Arthritis Meds? - ThinnerTimes - Gastric Bypass Forum, Lap Band Forum, and Vertical Sleeve Gastrectomy Forum

xocats · 02-01-2005, 05:53 AM

I am pre-surgery.

I have Osteoarthritis in my fingers and am concerned about what meds I can use to control the inflammation & pain --- LONG-TERM --- after my surgery.

Currently I use an INSAID but have been informed that after my surgery I will not be able to use aspirin or INSAIDS.

Are there any current drugs that, people who have had WLS, are able to take to control their arthritis symptoms?

Thanks

Christina · 02-01-2005, 08:14 AM

I have Rheumatoid Arthritis and was on NSAIDS prior to surgery. My surgery was 10 months ago yesterday!!! I have not had any meds since. However, I have had the very rare flare up and for that Tylenol worked fine. You can take an Advil once in a great while, but they just don't want you taking on a regular basis.

I know it is a different type of arthritis that I have, but I really wish you the best of luck. I am sorry I can't give a better answer than this..

xocats · 02-01-2005, 11:53 AM

Christina...
WOW! 10 months since your surgery. That is wonderful.

Medicare is my insurance, so that is not a problem & I have a doctor who will do the surgery. Friday I see my Cardio Doc. for his go-ahead. If he feels it is safe for me to have it...then it should be a go. Because of my higher age (66) I am weighing (pun intended) the benefits vs. the risks very carefully.

Were you concerned, before your surgery, about the medication you could safely take for your Rheumatoid Arthritis when you were post-op? It sounds like you are doing OK with Tylenol. That might be a solution for me.

TheThinner Times forum has really helped me feel less alone in this WLS journey.

Even though I am still pre-0p...I read everything. What a great group.
Thanks so much for your feed-back.

Christina · 02-01-2005, 12:00 PM

Xocats,

Yes, I was very concerned as I suffered severely from the debilitating disease pre-operatively. I thought that I would for sure have to find some type of injectable solution to my Arthritis problem. However, like I said, a lot of the problems have ceased since the surgery. There are many factors involved, I feel. First of all, I eat much healthier than I did before surgery, I have lost 124 pounds, and I exercise much more than I did before surgery because I am now able to. Admittedly, I have slacked off some on the exercise, and I know that may be the cause of my excess tiredness and some soreness that has slipped back into my life.

This surgery has saved me in so many ways and I am so thankful for that. It doesn't matter if you are pre-op or not, your input, suggestions, and questions are always welcomed!! You're one of us, my friend. We are all in this together!!!

JohnsWife4Life · 02-17-2005, 01:00 PM

NSAID= NON STEROIDAL ANTI INFLAMMATORY DRUG. MOTRIN, ADVIL, IBUPROFEN, (ALL THE SAME= IBUPROFEN) As Christina said, it is okay to take them but not every day and not more than two days in a row. Tylenol just doesn't cut it for me, but it takes the nag off. I have both types of arthritis, osteo and rheum, Lupus, and COPD, I lived on Ibuprofen, and I do miss it. I take it when my pain is just so severe I have no choice, but tylenol does help my RA, but not my Osteo, and I must be honest here, the pain from the osteo arthritis as even right this second is so severe, I may need to take a T3, those work. I know this could scare you off, but the pain without my prior meds is still less than it was with all that weight I was dragging aournd, (that is, when I could drag it around, usually I just couldn't) Celebrex is an NSAID, I don't take them, I have Rx for them, but I just don't. My husband swears by them, but I just didn't want to add another pill to my list. Now they are in a contraversy so I don't know what to say, John won't give them up. I just suffer through unless I can't then I find an alternative.

Wishing you well,

Traci

Barbarajo · 02-19-2005, 09:58 PM

Hi guys,

I am 6 wks out now. I have RA, OA, and Fibromyagia. My RA has gotten bad since my surgery just in the last 2 weeks. I was tempted today to take an anti inflam but chose not to. I am living on vicodin this past couple of days.

But the big change!!!!!! I am walking between 45 min to one hour a day. Before surgery I was lucky to do this once a month. Now I do it daily and I am loving it. This may be part of my increased pain but it is worth it for now.

There are many things that a good Rhem doctor can do for you now and post op. Just keep asking questions and telling them what you need. I have found that they don't read minds very well. At least not mine. I am always after them for alternative medications. Ask you shall recieve.

XOCATS good luck to you on your surgery. I will say a prayer for you.

rockette · 01-16-2007, 04:24 PM

Thanks so much for all of your answers to my many questions. I am really suffering with this RA and I also have a fatty liver (yea, that too) that the docs seem to worry about. So, I don't take much of anything but I do get an infusion every 6 wks of Remicade. It was helping so much before and now not as much. I think the RA is worse and that's why it isn't helping. They recommend it used with Methotrexate but that was too hard on my liver. (never drank or smoked-probably should have) LOL . My hopes and prayers are the WLS will help me in every way possible. Thanks again!!