My RNY is scheduled for Sept. 28. The surgeon says I will never be able to take Mobic or prednisone again! I am willing to do just about anything to have this surgery, but missing one or two days of my NSAID makes me very grumpy from the pain increase so I'm concerned about the 2 weeks before and the time after surgery. My rheumatologist is letting me increase my Ultracet to 4 a day when I go off the Mobic and my surgeon is fine with the Ultracet. My SLE is under good control right now and I feel better that I have in a really long time, but I am concerned the the stress of the surgery will make me flair. What have been others experiences with going off the NSAIDS both before and after the surgery?

Hi Kelli,
I am waiting for a surgery date for a VSG.  I am not currently on predisone for my Lupus......thank goodness.  But I when I made my decision to have WLS, I didn't know what type would be best for me.  I went for a consultation at the Barix clinic in Michigan and Dr. Poplawski suggested that a VSG would be better for me because of my Lupus.  He done so mainly as a precaution for the future....right now my Lupus is inactive but you never know what is in store for us Lupies in the future right.

I also heard other surgeons say that an RNY is o.k. to have because there are other alternatives to taking the medications required for Lupus such as skin patches and suppositories.  I would also think that if you are in a severe flare they might be able to prescribe medications intravenously too.

I would suggest that if you are having these nervous vibes.......contact your Lupus doctor and talk it over with him/her.  Maybe there is a alternate medication you can use for the short term just to get you through the surgery and healing process that isn't as risky???

I don't have any answers for you, but when I read your post, I really feel for you and can understand your fears!!! I wouldn't proceed with the surgery unless you are completely confident with your decision and have explored all avenues.  I agree, this surgery is very risky at the best of times and to add the possible complications of prednisone.......it only adds to the list of possibilities of things that could go wrong during and after surgery.

I'm just curious........why have you chosen to have a RNY over a VSG?

Anyways, I just wanted to try to add some other "food for thought" to help you with your decision.  I know that I haven't taken away your fears.  If anything, I probably added to it......for that I apologize.  I just wanted to make sure you have thoroughly thought this through and you have explored all your options.

I wish you all the best and good luck with whatever your decision may be.  Feel free to PM me if you have any further questions or just want to talk.  I live in Canada so my regular forum is the international forum....Ontario.

Best wishes, Kim

I think it's "certain infections".  For example, if you have the dry muscus membranes (associated with lupus and for those of us who have a secondary diagnosis of Sjogren's syndrome it's a double whammy) you tend to be more suseptible to sinus infections.  At least I am! 

Or you could think about it like this...my immume system is so overactive and busy attacking things it's not supposed to, when something it is supposed to attach comes around it's too busy to fight.

 I have heard that having lupus makes you more prone to infection.   My question, which I have not been able to adequately answer, is how can that be?   With autoimmune disease, we have an overactive immune response not underactive.

I'm still trying to figure that out.

 Barbara,
I too am sorry for your loss.   Losing your mom is tough.  Thank you for posting and your kind thoughts.

Take care.