Surgery booked for gastric sleeve, very nervous!

Hi I have booked in to Gold Coast hospital for 13th October for gastric sleeve.  Yet to see the surgeon but spoke at length to practice manager who advised that the band is not an option due to several medical problems.  I am nervous of course but also excited.  My life has changed immensely due to severe rheumatoid arthritis causing disability, immobility and many secondary medical conditions, one being morbid obesity due in part to steroid use.  I am now pre-diabetic and have sleep apnoea and have been advised to have surgery as my risk of stroke and heart attack are very high.  I cannot exercise as my joints and muscles, nerves, spine have all been affected and my disease is very badly controlled due to intolerance of drugs, so it has led me here and I look forward immensely to reading and offering my assistance where possible.
  

If anyone can offer any info or assistance on this topic please feel free to let me know, many thanks from Jane.

Hi Jane. I dont know what I can offer you other than I was where you are. I had the RNY this last Jan 31st. I have had a heart attack a couple of years ago. Before surgery I was a diabetic taking medication and shots. I also have COPD and severe Rheumatoid Arthritis.  I have taken Humera, Orincia and Embral. Embral brought on MS that was originally dormant as far as I know. I could not move much either. I am now taking an infusion of Rituxan which is working for me. At least I can walk now.  I am so glad that I had that surgery because my life is better for it. I was not ready to die, so I had to fight for what I got now. So good luck to you, dont give up, thats to easy. wink..  Mattie

Thanks Mattie, that was a very informative post, lots of info.  I am seeing my surgeon on 27th Sept, and a dietician, psycholgist etc, the cost is quite alarming but I feel definitely worth it, I feel like it is somebody else having it done and in no time at all I will be in having surgery (13th Oct).I am scared of all my comorbidities and find myself saying sometimes "why do I now have to have a big op on top of everything else", it overwhelms me sometimes, every week there seems to be another diagnosis.  Am I allowed to mention the Drs name on here to see if anyone has been to him before?  I won't unless someone tells me I can, thanks again, have you lost much weight and how are you coping now?  Has the MS gone since stopping the med, how awful for you, I have heard it goes away when med is stopped.  I was on Rituxan and had to stop due to allergic reaction same as enbrel, Orencia and most recently Actemra due to golden staph infection caused while on it, so stopped that now too, has been the story of my RA since day 1 so staying on steroids for last 10 years and MTX when I can tolerate it (between infections).  Hope things improve for you and you have been a great help.  God Bless and gentle hugs from Jane.

Jane, I just had the mind set that my life was over and thought “Is this all there is? Do I just roll up and die now?". I was 57 years old at the time. I was just not ready to roll over. I have right side numbness from head to toe from Embral. I still have the numbness to this day. I walk with a cane but I can live with that. I went from having someone else brush my hair to being able to do everything myself. Yes, I was scared, but more scared of not being around.

I have my doctors name below my avatar and people mention their doctors all the time, I don’t see why you cant. I am sorry that you are having so much trouble with allergic reactions. I hope you find what works for you. Living with RA and other co morbidities was not something I would of chose for myself but I take one day at a time. There was always that ring of hope that I hung to. I wish you the best on your journey. Sounds like you’ve been through a lot. I would say you are pioneer stock to go through what you have… Hugs Mattie

Jane,
I have oseto arthritis  I am allergic to all asprin products which leaves me with very little  medications I  can take. I am 2 weeks out from Gastric Sleeve I have had  little to no  pain from  surgery I am able  to drink  all my fluids and protiens with no issues. I am glad I did it I can start back to Physical therapy for my knees next week.

Hello, I'm not sure what help I can offer other than my experience.  I've had severe RA for more than seventeen yrs and have gained about 100 lbs during that time and have a host of other issues similar to those you've written about. My meds have run the gamit from Methotrexate to Rhemicaid to Rituxan (sic?) with Methotrexate and an immuglogulin iv that is monthly. Seems a drug works for awhile and then stops and we try something else. (I feel like a chemistry experiment at times.) I have worked with a pain spec., acupunturist, etc.  I was walking with a cane and with the help of a new Rhuemie, a service dog and my pain spec. and massage therapist, I now am more active and rarely use a cane. This past Sept. I began swimming again. I've had to learn a new way to swim that reduces the stress on my back and shoulders and I can now swim a mile 3-4 days a week. Which according to my bariatric surgeon is great. So now I can tackle the weight issue, hopefully for good. 
 

I am curious as to how things have progressed since your surgery, which happened to be on my b-day. I'm scheduled for gastric sleeve 4/9/12. How do you handle all the meds?  I take quite a fews pills a day and I'm trying to figure out how to accomplish taking them after the sleeve.  Is there any othe advise you would be willing to share?

Thank you, rarejem

 I'm new to this board and very hopeful that your surgery went well.  I am 41, mom of 3, relatively healthy with 60 pounds to lose and a BMI of 33. However, I too have severe RA throughout most of my body but am not medicated for it except for corticosteroid injections in my facets and si joints and 15mg of maximum dosage antiinflammatory for the past 5 years.  I'm hoping that my healing is not too slow that it causes problems or my stomach too deteriorated to hold the sleeve. Please let me know how your success has been and what the true recovery was like with a lowered immune system from the steroids. Thank you