RA and surgery

Hi everyone -- I'm new to OH and was happy to find this message board. Let me tell you a little about myself, I've had RA since I was 36 and now am 54. I've tried all kinds of meds from NSAIDS (which gave me a perforated bleeding ulcer) to my most recent one Enbrel. I take that along with methotrexate and prednisone and finally have found some relief. Not perfect but much better than 6 months ago. Anyway, I'm looking into having WLS with the hopes that it might help take some of the stress off the knee and ankle joints. I'm hoping to hear from anyone that has had WLS and found that they can deal with their RA easier after the weight starts to come off. Hope you all have a great week-end. Rain

I have RA and osteo, with bone spurs on every vertebrae in the back, and joint problems everywhere else, with a lot of stiffness. I specifically asked my surgeon what he approved of and what needed to be changed, and had a long chat with the rheumatologist who set up my preop timetable for getting off meds. I used to take Mobic, but had to get off it one week preop and now after surgery can't take any NSAID's, so am trying Celebrex which is much more expensive. I also take Methotrexate injections, which I stopped 2 weeks preop and resumed at 3 weeks postop at 1/2 my usual dose. I also take Imuran, which was stopped one week preop and resumed at 3 weeks postop. I had some difficulty between weeks 2 and three, with little pain meds on board, and no arthritis meds on board. Couldn't take Ibuprofen postop, and tylenol did nothing. Went to see the rheumatologist and he gave me regular RX pain meds to help through the recovery period, but the stiff ness and joint pain were a bit tough. Now, I'm doing better 5 weeks post op. Be sure to consult both surgeon and rheumatologist well in advance, and if necessary, have them to talk to each other personally to be sure you are not going to have a flareup. They can adjust for the prednisone, and may want you to be off it for a while preop. Also, when you arrive at the hospital for surgery, YOU tell the anesthesiologist that you have RA and make sure they agree to keep you comfortable with extra pain meds, not from the surgery, but from the RA. I didn't have any RA pain in the hospital, and it was a total blessing to be comfortable for the first time in YEARS!!! I don't remember life without chronic pain. I'm returning to exercising slowly, and the meds seem to be keeping me stable. I have a 6-wk f/u with the rheumatologist, and we'll readjust then. Best wishes for you during this process. It can be done, and we can survive.

I have RA. After having wls it got worse. I had to be off of prednisone for 3 months before having wls. It prevents he body from healing and breaks down body tissue. I had to be off the methotrexate for a month before wls also. I was taking the Humira which I could take before and after wls with mo problems. I am off the prednisone cause it made me gain weight. I am taking the dosage of methotrexate equivalent to 7 pills a week. I also take tylenol arthritis and darvocet for pain. The stress on my jonts are a lot better since losing over 100 plus pounds but now I dealing with the pain of Gout and swelling more in my knees. You will not be able to take NSAIDS due to they can cause ulcers. I have heard others say that their RA have gone into remission. Oh how I wish. But I can say that after losing the weight it has allowed me to deal with my RA a lot better than before. I get around better and although my left foot right now is sore swollen and painful I have to rely on help from my cane and cause my right knee is so swollen now as well as the left one and getting around is hard sometimes. I hope and wish you all the best. Irish

Rain, I know my response is a little late but do not always check the arthritis board. I have RA and had surgery on 8/23/05. My pre-op treatment was Enbrel injection once a week, methotrexate (5 pills a week) and Celebrex. I stopped the Celebrex a couple of weeks prior to surgery and resumed about a month after-I was hoping I would not resume but my body pain was getting worse. The enbrel I did not inject the week before surgery and resumed the week after-one week without. The methotrexate was the same but have since quit the methotrexate due to liver testing. I did not have a flair up or any RA pain during or after surgery. I still battle with fatigue but that is getting better-do not feel like I need a nap when I get home from work. I thought that eliminating the methotrexate would produce a problem but so far so good. I have labs in a few weeks to see where my liver is at. Hopefully since I have quit cholesterol meds and methotrexate my liver tests will be normal. As time progresses I just feel better all over. I have started walking for exercise-had a difficult time initially due to feet problems but did get a steroid injection and that has helped so much. I guess I have to admit that I do have stiffness and some pain daily but nothing like when I was having flair ups on a weekly basis. Good luck with your research. Lynne

I'm not sure where you are in the research process but I thought I'd let you know that I have psoriatic arthritis and take methotrexate and Enbrel and had surgery on November 30th. I had to go off my medication for 2 weeks prior and 2 weeks after and I had to stop taking my anti inflammatories. I had experienced incredible relief from my symptoms when I started on Remicade and then switched to Enbrel so I was pretty good to go for surgery. I think my body misses the anti inflammatories a little, but tylenol seems to help. Pain wise, I'm good, though my knees have been causing me some pain. I got cleared to go back to Curves as of Tuesday, December 27th and I've been there twice since that point. All in all, I'm doing great.

Hello, I have RA, OA and fibro. I had surgery in May 2004. I had to stop my meds which were MTX injections (equiv of 6 pills a week), Enbrel, Bextra and prednisone. I stopped a month before surgery. After surgery I only took Bextra. I had a NINE month remission...which was great. Since then I can no longer take MTX...it was making me vomit, constant nausea, and diarrhea. I have tried antibiotic therapy...doxycycline..but again it made me nauseated and then I started vomiting. So my current meds are plaquinil, Lodine (NSAID) and Nexium to protect my pouch when I have to take the lodine. I am suppose to try Humira in February...I am not looking forward to shots again. I would also caution you that if your choose gastric bypass....keep in mind that lots of people have problems absorbing there meds..also there is the problem with many of the RA meds causing lots of GI problems like nausea, vomiting, and diarrhea. I have two friends with RA that chose gastric bypass and both are having terrible problems with folate and other vitamin deficienes as well as problems getting there RA under control due to malabsorption. Antoinette lapband 5/04