what i know now 8 years later....

I just had an RNY three weeks ago. I'm also a 29 year old 4th year medical student who is going into a surgical specialty diagnosed with Rheumatoid Arthritis 3 years ago. I was initially concerned about not being able to take NSAIDs and we will see how that turns out. When speaking to my surgeon about my surgical options she mentioned that she doesn't allow sleeve patients to take NSAIDs either. My surgeon had me off my DMARDs for 4 weeks so that was a little extra torture on top of surgery. I can still take my prednisone which helps with flairs and for me the injectable's (Enbril) have always helped with my symptoms more than sulfasalazine and methotrexate though obviously I take those too with my Enbril. My rheumatologist also taught me that adipose from obesity can also trigger the autoimmune processes and that he's had a few patient's who went into total remission after having massive weight loss. We will see how it goes. I personally would rather live to be 60 with RA as my only medical ailment rather than adding severe DM, HTN, HLD to the list of problems. 

Maybe you can ask your rheumatologist about alternative medications that are injectable vs oral that way you wouldn't have to deal with the absorption issue. 

I also have RA and have had it for 30 plus years. I had RNY surgery 4 years ago and like you had to go off DMARDS a month before surgery. That WAS torture. Since losing 150 pounds though my RA is not an issue at all. I take only hydrochloroquine and Humira injectable as methotrexate raises my liver enzymes. I am basically pain free and no longer have diabetes,high cholesterol and triglycerides and uncontrolled high blood pressure. Thankful every day for my RNY!

we are looking into transdermals.  Im hopeful!  take care and be well... 

So glad you came back 8 years later. 

If you're struggling with vitamin issues, have you looked into the vitamin patches? Plenty of RNY'ers here *****port having very good labs despite issues with pills.

I'm so sorry that your having issues with your meds & vitamins, but people really do have to look at all the pros & cons with each surgery & since no one has a crystal ball, people do have to live with their choices & find ways to work with what they got.

I hope you find some relief soon.

Sorry you are having difficulty with your nutritional issues. I hope you are able to work out soon which ones work best for you.

In my case, I have terrible arthritis in my knees, feet and ankles (back, shoulders and neck as well), but because I had been living on NASAIDs, I had developed ulcers and so was suffering terribly. The option presented to me by the orthopedic surgeon when I inquired about replacement knee surgery came down to him telling me he would not operate on me until I had lost 100 pounds. I think he knew the excessive weight was the problem compounding the issue with the arthritis.

So I began the research into WLS. Turns out my insurance made the final decision for the RNY as they did not support the sleeve. But while going through all the pre-op stuff, found out I had Non Alcoholic Fatty Liver Disease. My doctor said it was a combination of the obesity and the decades of NASAID use. Again, weight loss and staying off NASAIDS was the answer.

I've not lost that 100 yet but I'm creeping up on it... but I am already so much more active. I have virtually no joint pain except in my upper back sometimes. Some warming essential oil applied to the painful parts has, so far, been all I needed to get past it when it flares up.

I don't miss the NASAIDs and certainly don't miss the fat.