Arthritis - NSAIDS - Major holdback..

iI DIDN'T THINK I COULD SURIVE WITHOUT THEM EITHER.6MO OUT AND I USE TYLENOL ARTHRIS AND IF I'M REAL BAD 1 VICODON.MY LEFT KNEE IS BONE ON BONE RIGHT ANKLE HAS PROBLEMS PLUS RIGHT HAND.I THINK IT HAS SOMETHING TO DO WITH OUR DIET CHANGE TOO.NOT PUTTING ALL THAT JUNK IN OUR BODY.I ALSO USE SUPER-STRENGTH BLUE -EMU.BUT EVERYONE IS DIFFERENT.I WOULD DO THIS SURGERY OVER&OVER.YOUR WHOLE BODY CHANGES THUR TIME.GETTING ALL THE TONIXS OUT HELPS.JUST KEEP RESERCHING THERE'S ALWAYS SOMETHING NEW COMING UP.                              LEHIGH

Your surgeon is not in step with many others. Many Bariatric Surgeons now allow NSAIDS for post-op RNY’s after the initial healing after surgery.  Some require their patients take them along with meal or even a Nexium or Prilosec. I have been on Mobic (as directed by my Bariatric Surgeon) for over 8 months for my torn rotator cuff.  No problems. I know over 20 other long term post-op RNY’ers who also have been cleared for NSAIDs. The “No NSAIDS EVER!” is often the battle cry of anti RNY folk. If it were true, it wouldn’t need to be shouted. Check with your doc again and ask why other Centers of Bariatric Excellence allow them while he does not. As always, Go With YOUR Dr.’s recommendation, but at least check as to why he is recommending such. Best Wishes- Dx remember May back in '06? http://www.obesityhelp.com/forums/amos/board_id,4856/cat_id, 4456/topic_id,1323360/a,messageboard/action,replies/#9975052 Same sort of info you got then...... [edited to add link]

I was in the same situation!  I've had arthritis since I was 10.  Taken meds ever since.  I was on Indomethasin when my sugery was approved and a date set.  Then I find out I can't take it after surgery.  I was shocked and dismayed to say the least.  In fact, I was so upset I even considered not having my surgery.  I needed it so bad though.  I've also been diagnost with Fibermyelgia.  I had to go off my meds 2 weeks before sugery and the pain was almost unbearable.  I went ahead and had surgery but begged the doctor to find some other meds.  I got so deseperate I even went back on my Indomethasin.  Boy was that a mistake.  After about 3 days I was in horrible stomach pain!  Almost hospital pain.  And, worst of all, stopping it didn't stop the pain that fast either.  I went to a rheumatolgist and he started me on Celebrex.  THANK GOD!  I have been on that ever since.  Not quite as good as my Indomethasin, but bearable.  Right now it's killing me because of the snowy weather, but it's still bearable.  I sometimes have to take oxicodone.  So..... if I were you, I would try Celebrex.  It hasn't bothered my stomach at all.  Good luck.          Christine

The fact that I have arthritis and NEED my Ibuprofen was one of my Top 3 reasons for going with the Duodenal Switch.  We have no more restrictions on using NSAIDS as a non-op.

You should look at the difference in the surgeries between the RNY and the DS (also the VSG, if you haven't already) and decide what you can live with and what you can't.  I couldn't live without my NSAIDS.  That said, I knew that losing 100 pounds would help my hands/feet/knees a lot, but the arthritis doesn't go away after weight loss.  Unlike diabetes, which the DS has a cure rate of 98% -- so if you are currently Type II diabetic, you may want to look at the DS as well.

You are welcome to come to the DS Forum and ask questions there.

p.s.  I LOVE the Dr Suess quote on your siggy.

They are really quite violent on the tummy tissue and totally fried my tender tummy 10 yrs BEFORE my wls.

I also have arthritis in my hands, as anyone can see by my typing. LOL But since I haven't taken NSAIDS since the 80's, I do take PLAQUENIL, which has no tummy issues, but can effect eyes. It requires an annual check is all.

In order to take it, I had to prove it actually improved mobility, so I've been taking it for 12 yrs now.

Also, on the natural side, Bromelain can help inflammation.

You definitely will get a variety of opinions. I too have arthritis and losing a lot of weight made a huge difference , but we know that once arthritis is there, it's there and it usually progresses. Eating well and exercising (the right exercises!) does slow it down.  When my arthritis is really acting up, I still take a couple of aspirin, with my surgeon's blessing.  He feels that occasional use, considering I've never had ulcers or a family history of them, won't do me harm.  But it's not an every day or even every week situation.  I'm deathly allergic to aleve and advil, and Tylenol simply doesn't do a thing.  I do consider it a balancing act.  Most of my body could not have survived without losing that weight, but in balance, I need to feel good to live healthy, so I do take the occasional aspirin. I suggest talking directly to your surgeon, not a nurse or clerk about this problem. You are definitely not the only person he's ever had with arthritis. Ann

I post this reply to every question I see about this, but doubt any one tries it , because they think its too "yukky", but in my opinion if the pain is bad enough, you just wont care.  I have my anti inflammatories made into suppositories and they work so well, they are absorbed even faster than if I was to swallow them.  Give it a try, they are fantastic. hugs, Helen