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About this blog

a place to share and discuss the cross effects of weight loss surgery on Fibromyalgia and vice versa

Entries in this blog

 

Discussing Fibromyalgia and Surgery with my surgical team

I have an evening appointment with my surgeon's assistant tonight. The purpose is last minute instructions and Q & A. I found a patient education sheet "Guidance for Fibromyalgia Patients who are having Elective Surgery" on the website of the Fibromyalgia Information Foundation.   I'm printing out a copy and taking it to my appointment tonight. Everyone at the hospital seems knowlegeable about FM and its affects on post-op recovery but I'd rather be safe than sorry.
FibroDiva

FibroDiva

1
 

1 week pre-op

It's been a long road to get to this point. I've walked this road with my 2 children, my sister, and my best friend [who just happens to be a doctor]. For years my doctor's have been warning me to lose weight. My sister and I have tried various programs [diet and exercise] to no avail.   I didn't come to the decision to undergo surgery at the flip of a coin. I purposely waited until today, 1 week pre-op, to tell my extended family and friends because they are not always supportive of what I want to do for myself. Also, my mother's side of the family is Nawlins born and bred. They are the biggest [no pun intended] weight loss sabatougers. They think I am too skinny.   Well, I made my announcement today and most of the family ignored me.   I'm turning all the phones off.
FibroDiva

FibroDiva

4
 

September is National Pain Awareness Month

Pain Awareness Month is a time when various organizations work to raise public awareness of issues in the area of pain and pain management. The first Pain Awareness Month was in 2001, when the American Chronic Pain Association led a coalition of groups to establish September as Pain Awareness Month.   The purpose of Pain Awareness Month is to bring attention to the very real physical suffering of an estimated 100 million Americans and to highlight the need for research and new, innovative treatment options.   Events   PainWeek 2013 Healthcare provider training Cosmopolitain Hotel Las Vegas, NV Wednesday September 03 - Saturday September 07, 2013     Complimentary Chronic Pain Awareness Expo Open to the public The Desert Ridge Marriott Saturday, September 7, 2013 10 a.m. to 2 p.m.
FibroDiva

FibroDiva

0
 

Free At Last, Free At Last

I'm finally home. Got out yesterday, August 05.   I had problems swallowing and my creatin levels went waaaay down.   I've been home for 24 hours and my legs are swelling. So now I'm calling the doctor.   Gotta say, once a couple of issues were addressed: removing the drain tube
turning the air conditioner off and piling on 3 blankets [da Fibro]
Figuring out how to take my crushable meds despite the taste.
The pain is bearable. I have severe Fibromyalgia so I live with excruciating pain every day.   When Dr. Cahill's assistant, Tony, came into my room I told him "if you don't discharge me today, my 18 month old granddaughter is going to break me outta dis joint see."
FibroDiva

FibroDiva

0
 

Fibromyalgia And Surgery: What Did I Learn?

I'm back home from the hospital and learned a few things about surgical floor staff and Fibro. [1] Just like any other area of health care that does not see a lot of people with Fibromyalgia, there are surgical staff members whose eyes glaze over when you say "I have Fibromyalgia", and there are those whose eyes light up with recognition and respond, "don't feel shy about speaking up for yourself when your pain level increases.
[2] Don’t be afraid to ask for extra blankets. I needed a total of 3 to keep warm.
[3] Don’t be afraid to ask to have the air conditioning in your room turned down, or the heat turned up – depending on the time of year.
Remember cold aggravates Fibromyalgia and increases your pain and stiffness. You might not be able to turn the air conditioning off if you have a roommate. I had a private room so there was no problem. If you can’t get the air conditioning turned off, or the heat turned up, get as many blankets as you can stand to lay under. The weight of 3 blankets was my threshold. [4] Remind everyone from the pre-op registration desk, to the OR personnel, to the recovery floor staff, “I have Fibromyalgia and it may affect my recovery, the actual physical surgery may exacerbate my Fibromyalgia symptoms. Fibro and physical injury seem to form a vicious pain cycle so I will be requesting my post op pain meds.”
My doctor informed me that due to recent change in legislation, a post op patient has to request certain pain meds when their pain level increases, even if it is prescribed by the surgeon to be administered at certain intervals. If you have break through pain in-between the scheduled dispensing times, YOU must say something.   You are your best advocate. If you think you will be unable to speak up for yourself, hav a family member or friend do so.
FibroDiva

