Anti-inflammatories After WLS

Oh yikes, this is news to me.  Arthritis runs in my family big time--chronic debilitating pain and disability in the older generation.  My aunt is in so much pain she occassionally calls for an ambulance to take her to the emergency room because the pain is unbearable.  My Dad died from pulmonary embolism  after being bed ridden with arthritic back pain (long story).  My aunt was getting some kind of shots but they are giving her cataracts now.

I don't think I qualify for the DS.  It may be too radical as I am bearly 40 BMI.  I need the surgery.  Options???????????????   thanks

Janice

If you qualify for WLS, you qualify for the DS. Come on over to the DS board and do some reading, ask some questions, etc. You might also want to look into the Sleeve/VSG---it's the stomach portion of the DS, and you can take NSAIDs with it, too.

In medicine we use the formula " risk vs. benefit ", there is no medical school in the country that will teach you that  NSAIDS are safe for any bariatric patient no matter what their procedure.......

Celebrex is considered  " safer " but not safe, it effects an enzyme( COX-2)  that effects inflammation and pain in the body. There is concern about COX-2 and blood clot formation, a effective COX-2 drug called Vioxx was taken off the market ( voluntarily) by it's own manufacturer because of problems they noted in their own studies.

The FDA felt that Celebrex could stay on the market as long as it had a "black box" warning and it was up to the patient to decide if they were willing to take the( risk vs. benefit ) of possible negative consequences.
I hope your MD discussed this risk with you before he put you on Celebrex.

My arthritis is so severe it is impossible to just walk without terrible pain..........

I pray that we all find ways to lessen our pain, Patrick.

I guess it depends on your definition of 'safe'. I'm all about the benefits versus risk thing.

Frankly, NSAIDs have risks for ANYONE. My non-op mother can't tolerate them at all. I, on the other hand, apparently have had a cast-iron stomach all my life, both pre- and post-op. I feel that NSAIDs are as 'safe' for me as a DSer as they were as a pre-op.

The benefits of NSAIDs are something I would never choose to live without, unless the alternative was---well, I can't imagine. I think I'd rather deal with an ulcer than a wheelchair, at least at this point.

I was just diagnosed with arthritis in my knees.  I am 31 years old and had RNY almost 3 years ago.  I am devastated because I have no idea what to do for the pain anymore.  Tylenol? Yeah right! 2000mg at a time doesn't even touch the pain.  I am going to have blood work done to see if I have RA or if it is just osteo, however, I caution all pre-op RNYers.  Please remember that NSAIDS are a no-no after surgery.  No more ibuprofen.  I wish I had realized what I was doing when I had this surgery.  Granted, I wouldn't have lost enough weight to get pregnant and have my beautiful daughter, and I am so thankful for that.  But now, having to deal with arthritis pain is a nightmare.  My PCP has prescribed Vicodin for now, until I can get in to see my surgeon to find other possibilites...

"I wish I had realized what I was doing when I had this surgery.  Granted, I wouldn't have lost enough weight to get pregnant and have my beautiful daughter, and I am so thankful for that.  But now, having to deal with arthritis pain is a nightmare."

This is one BIG reason I encourage EVERYONE to research ALL the options. Had you chosen the DS, you'd be able to have NSAIDs---and your beautiful daughter!

Michelle,

Just wondering what you have found out about your knees.  I am 39 years old and have bone on bone on my left knee and not far behind on the left.  I am also taking Vicodin for the pain.  I have been to several Orthopedic surgeons, and they all tell me the same thing, you are to young for a replacement.  I finally found one that will do it, but he wants me to wait as long as I can.  Well, I do not want to gain any more weight after losing 130 pounds, and I don't like that I can't play with my kids.  I can't go down the stairs to do the laundry.  I can't go sledding with the kids.  This just sucks.  So now what do I do, have the surgery to have a better life now, or live on the pain meds and be a zombie and not play with the kids while they are young. 

Thanks

Tammy

I have chronic tendonitis and bursitis.  Instead of just being in my right shoulder, I now have it in my left knee and left hip.  I really need to be on a regimine of anti-inflammatories but am too scared to do it.  When I was first out of RNY, my surgeon gave me a prescription for Arthrotec along with Prevacid.  That helped but like all other NSAIDS I took, it stopped working so I stopped taking it.  Big Mistake!  I don't know what to do now.  I'm almost 4 years out and really need something other than percocet or oxycontin for the pain.  These really make me goofy not to mention the chance of addiction.  Any ideas?

Yeah, I've found that I have to switch up my NSAIDs every few weeks in order to get the maximum benefit from them. Sometimes I take Aleve in the AM and Motrin in the PM.

How long have you been off the Arthrotec? You could probably go back on it and it would work for a while.

I've been off the Arthrotec since 2008.  Since I moved to AZ from MI, the surgeon out here that I see has forbidden me to have the NSAID's.  He says it's like playing russian roulette with my pouch so I'm really scared.  On the other hand, he doesn't have to deal with the pain and stiffness and the arthritis like I have to either.  I'm darned if I do and darned if I don't but the pain is such that I'm about to ask my PCP for a prescription.