating fewer carbs might help, being able to exercise and stretch after weightloss might help, etc...The band is just one of the tools we can use to feeling healthier. The band is just the first step.

Good luck to everyone. Please post more about this. I'm very interested.

[Lana24 10]

Hi everyone,

I was diagnose a few years back with Fibro, and I am glad to say I have had zero problems since the surgery...all healed and ready to go! I wish you all the very best of luck with your surgeries.

Lana

[greythope 0]

Hi gang

I don't k now if I have fibro, but I do have chronic pain, some explained (bad disk, hyperflexible hips) some not - general aches and pains in my legs and arms with not a lot of rhyme or reason. I have taken vicodin and tramadol for these on and off for the last number of month. I am paranoid that my pain tolerance has decreased. Hope I will be ok after the surgery. I feel really sensitive to pain anyway.

I too am feeling better on the low carb diet and glad I've had to do this. I have a bit more of a spring in my step. I don't know if losing 100 pounds will cure my pains but at least I won't be putting so much pressure on my joints. I have sleep apnea too and praying before I know it I won't have to use my vader to sleep!

So I guess while weight loss might not help, it certainly isn't going to hurt :biggrin: If nothing else when I go to the doctor complaining of pain I am not going to be sent away with the 'you wouldn't have this problem if you weren't fat' stock answer.

[lolipopkd2 0]

I really liked your posts. I was told by Dr. that I to have fibro. My neurologist says nueropothy. Anyway, I had to do supervised visits for 6 months for insur to pay 90%. I did it! Now on 2 week pre diet and its killing me. Only Protein Shakes. I finally had a small salid tonight. I hope that did not mess things up. Waiting for my metifast now. What have you guys ate on your pre diet?

[taz 2]

I am always interested when people talk about fibro. I have had fibro for about ten years. I am currently on five drugs ( including Lyrica) to try to control it. I also use acupuncture. All help some. The funny thing is I've had less pain from fibro since surgery Feb 8th. It has only recently started to bother me a lot so I need to go back to my acupuncurist. I tease her that I had one BIG acupuncture with lapband. Any way,...good luck to everyone. I would really like to hear from peoples experiences.

Tina

[wingnut49421 0]

Hey Banders!

I have Fibromyalgia and am concerned about the Lap Band surgery's effect on people who have that disease. Can anyone help me? I don't want to falsely get my hopes up that losing weight will relieve some of my symptoms. But, on the same hand - I am so very hopeful!

Thanks!

i have fibromyagia also ...although i have never had a weight problem until i began a medication for fibro...lyrica...i am concerned that if you have have a by pass surgery and begin taking lyrica for your fibro you may gain weight again...some Water weight and some just regular old weight gain...i gained 40lbs...30 of it was in the first 3 weeks of taking the medication...i just thought this was something you should be aware of...wingnut49421