Rheumatoid Arthritis/Lupus and gastric bypass

Hey you i have ra and had the surgery in 205 and you will be ok i have had lunpus for 15years you will be ok just make sure you read  up on your situation i can no longer take the ra med because it has cause damage to my eyes but im ok i had the rny in 2005  i lost 137 ilds but in the last year i have only 20 ilbs back and right now im trying to loose it and will loose it.I  know have not been on this site in about 2yrs so now  i need some feed back on how i can loose the 20 lbs pound i know what i have to do I hope that I can help you also even thou I have lunpus too. good luck Lisa Litton

thanks lisa. were you taking plaquenil? i was on that for a while and i had to get eye exams because it can damage your eyes. i had to stop taking it because i developed an allergy to it and it was giving me horrible hives.

after you got your gastric bypass, did you have a flare? that is what i am worried about. because even when i get stressed or try and do too much, i flare and am in bed for a week or so. did you have a hard time healing? or do you think your healing was like other patients who don't have RA or lupus?

As of matter of fact I did  I took plaquenil for 14 years

I really want to have the gastric sleeve and i am working with Pennington Biomedical Research in Baton Rouge. I have been ask to get a medical clearance from my Dr that i see for the lupus but her nurse said she does not give clearance for surgeries.  Don't know what to do next.  Any ideas? 

Wow Murfy, my doctors have said absolutely no Prednisone. Even the three books I've read this week have said that. Each surgeon is so different, I've noticed. I'm going to talk to her about what you've said. As I've said, I hate the stuff, but sometimes you REALLY need it. That makes me a little more at ease. Thanks!

i am guessing it depends on how desperately you need the prednisone. it can cause bleeding and ulcers, but if you are bed ridden without it (like me) it is ok to risk the possibility of an ulcer. you just need to weigh out the pros and cons and your quality of life. also taking vitamin c with your prednisone will help your body absorb the prednisone.

http://www.ehow.com/how_5822836_absorb-prednisone-after-gastric-bypass.html

my rny is tomorrow! i see that you are scheduled for a rny in july. congrats!

Hey Murf!  I will keep you in my thoughts tomorrow as you have your surgery, and will pray that your complications are non-existant, pain is tolerable, and your healing is swift.   I look very forward to following your journey!

-Dawn

Hi Murf!

I have RA and also broke my back in 2003 so I have a fusion now. I used to be in daily pain and was on painkillers for years. To be honest with you, already I've seen a huge difference since having the surgery. I can't exactly explain it. I was 155lbs when I got in the accident that broke my back, and I've had 6 to 7 surgeries overall since then.

I ended up at 255lbs by the time I decided to look into WLS. I didn't expect it to impact my pain level, because it had been so high for so long but it really has. I still have bad days here and there. I'm usually a little sore at night. But it's nothing like it was before. My body is so happy to be free of the extra weight that the pain level I'm in now is very tolerable. Which is good because no NSAIDs now. I'm happy to say I haven't needed them.

When you do have the surgery, there is a good possibility that the reduction in weight may also bring with it a reduction in pain. I very much hope that it does and wish you luck! It's been worth it every step of the way.

wow. thats good to know. i have been taking morphine for so long and still have pain. i will be glad to be off of it. i am hoping for less pain. my poor ankles, hips, back, knees, shoulders could really use a break. my surgery is tomorrow and i'm scared and excited. i hope i will be able to ride my bicycle again. i used to ride 20 miles a day and now i can barely walk up the stairs to my bedroom,