FibroDiva

0
 

Welcome to my weight loss blog: Fibro Diva's Bariatric Blog

Welcome to new and returning visitors, thanks for stopping by and showing interest in my Fibromyalgia and Bariatric surgery blog.   Feel Free to like and follow my blog.   Feel Free to invite your friends, family members, and support group members to stop by and like and follow my blog.   Most importantly feel free to join a conversation or start one.   Fibro Diva's Bariatric Blog is a gathering of those thoughts that escape the Fibro Fog, both those concerning bariatric surgery and Fibromyalgia and those on Fibro only.   Fibro Diva's Bariatric Blog is a place to discuss the unique concerns of people with Fibromyalgia who are considering and/or who have undergone surgery to help control their weight, [and possibly take charge of their FM].
FibroDiva

FibroDiva

0
 

Today is a bad day

Ok so someting finally hit me worse than my normal Fibro and IBS. Darn it had to happen on a day that I am home by myself.   I've been crawling back and forth to the bathroom all afternoon. ARGGGH.
FibroDiva

FibroDiva

0
 

Family Support: Thanks for those special BFFs

So this past weekend was really bad. I was home alone and dry heaving and could not reach any of my children, family or friends on the phone for comfort. Suddenly, I received a text message from my best friend who lives on the opposite side of the country.   This simple text said, "I've been out of touch cause I'm working at a Bariatric Center as an emergency medical director (she's a doctor) and I'm just checking on you. How's your oral intake?"   I realized that I had not had all my daily fluids. Once I began drinking more, I began feeling better.   Yeah for BFFs
FibroDiva

FibroDiva

0
 

Gluten and Weight Loss

We'll talk about Gluten in this feed, but watch the Dr. Oz show at http://www.doctoroz.com/episode/gluten-secretly-destroying-your-health
FibroDiva

FibroDiva

0
 

Fibromyalgia and Insulin Resistance

I’m not saying that severe Fibro symptoms is only experienced by overweight people with FM. I know several pwf who are average or underweight. I also know a few people with diabetes who are average or underweight. By providing the info below, I am acknowledging that some of us do need to know this info.   Fibromyalgia and Insulin Resistance   The pain, stiffness, malaise and fatigue of Fibromyalgia and Chronic Fatigue Syndrome [Myalgic Encephalomyelitis (ME)] often cause people with FM or CFS/ME to become sedentary. This sedentary lifestyle may lead to severe weight gain and obesity. Obesity has been linked to insulin resistance. Researchers have found that “insulin resistance is a fundamental aspect of the etiology of type 2 diabetes and is also linked to a wide array of other [conditions] including hypertension, hyperlipidemia, atherosclerosis. . . the metabolic syndrome, or syndrome X, and, polycystic ovarian disease.” [1]   MedicineNet.com reports, “insulin is a hormone that is produced by the pancreas. Insulin is an essential hormone that has many actions within the body. Insulin resistance (IR) is a condition in which the normal response to a given amount of insulin is reduced within the body. Higher levels of insulin are needed in order for insulin to have its proper effects. So, the pancreas compensates by trying to produce more. Insulin resistance is a risk factor for development of diabetes and heart disease.” [2]   So what does all this have to do with Fibromyalgia? Well, how many of us with Fibro, [overweight, underweight, average weight], have experienced the cognitive impairment referred to as Fibro Fog. Fibro Fog is that episode of forgetting words, walking into a room and forgetting what we went in there to get, losing thoughts or words, etc. One study found that an increase in insulin resistance in people with FM [pwf] may be a risk factor for increased Fibro Fog. [3]       Endnotes: _____________________________________________________________________________   [1]Obesity and insulin resistance, Barbara B. Kahn, Jeffrey S. Flier, Published in Volume 106, Issue 4 J Clin Invest. 2000; 106(4):473–481 doi:10.1172/JCI10842 [2]http://www.medicinenet.com/insulin_resistance/article.htm#what_is_insulin_resistance [3]Insulin resistance possible risk factor for cognitive impairment in fibromialgic patients. Fava A, Plastino M, Cristiano D, Spanò A, Cristofaro S, Opipari C, Chillà A, Casalinuovo F, Colica C, De Bartolo M, Pirritano D, Bosco D. Metab Brain Dis. 2013 Jul 28.
FibroDiva

