Cancelled RNY

I was scheduled to have gastric bypass on Monday Feb 26th, and my surgeon cancelled it because I had been on the liquid diet and no arthritis medications (I have RA) and I was so severely incapacitated by the lack of medications.  Much to my shock and disbelief, no one had pointed out that I would never again be able to have Ibuprofen or Prednisone after RNY surgery.  He suggested that I have the Lap Band instead and that he would speak to his colleague about getting me set up for it. I cannot believe that I spent a year preparing to have RNY surgery only to find out the morning of sugery that I couldn't, and was not going to be able to ever have those medications again.  Currently I am on Methotrexate, Arava, Ibuprofen and I take Prednisone only when I need it.   This surgeon said that I would be able to take these meds after Lap Band surgery, but I have been so burned by this situation that I don't know as if I believe him.   Can anyone help me and let me know whether or not they have been able to take arthritis medications after Lap Band surgery? I wouldn't be against changing some of my meds to fit around the Lap Band surgery, but being told I could never again have Ibuprofen (and on the morning of the surgery!) was quite a shocker and it makes me worried for my future and the arthritis.  It only took those two weeks of liquid diet and no meds for me to become so badly in pain that I had to be in a wheelchair at the end.   Has anyone else had this happen?  Any advice would be greatly appreciated!

Hi,

Before you consider having the lapband have a look at the duodenal switch.  Even with the lapband  you can have problems with ulcers if you take anti inflammatories.  With the duodenal switch your chances of losing the weight and keeping it off are much greater and there is no issue with taking anti inflammatories. 

If I don't take my steroids and methotrexate my joints and muscles practically turn to stone after as little as a few days.  I know how difficult it can be.  That is why I am having the DS instead of the RNY or the lapband. 

Please visit the DS message board at

http://obesityhelp.com/forums/ds/a,messageboard/board_id,535 7/ There's lots of great people there and tons of links to great information.   Good luck to you.  Please feel free to email me if you'd like to chat. Kelly

Thanks for the info, Kelly!  I do not know much about the duodenal switch process, so I will research that and speak to the surgeon.  I'm not sure if my health insurance covers it or if the folks I go to see at Baystate even perform that surgery, but I appreciate you taking the time to let me know about it! Amy

I had my rny surgery scheduled for 4/10 - and after reading your post - which I am so thankful I read!- I started doing some investigating and discovered that I would not be able to take my RA medicine after surgery. I was a bit surprised the surgeon did not tell me this, but we must be self-educated. I take Methotrexate, Humira, and Indocin SR - these are the meds that work for me that make me able to function on a daily basis and without them I cannot image what my life would be like. I did contact a surgeon who does only lapbands and they indicated that with a pill to coat the stomach - Nexium- I would be able to continue with my medications, though I would have to stop the Indocin 3 days before surgery. I hope you can find out about the lapband and that it will work for you. My insurance would pay for the RNY but not the lapband as it is considered experimental for a person with my BMI - over 50 so I will file an appeal with the insurance company and work on losing some weight to lower my BMI. Please let me know how things work out for you Annie

Annie, I couldn't believe that in the year I had to see the nutritionist and the surgeon and the hundreds of times I was asked about my medications, that NO ONE said that I couldn't take Ibuprofen after gastric bypass.  I mean, how is this overlooked?   Especially with folks with RA!?  It was so disturbing and devastating to get there and have it cancelled.  I am so very happy that I was able to help you out in that regard.  Can you imagine if we HAD gone through gastric bypass only to discover too late that we couldn't have our RA meds?  It's so frightening.  As horrible as the whole thing was, I am glad that I didn't have it.  I am now going for the Lap Band and will see if that will work for me. Good luck! Amy

Take a look at the DS----it's been shown to be the very BEST form of WLs for those with a starting BMI over 50! ANd it will allow you to take pretty much any meds post-op that you've been taking pre-op.

I chose the DS (duodenal switch) because it WOULD allow me to take any meds I needed, post-op. I've had severe arthritis since age 20, and at 45 I wasn't ready to give up my meds for ANYTHING, not even losing weight. I'm 3+ years post-DS, and I take NSAIDs each and every day---couldn't function without them. Sure, losing weight has HELPED my arthritis, but NOTHING is ever going to repair the damage all those years of obesity and arthritis have caused. Check out the DS---I think you'll be glad you did!

You're the second person to suggest the DS procedure, and I appreciate it!  I don't know much about it, so I need to do some research.  I am not sure if my insurance covers it, or if it is even performed anywhere near where I live, but I am going to check it out. My RA is very bad now and I could never function without my meds!  I can't believe that everyone missed this VITAL bit of information in the year that I was seeing them before the surgery date. Thanks for your help! Amy

The opinion of "never again" varies from doctor to doctor.  Pre surgery I took lots of ibuprofen.  Post-op, I take mobic.  I had no gastric side-effects from the years of Advil and don't have any trouble with the Mobic.

I used to take Tramadol and Sulindac before WLS.  Since surgery, I take Mobic also like another gal said. I also take Protonix to ward off any problems with ulcers. Karen