I take Enbrel and I sometimes think that I feel so much better that I could do without it, but I have psoriatic arthritis and my skin is just awful without it. I also take cyclosporine and methotrexate. I had an insurance problem and a problem with infection and was off Enbrel for a year...and I did not feel well at all....I have been back on it for about 3 weeks and its working alot faster this time. I think the 50 mgs does sting, I don't believe the smaller shots hurt at all, but I hate giving myself the injection now. I was in one of the orginal studies for Humira and I had a terrible reaction...I was sick for over 10 months and became wheel chair bound. The doctors do not know whether this was the natural progression of my disease or the Humira.... I have lost about 280 lbs since my wheelchair days, and sometimes, I like to forget I have this disease...because I feel so much better...But then I over do and I pay for it with fatigue and soreness....But I did Univeral at Orlando this year with no mobility aids...Whoo Hooo.... Kelly

I have Psoriatic Arthritis and I used Neurontin for about a year, both before and after RNY. It really helped with pain, but to tell you the truth, it made me very tired. i napped every day for several hours while taking the drug...I stopped taking it because my insurance wouldn't cover non-generics...It was a very hard drug to stop taking. I had heart palpitations and on overall feeling of weakness and dizziness for about a week... I didn't seem to have any Gastroinstestinal problems from using it, as a matter of fact, my Rheumotologist encouraged its use because it is not associated with stomach problems like NSAIDS, Celebrex and Vioxx are...And here does not seem to be absorption issues either. But again, it really worked for my joint pain...Sometimes you have to weigh your fears of side effects, and the quality of life you may achieve by going on a drug. In my case, it was worth the side effects....

I don't want to sound weird, ......I have no miricle cure but here goes. I have learned to listen to my body. I have had severe flare ups in my hips, spine, neck, and ribs all the way around to my spine. When it happened it was really debilitating. I pay real close attention to what I eat and how it makes me feel. I don't drink anything decafinated. Everytime I do I have had a flare up. I don't eat too many tomatoes. When my body is tired I have learned to rest. If I keep going I pay for it with pain. I sleep with body pillows, I purchased a very good bed and I don't sleep too long. I have noticed that if I am imobile too much I start to hurt....the more I would hurt the more inactive I became. The muscles around the flare areas would start to hurt and spasm etc. I have learned that I do best on about 6 hours of sleep and if I have a few days of more sleep than that, then I start to hurt. I watch how long I stand and how long I sit. I keep moving positions as to not stress the joints form staying in one spot tool long. High stress was my worst trigger! I have had severe reactions to Vioxx, Tolectin, Voltarin, NSAID, Sulfasalazine, Indocin, Meclomen and a few others....the meds seemed worse than the disease.....so, after my last bad reaction I told myself no more. I have been off all meds for over 5 years now. I have had two minor flare ups during that time. I do worry that I will have a bad spell and now be limited on how to treat it....after WLS.......I will cross that road when it comes. The best things for me are no decafinated beverages, body pillows, and sleep habits. My mother used to struggle with Iritis continually.....she has had a bad time. She is almost blind in one eye now. She too has been off of all meds for over three years now. She also has learned to listen to her body and identify the triggers. There were times that I hurt so bad that I could not even get socks on or get out of bed to go to the bathroom for weeks on end........after years of this I finally learned what not to do and what not to eat. Good luck to you both, Bob

That's a new one on me hon. Try webmd.com for info. I do know though, that for every 5 pounds you loose you will take 15 pounds of pressure off of your knees (or so I was told). I will be 2 yrs post-op in November and the main reason I had the surgery was because of my knees. Losing 116 pounds helped me regain mobility that I had lost because of my knees. I had gotten to the point where I was basically existing, not living. My orthopedic doctor didn't recommend that I lose weight (duh!), but as a last resort, I decided to have the surgery - for which, I am very grateful. My insurance would not cover my surgery because my BMI wasn't high enough and my only co-morbidity was my arthritic knees. I haven't posted on this website in ages and the only reason I came back today was to try & get some answers about my knees. They've been great until about 2 months ago and have now regressed.......I'm seeing a Rheumatologist, but cannot get in until Sept. My point in telling you all of this is, no matter HOW you have to have the WLS, I would absolutely tell you to. (Just my opinion.) From your photo, you look like you are young (and very pretty I might add). Don't wait like I did. I was 50 yrs old when I had my WLS. If I had done it sooner, I might not have damaged my knees so badly. Now, I am miserable, in pain and cannot take alot of arthritic medications post-op. Best of luck to you sweetie.

I just seen a orthopedic doctor about my knees. I was given a diagnosis of PF Chondromalacia. Does anyone has this and could tell me more about it??? I don't know if having this and a BMI of 52% is enough for Washington State Medicaid to approve me for the WLS. I am hoping this is weight related enough.