Question:
Why is my arthritis getting worse post op?
I've heard that peoples co-morbids become better or go away post op. Well not my arthritis! It is getting really bad, and now it is spread. I used to have gout in my big toes and arthritis in my knees (and I think in my neck). Now the arthritis is in my shoulders, hands and fingers. It is getting really bad in my fingers and my left thumb often snaps unexpectantly. It feels as if the bone is breaking and I'm getting worried. Plus I have artritis meds (Vioxx and Arthrotec) that I can take, however it seems I get stomach pains after a few weeks on ether of these meds so I suffer the pain of the arthritis. I have'nt found a CHEWABLE Calcium Citrate so I don't take calcium. I can not swollow those big horse pills. The only chewable calcium is the sorbate which I heard is'nt any good for us after WLS. By the way, I did have a bone scan this Jan and I do have (as of then) the very beginning of Osteorporosis. Any ideas? Thanks. — Danmark (posted on November 29, 2002)
November 28, 2002
My doc tells us to chew 4 extra strength tums every day. Works for me...I
know it won't help arthritis but you better get that calcium in there!!
Good Luck.....
— Sharon1964
November 28, 2002
My Sugery is December 18th Im now 6' 1" 450LBs just came across About
your Question you posted.
I hope this will help.I used Vioxx and had trouble with it (stomach
pains)When I told My Pharmacist about it (when refilling the Vioxx) He told
me that Aleve does just as much if not better and had heard there were not
as many problems with the side effects. He was right! No stomach pain &
it work great! You may want to give it a try.
Sometimes "Less" is More........Don't We Know it.
— Arnold J.
November 28, 2002
Morning Dan-Like you, I thought my arthritis pains would subside with the
weight loss, however so far at minus 104 lbs, I've not noticed much
improvement, if any, either. I take 200 mg Celebrex daily, and have had no
stomach upset with it, so you may want to ask your physician about trying
it instead of the Vioxx and Arthrotec. I will occasionally follow my
Celebrex with one or two Tums, not for the calcium content since we don't
absorb carbonate, but the 'coating' action may be what prevents stomach
upset. For chewable Calcium Citrate, I found some with Magnesium and
Vitamin D, made by Twinlab, at The Vitamin Shoppe, and used them when I was
newly post-op. The daily dose is 4 tablets (which are about the size of a
50 cent piece and twice the thickness) and that will give you only 10
calories, 3 carbs, 3 sugars, and 1000 mg calcium. They are a blend of
fruit flavors, so even though a little chalky, are palatable. If you do
not have a Vitamin Shoppe near you, the toll-free number is: 800-361-1155.
The cost was $14.50/bottle of 60, but if you get a free discount card, you
will save a couple of dollars for each thing you purchase. They also have
a free catalogue. Hope this information helps. If I can be of any further
assistance, please feel free to e-mail me. I have a recent catalogue, too,
so could get that in the mail if you'd like. Keep up your great weight
loss - and have a safe holiday season. HUGS - Marilyn
— Dispatcher M.
November 28, 2002
Daniel,
My arthritis hasn't improved much since surgery either - well, I guess it
has because I can now walk long distances and I'm not taking 12 Ibuprofen a
day just to be able to function. But my surgeon and my orthopaedist both
told me that the wieght loss wouldn't cure the joint problems. My surgeon
allows me to take Celebrex when the pain is so severe I can't stand it but
he really stresses the danger in taking those drugs. I had a prescription
for Celebrex filled in June (30 capsules) and I still have 14 of them so
you can see that I don't take it very often. Have you spoken with your
surgeon about the problem.
As far as calcium is concerned, I take calcium carbonate. I know that
there are those who say that it doesn't help - but my surgeon has been
doing WLS for over 20 years and he asssures me that it does. I had a bone
scan done a little over a year ago and had it repeated last month and there
was no change. He says that it is up to the patient which calcium they
take but to take it - I take one Tums, three times daily. I would take the
carbonate if I were you - even if it doesn't absorb as much as the citrate,
maybe you will at least get some.
— Patty_Butler
November 28, 2002
With the approval of my surgeon, I am taking 3 Tums Calicum for Life a day.
I tried Twin Tabs (4 a day that you chew calicum celrate and found them to
be terrible. My doctor has been doing WLS for 20 years and is board
certfied, I trusted him with my life, so I trust him to give me the best
information possible. I would like to add that I have had lots of aches
and pain after surgery, than I ever had before. It could be from getting
more excerise and our body adjusting or just may be how it is. There are
drugs that can help reverse osterorosis, I believe, so you should talk with
your doctors. Also you didn't metion if you are excersing, if not, I would
suggest you try water aerboics.
Good luck
— barbara A.
November 29, 2002
Daniel - hmmm. I've been trying to come up with the right way to phrase
this. You need to make an appointment with a rheumatologist and have blood
work done to screen for RA (Rheumatoid Arthritis) factors. Quite often,
people have RA but are misdiagnosed, or never diagnosed at all. RA can
quite often coincide with osteoarthritis (I have both so I know from
experience). If you do have RA, meds for osteoarthritis don't put much of
a dent in the pain -- you will have to try a whole separate medicine
regimine that your rheumatologist can design around you and your surgery.
The biggest problem that we have, as wls patients with RA, is finding the
right dosages and the right meds that don't irritate our pouch. I've been
med free for over a year, but have recently experienced a flare so am going
back on "wimpy" RA drugs because they won't hurt my pouch.
Unfortunately - no anti-inflamitories. Anyhoo, just a thought. MAZZ
— linmazz
November 29, 2002
Dan- I know about the calcim debate regarding WLS- but it seems to me that
SOME is better than none- and if all you can tolerate is the carbonate,
than your body will most likely absorb some of it. How about calcium rich
foods too. I know none of this addresses the arthritis issue- I wish you
luck with that-
— ~~Stacie~~
November 29, 2002
My arthitis has also become worse since my surgery. However, lately it is
just starting to feel better. I have been doing 2 things new: (1) I'm
taking double strength Glucosamine Chondroitin Complex supplements (seems
to really be helping); and (2) I'm taking pilates yoga 2 hours per week.
My knees just ache at times but they've been cracking and now in the last
few days, I am able to go up and down stairs with relatively little or no
pain. That's the best they've been since before I came down with my
arthritis 9 years ago. This doesn't address your calcium issue, just the
arthritis. I suggest you try the Glucosamine. I've been taking it for
about 3 months.
— Jennifer A.
November 30, 2002
I agree I was so upset abouthow much pain I felt especially in my legs and
then I was talking to the nutritionist one day and figured that I was only
getting about 30 grams of protein a day and maybe not enough water...so I
upped both of those things. I started a protein drink and upped the water
and within 2 days my legs felt totally better. I know it sounds crazy but
sometimes the crazy just may do the trick. Try it and see.
Good Luck Peggy open rny 9/20 -58#'s
— Peggy A.
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