FibroDiva

0
 

The WLS, "Food", and Fibro

I saw the nutritionist yesterday and she told me I can start a protien diet tomorrow. She says I can not start a full liquid diet until Septemember 12 and won't be able to move to soft foods until September 26.   I'm glad to see so many earyly Augusters have already started soft foods. I know that the LCMH crew wants me to lose at much weight as quickly as possible but I do want to take it slow so I can begin exercising and strengthening muscle along the way.   Have a comfortable day everyone.
FibroDiva

FibroDiva

0
 

Fibromyalgia and WLS Awareness

As May gets under way, I realize it is a month of nurturing [Mother’s day], appreciation [National Police Memorial Week], and advocacy [international Fibromyalgia/Myalgic Encephalomyelitis/ Gulf War Syndrome/ Multiple Chemical Sensitivity Syndrome Awareness Day].   My Fibromyalgia has been flaring big time but I've been busy building awareness of the special needs of people with Fibromyalgia who have had weight loss surgery.   For one, we cannot take out pain medication the way we did pre-op.   I testified at the FDA Public Meeting on Patient Focused Fibromyalgia Drug Development and spoke about my experiences as a post-op patient. After the meeting I posted all the questions which the FDA needs community responses online [Click here for questions].   If you are a WLS patient with Fibromyalgia, please take a moment, click on the link above and copy and paste these questions to a word document, answer them and then go to http://www.regulatio...013-N-1041-0004 and paste your answers as comments onto the FDA docket. The comment now button is in the upper right corner of the FDA’s page.   The comment period closes on May 26, 2014. The FDA really needs to know that there is a subgroup of people with Fibromyalgia who need their medication in chewable, dissolvable or liquid forms.
FibroDiva

FibroDiva

0
 

Self-Perception

Quick drastic weight loss is a strange experience. Don't get me wrong, I was fully prepared, after all it took over 10 years to finally break down and undergo surgery. After all the research, doctor's visits, and support groups/forums, I was prepared buuuuttt. I'm having trouble moving into the "skinny mindset".   I eat like a skinny person, I don't have a choice since 95% of my stomach is gone. I'm becoming active like a skinny person with Fibromyalgia [there's only so much you can do with Fibro].   The problem is clothing. I still see myself as fat and think I should wear larger clothing. That's where having lots of children [young adults] in one's life helps. After being teased for wearing clothing that is too big [even though it is smaller than what I use to wear], I broke down and purchased items for stores I would have never dreamed I could patronize, Express, Old Navy, J C Penny, Victoria's Secret. Everyone thinks I look great but I feel they are too small.   Oh well, I guess my self-perception will catch up with the physical as time goes by.
FibroDiva

FibroDiva

0
 

Dry Heaves

My Fibro experience includes Irritable Bowel Syndrome [iBS] and immediately post op I didn't notice any difference. Now that my FM pain has died down, I can see the difference.   It seems every other day I'm having dry heaves. Now that the bowels are coming back to life, I have dry heaves on the days I have a bowel movement.   This is worse than my Irritable bowel because I could control it with Alka-Seltzer® but now that I am post op, I can't use this prouduct anymore.
FibroDiva

FibroDiva

0
 

The New Wls Site

I am glad to see the new site is up and running. For a moment I was having withdrawal thinking I would not be able to see inspirational posts from the groups I enjoy, Where are the Over 50s, African American Sleevers, Chicago Sleevers and of course Fibromyalgia/chronic pain Sleevers.
FibroDiva

FibroDiva

0

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