Hey Ja...You are so right about
meds not working. The ones that have potential to offer me relief seem to be rejected by my GI system. Thank heavens you have a GP who takes good care of you. I had one of those until around 2010. He retired, as did my cancer surgeon. My GP delivered me from the womb and took complete car of me throughout my life. He picked up the pieces of my surgeries and put me back together (like Humpty Dumpty) "All the King's men" cut and ran...more than once.
My old GP was a wonderful country gentleman of a doctor. He was administrator/COS at our local hospital. He was capable of everything from delivering babies to performing major surgery. He was the definition of DOCTOR. There aren't many left like him, IMO. If there are, I haven't found them...until last summer. My current GP is a female who has taken over the small town practice. I am elated with her so far, but she doesn't do PM 
though she writes my scripts for AD, AA, and GI meds.
Ja...I had my gastric bypass in 1987. I lost all of the weight and have kept it off. That's the good news, I guess. The bad news is that it took MANY years for me to recover from the continuous vomiting and pooping. I literally almost starved to death, needing constant IV feedings through hospitalization.
Just as I thought I began to see the light in the early 90's...It was a locomotive...stage 4 endometriosis. I'd had horrid menses since onset at 11 years old. I'd seen doctors (GYNs) since 17, but brushed off my pain. I was treated with hardline birth control to stop the bleed out. That's what caused me to gain weight. I foolishly chose GB for vanity's sake by my mid 20's. For me, personally, it was the worst mistake of my life.
By the time I was diagnosed with this disease, I'd TTC unsuccessfully. We were robbed of the children we'd dreamed of and planned for. Due to oversight of arrogant GYNs/GIs, the disease had comsumed my major organs and shut down my liver completely. I had 2 botched lap surgeries, before TAH/BSO (no option) just to survive. I was castrated @ 32...full blown surgery induced menopause.
My cancer surgeon told me he did his best, but the lesions were BLASTED throughout my belly/pevis. I was forbidden to ever take hormone replacement. I was forced to take Lupron injections and a tumor suppressing Megace for many years, until I said eff it and quit the meds that IMO were killing me.
I have several threads since joining last year, if you choose to search Dixie6. They're all LONG and BAD and UGLY...like my life has been, and continues to be. One entitled Scarlet Letter E pretty much sums it all up. I'm sorry that I talk too much. I'm southern in every sense of the word...will talk your ears off as though you were sitting here with me. My words can be graphic, but so is my suffering.
I never, ever knew that obtaining just a semblance of relief could be so HARD. I always existed with Darvocet only for pain. I don't tolerate Lorcet/Lortab as well. Although I've had opportunites (and certainly documented injury/disease) I've always rejected strong pain meds. I was/am afraid of them. I always took as little of the Darvocet as possible just to GRIND through life. Last year, I GAVE UP (my perception) and sought PM to provide relief stronger than Tramadol.
My spine issues are extensive, but I'm told "no surgery". The neuro told me that if he tried to "fix" my neck, the surgery would fail and I would be worse off. He also said that the herniated discs/tears are OLD like me, and do not require surgery. Okay, but why do I feel like I want to take my exacto knife and cut the pain from my lower vertebrae...crying out when I MOVE?
I was asked by my ortho, who treats my knees with Synvisc, "Which causes more pain, your joint issues or your endometriosis?" Oh, Idaknow...let's switch bodies for one day and you tell me, bee-otch!? Both my spine/joint and my pelvic/vaginal/rectal cause pain that no smiley face chart can reveal. Yet...My PM is getting ready to run with the wind, because he doesn't know how to treat this pain. He's actually leaving for Egypt next month, though I will see him before he leaves.
Please don't ever apologize for your suffering. You did not choose to exist in pain. One individual cannot quantify another's pain, nor should they make comparisons. SO glad you're here with us. Hope you'll stay a good long while. Some members' email addys are available if you click on the envelope below their name. My door is always open and I leave a candle in the window.
Hugs~Dixie