Introducing Myself As Chronic Pain Pre-Op Sleever

[Taylor5 98]

Happy Saturday! So I have been on BP for a few months now, have posted a few times, but am mostly just soaking in the wisdom, lol. This is my 1st time posting in the "special needs" forum, but I am grateful there is such a thing because I totally fit this category.

I am pre-op, scheduled for VSG on 12/27/17. Going to MX due to my Ins not covering bariatrics. I am 45, feel like I'm 65, but in my head am still about 22, if that makes sense? I've had Fibromyalgia(FM) for 20 yrs, Migraines (now controlled) for 30, DDD, Herniated discs in my neck & lumbar spine which cause a lot of pain in my left shoulder/arm/hand & both hips, legs, feet, etc. Have had 3 back surgeries & been the victim of 3 car accidents w/in the past 10 yrs, started having "saddle pain" in 2013 which now presents as pudendal neuralgia on left side thigh/pelvic area. Basically, pain all the time in one area or the other plus all the other happy gifts that come w/having FM ! One of which is depression that is exacerbated by daily pain & being 90 lbs. overweight.

Anyway, if any fellow sleevers (or other surgeries too) have feedback on how surgery has affected their pain issues & vice/versa, love to hear from you. Also happy to answer questions anyone might have regarding my journey so far & as I progress.

P.S. If you have had spinal fusion surgery, which is likely in my future at some point, PLEASE reach out if you can. I am desperate for good/bad fusion outcomes from real live people.

[shedo82773 1,236]

I can definitely relate!! I have had Fibro for the last 17 years. I have Osteoarthur, I have had 1 back surgery and now have rods and Cadaver bones but man it sure helped me!! I couldn't straighten up when I got out of bed or stood up from my chair. I still have lots of pain but it seems like at least I'm not hurting every day. I had to quit my job and was put on high pain medications which I overdosed on and then it messed my brain up big time. I still don't have the mind to get things out I know what I am trying to say but I can't get it out. That was METHADONE!! I have lost my cognitive abilities. My crack of a Nurses Protectionist even gave Marinol, THC in a capsule form. But...with my weight loss Surgery and continued exercise, I can now say I am so much better than before. My WLS has saved me in so many ways. I hope everything works out for you. Look forward to following your journey. Hang tight it will get better.

[Taylor5 98]

Wow, you are a warrior!! It is a hard life, that's for sure, but I am glad to hear the surgery has improved yours and am praying it will do the same for me!

[ChaosUnlimited 559]

I have had several herniated discs in my lower back and my neck for years. I had one back surgery to release a pinched nerve, which helped, but didn't fix everything.

Before bariatric surgery, I had back pain daily, and sometimes by the end of the day I could barely move. I used to take Ibuprofen all the time just to be able to function in my job, but a few years ago I had to stop taking that because of kidney problems. Since I stopped Ibuprofen, I was taking Tylenol and Tramadol a couple times a day without much relief.

As I began losing weight, and getting out to exercise more, I started noticing that I didn't have as much back pain. One day I realized that I hadn't taken any Tylenol or Tramadol for about a week, I never missed it! Losing weight and exercising has helped my back pain so much, I feel a million times better and don't suffer with the same level of pain on a daily basis. Carrying so much extra weight around has a lot to do with all the body aches and pains I had for years.

I still occasionally have some back pain, which comes with the territory of having the herniated discs, but it is nowhere like it was before and I can recover from it more quickly than I used to. I feel certain that losing weight is a major factor in relieving much of the pain many of us have when obese. It also increases range of motion and the ability to exercise effectively.

I wish you the best of luck, I hope your pain gets better. I know how it feels to live with it.

[Taylor5 98]

1 hour ago, ChaosUnlimited said:

I still occasionally have some back pain, which comes with the territory of having the herniated discs, but it is nowhere like it was before and I can recover from it more quickly than I used to. I feel certain that losing weight is a major factor in relieving much of the pain many of us have when obese. It also increases range of motion and the ability to exercise effectively.

I definitely agree and am desperately hoping to get at least some degree of relief, as you have, and be able to exercise more. These are some of my top reasons for doing it

1 hour ago, ChaosUnlimited said:

I wish you the best of luck, I hope your pain gets better. I know how it feels to live with it.

Thank you so much, I hope you continue to have relief and success as well. Your story definitely gives me hope!

[Danny Paul 761]

Taylor, with all of your existing conditions your insurance carrier didn't pay for your surgery? Don't mean to get personal, what insurance carrier do you have? It's unconscionable that they would deny you coverage for WLS.

[shedo82773 1,236]

18 hours ago, Taylor5 said:

Wow, you are a warrior!! It is a hard life, that's for sure, but I am glad to hear the surgery has improved yours and am praying it will do the same for me!

Back at you my friend!! I would say you are the TRUE WARRIOR!!! Look at what has been thrown at you!! And you still rise. Wait I think instead of a warrior you are the PHOENIX!!! You are knocked down and get back up to fight. You've definitely GOT THIS!!!

[Taylor5 98]

@Danny Paul,

I have Keystone Health Plan East right now, part of Independence Blue Cross of Philadelphia. We are self employed, so we have an individual plan through a broker. Our policy excludes all weight loss programs and bariatric procedures (except a $150/yr max gym reimbursement w/proof of attendance).

We recently moved closer to Reading, PA, so we are in Berks County now, and apparently out of IBC's coverage area. So we had to switch plans during open enrollment anyway, but we were already considering it to try to find a plan to cover me for this. We found out that no matter if we get our plan through a broker, like we have been, or through the healthcare marketplace, that No individual or small business plans from any insurance provider in PA offers bariatric coverage anymore.

So, we can't even pay extra to get the coverage. You can only get it if you work for a Co with 51+ employees - which I cannot work except for helping my husband with office stuff from home a few hours per week - and he is a 2nd generation painting/carpentry contractor doing this for 30 yrs, so him just getting another job is not an option. PLUS, it's not guaranteed the Co you work for has the ins plan that covers it either. The employer has to choose that coverage allowance when they choose the plan for their employees. PA is one of several states that doesn't require it.

Also, you can get it covered usually via Medicare (not old enough yet unless I get SSI/SSD - have begun applying for SSD, but will likely take a few years if I do get approved and I'm not waiting that long to have the surgery...)

And, it is covered by Medicaid, but we are above the income limits for that.

We discussed so many scenarios for ways to get coverage (all surrounding states do cover it, so should I move to MD/DE/NJ for a year, rent a room, get ins there, and get it paid for? But in the end all of that what such a hassle and took me away from, well my family of course, but also my doctors and everything else. Just too much work.

In the end, my husband said he was willing to take out a loan for it. I didn't even ask because I felt it was too much - but even though this is only one step in trying to help with all my many issues, he could see how it could be a catalyst for helping make everything else a little better. So he thinks it's worth it, which kind of blows me away. Obviously I think it's worth it, but always worry about my "issues" being such a burden on my family. Right now I am feeling really blessed by their support.

So, let's just hope lots of people need their houses painted this winter so we don't have any slow spells and we can make our loan payments!!

Sorry, I this is probably way more than you were asking...

[Taylor5 98]

17 hours ago, shedo82773 said:

Wait I think instead of a warrior you are the PHOENIX!!!

Thank you! I am seriously flattered, and also cannot wait to tell my husband and 19 yr old daughter that I am a warrior & a Phoenix!! They better recognize!! Also somewhat ironic as I was born in and lived much of my life in Phoenixville, PA