Newbie Alert!

Hello,

I'm pretty new to the board and I haven't had surgery just yet. It is scheduled for 3/26/13. I just wanted to introduce myself and say hello. I've been on OH for a month or two and  hadn't really seen to many other men so I searched in google and came across the Men's forum. Not sure why I didn't try searching on OH first. Anyway, I was starting to think I was the only guy on here!

I've been considering WLS for quite a long time. I have several friends and co-workers that have had RNY or Band surgery. Some are successful, some not. One was flat out deadly although my friend lived. She is the one that kept me from doing it for several years. The other unsuccessful ones kept me from doing it for the last 2 years. I finally went to a seminar and learned how the surgery works and how my friends/co-workers have been working against it to make it fail. That's when I finally decided I was not going to let that happen so I was good with the surgery.

I tore my meniscus in my left knee a few years back and both knees have pain in them. My right hip needs to be replaced but the doctor told me he would not do it at this point because I am "too young" at 43 and would simply wear the hip out and need another one. He said it didn't have as much to do with my weight tearing the hip up, but he did say that if I lost a lot of weight I would likely feel better. I was wondering if anyone else out there has had a dramatic experience in pain relief after losing weight. I mean a lot of original pain to not much pain. It's my understanding that RNY patients cannot take NSAIDs like ibuprofen and that (right now) is my wonder drug. I go a day without it and I can't hardly move. When I'm ready for some pre-op procedures and the actual surgery I have to stop taking them for several days beforehand and that's not going to be too good. I've tried tylenol and that doesn't even touch the pain unfortunately. Any ideas on that? 

Hope to interact with you guys a bit on this forum. It's nice to have places like this to ask questions, get support, and provide support for others.

TTYL!

Hello Paul
Glad you found the men's board. It's been a little slow here lately but there are a bunch of guys that check in regularly but don't always post stuff so fire away with any questions.
I saw your surgery date and it was the same as mine one year ago to the day. I have\had lots of knee, hip and back back before surgery and my surgery and weight loss has helped a lot but I still have a few back issues but I knew the surgery wouldn't totally help that. I had RNY surgery and since then no complications and have lost about 120lbs since then and 30 before surgery so I have no regrets at all. I took a ton of insaids before and after RNY you shouldn't take them. I've managed without them but you need to consider that for RNY compared to sleeve surgery. Lots of good stuff on the boards about that issue.

As for me  I thank God everyday my insurance paid for my surgery and for how my quality of life has improved. I wiish you the best and keep us posted with some posts.
Take care and best of luck to you!
Stoney from Missouri

Welcome and please post often, don't hesitate to ask questions.

Hi and welcome to the family. You're right, in that the main board can get rather estrogen intense at times, so it is nice to find a refuge.

With your orthopedic problems and need for NSAIDs, take a look into the VSG (vertical sleeve gastrectomy) as an alternative that has similar overall performance to the RNY but without the NSAID restriction. The main issue on NSAIDs (this thread further down the forum describes the situation very well -

http://www.obesityhelp.com/forums/men/4595013/No-NSAIDs-means-NO-NSAIDs-PERIOD/ )

is that the duodenum, the part of the small intestine immediately downstream of the stomach, which has evolved to be tolerant of stomach acid, is bypassed along with the stomach in the RNY and a non-acid-tolerant part of the intestine is brought up and joined with the stomach pouch. The result of this means that the suture line between the pouch and intestine is continually irritated by stomach acid and often never fully heals, making it overly sensitive to NSAIDs and other stomach irritating drugs. The VSG (and the related DS - duodenal switch - which adds intestinal malabsorption to the VSG) maintains the natural relationship between the stomach and duodenum so it never develops the same hyper-sensitivity to NSAIDs that the RNY has. My doc's protocols allows for NSAID use as soon as the prescription narcotic pain relievers are no longer appropriate after surgery, and this is fairly common in the DS/VSG world.

Good luck, and my you have a rewarding journey here.

Califsleevin, you are the man!  I learned more from you in this post about the restrictions of  NSAIDS and how the ulcers developed than I got from the 3 surgeons who I saw when I was in the hospital in Dec when I had a bleeding ulcer.  And it most likely was caused by the aspirin my cardiologist had me take since I have 5 stents.  I had an RNY in May 2012 and my gastric surgeon wasn't happy about me staying on the aspirin but he agreed with the cardio doctor.  Needless to say I do not take aspirin anymore but instead I have to now take a daily dose Nexium and Plavix and also Carafate 4 times a day.  NSAIDS is not our friend.

Jim

Howdy and welcome to the Men's board!

No estrogen issues here.  We spit and scratch with impunity!

Not MAJOR pain by any means, but I was really struggling with my knees prior to my surgery and have virtually no problems with them now.

I am sure I had worn out the cushioning, I could hear the bones grinding as I would climb the stairs at home.

So I am not sure how much it will effect you but I guarantee it will help!!!

Welcome to the guys side of OH!

Welcome, glad to have you on board!  

Pain wise I had many hip, knee, ankle and foot issues before surgery, had a low back surgery about 5 years before surgery that took care of most of my back issues. Since the surgery I only once in awhile have a little knee pain but nothing major. My surgery was an RNY and as others have said, the nsaids are out permanently... I had taken them for a nerve issue in my neck, that has also abated itself since my RNY.

Happy you are in the right mindset regarding WLS, it is a tool and you must have the right outlook and know it is not a magic pill but a total lifestyle change. Best of luck, come back often.

My major issue before surgery was mobility. My knees ached constantly. If I got down on the floor I had to crawl to a chair to hike myself back up. I could barely manage the walk around a grocery store (leaning heavily on the cart). Ibuprofen was my miracle drug as well. It was also the only thing that provided relief from migraines. Since loosing the weight my knees never bother me.

I have taken ibuprfen a couple times in the past year. (I'm  a few years post surgery) mostly when nothing else would help with a migraine. I was told that the VERY OCCASIONAL use was allowed  when you are a year post surgery. It was suggested that I take it with an acid reducer. For the most part, you won't need it. Once you get the weight off those aching joints will thank you!

That's been my experience.

Paul,

Welcome to the Men's Forum.  This is a great group of guys who will try to support you as best we can.  Feel free to ask any questions that come to mind.

The decision to pursue WLS is very personal.  You have to "have your mind right" before you proceed.  Sounds like you have it in the right place.  Your experience though similar to others will to some extent be unique.  This journey on a successful road requires your compliance with the program.  You have to change your lifestyle and WLS gives you a tool to do that IF you want it.  You're not taking the "easy way out".  Those who are not successful post-WLS were so because they could not overcome the mental gremlins that lurk in our noggins.  Whatever WLS you have, you can circumvent it by not eating properly and exercising.  The gift in the tool that WLS gives us, provides us with the edge that can make us successful where we've failed before.

You CAN DO THIS!

Good luck & stay in touch,

Mike