Rheumatoid Arthritis and Gastric Bypass

[SimoneMonet 62]

Hi All:

Was wondering if any recent members have had gastric bypass and been diagnosed with RA prior to surgery. Were you taking oral prednisone? How did you cope after surgery? Did symptoms lessen or worsen?

Thanks in advance for replies.

[Born in Missouri 1,264]

Have you seen this study?

Weight-Loss Surgery Tied to Major Benefits in RA: Disease activity improved and medication requirements fell

https://www.medpagetoday.com/rheumatology/arthritis/52013

The original study:

https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/26018243

[SimoneMonet 62]

On 8/4/2018 at 11:56 AM, Missouri-Lee's Summit said:

Have you seen this study?

Weight-Loss Surgery Tied to Major Benefits in RA: Disease activity improved and medication requirements fell

https://www.medpagetoday.com/rheumatology/arthritis/52013

The original study:

https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/26018243

Thank you for the links. For some reason I never got the notification. This is encouraging!

[Frustr8 7,886]

Haven't had a flare since before my September RnY. Hadn't put things together before now.

[mousecat88 2,280]

On 7/30/2018 at 8:31 PM, SimoneMonet said:

Hi All:

Was wondering if any recent members have had gastric bypass and been diagnosed with RA prior to surgery. Were you taking oral prednisone? How did you cope after surgery? Did symptoms lessen or worsen?

Thanks in advance for replies.

I have RA. I was diagnosed with juvenile RA when I was a toddler; I'm 30 now. I couldn't take prednisone because it caused massive weight gain. I was taking oral prescription NSAIDs and a TON of Ibuprofen. My surgeon said topical NSAIDs are fine - that seems to vary between surgeons. I haven't used it yet, though, so I don't know if it works. I haven't had much pain lately, and I try to avoid taking anything unless it is very severe. I can tell you that even when I was thin (and a child), being smaller did not have any effect on my symptoms. In fact, the worst flare-ups I had were when I was a teenager and I was 130lbs then.

Edited December 19, 2018 by mousecat88

[SimoneMonet 62]

7 hours ago, mousecat88 said:

I have RA. I was diagnosed with juvenile RA when I was a toddler; I'm 30 now. I couldn't take prednisone because it caused massive weight gain. I was taking oral prescription NSAIDs and a TON of Ibuprofen. My surgeon said topical NSAIDs are fine - that seems to vary between surgeons. I haven't used it yet, though, so I don't know if it works. I haven't had much pain lately, and I try to avoid taking anything unless it is very severe. I can tell you that even when I was thin (and a child), being smaller did not have any effect on my symptoms. In fact, the worst flare-ups I had were when I was a teenager and I was 130lbs then.

Hey...thanks for the reply. I'm going to try and taper. My surgeon was not very optimistic about me losing weight while on steroids and neither was the nutritionist. BUT one thing I cannot do...is going back to being completely incapacitated. THAT pain..that pain was unbearable. I couldn't even lift a sheet.

[mousecat88 2,280]

15 minutes ago, SimoneMonet said:

Hey...thanks for the reply. I'm going to try and taper. My surgeon was not very optimistic about me losing weight while on steroids and neither was the nutritionist. BUT one thing I cannot do...is going back to being completely incapacitated. THAT pain..that pain was unbearable. I couldn't even lift a sheet.

Yeah, it's definitely a challenge. I wonder if those injectables like Humira have NSAIDs in them? Those could be an option.

[SimoneMonet 62]

27 minutes ago, mousecat88 said:

Yeah, it's definitely a challenge. I wonder if those injectables like Humira have NSAIDs in them? Those could be an option.

I am taking Humira now - it has helped somewhat. But I had to stop to prep for the surgery or else it makes me prone to not healing and infections. I don't mind going back on ...the risk is that it won't work when I go back on....I'll keep you posted on how it goes. I just hope..HOPE that I can lose weight and hope that I don't flare

[Amanda Dutton LPC 217]

On 12/19/2018 at 3:50 PM, SimoneMonet said:

I am taking Humira now - it has helped somewhat. But I had to stop to prep for the surgery or else it makes me prone to not healing and infections. I don't mind going back on ...the risk is that it won't work when I go back on....I'll keep you posted on how it goes. I just hope..HOPE that I can lose weight and hope that I don't flare

Hey! I haven't posted on BP in ages, but got back on and came across your post, so I thought I'd offer an encouraging response.

I'm 14 years post RNY and have RA & also take Humira. I've had no issues with it being effective, since it's an injectable and not oral. I also take Gabapentin for fibromyalgia and it hasn't been an issue either.

My RA wasn't diagnosed until about 5 years ago, but I have had signs for years. I also use a topical NSAID with no issues (Voltaren gel), again, since it's not oral, but I don't use it often.

Hope that helps!

~SW: 278, CW:168 & proud!~

[SimoneMonet 62]

9 minutes ago, Amanda Dutton LPC said:

Hey! I haven't posted on BP in ages, but got back on and came across your post, so I thought I'd offer an encouraging response.

I'm 14 years post RNY and have RA & also take Humira. I've had no issues with it being effective, since it's an injectable and not oral. I also take Gabapentin for fibromyalgia and it hasn't been an issue either.

My RA wasn't diagnosed until about 5 years ago, but I have had signs for years. I also use a topical NSAID with no issues (Voltaren gel), again, since it's not oral, but I don't use it often.

Hope that helps!

~SW: 278, CW:168 & proud!~

This is very encouraging!! Thank you for the reply! I'll also look into the Voltaren gel!

[Troublex4 2]

On 12/19/2018 at 5:01 AM, mousecat88 said:

I have RA. I was diagnosed with juvenile RA when I was a toddler; I'm 30 now. I couldn't take prednisone because it caused massive weight gain. I was taking oral prescription NSAIDs and a TON of Ibuprofen. My surgeon said topical NSAIDs are fine - that seems to vary between surgeons. I haven't used it yet, though, so I don't know if it works. I haven't had much pain lately, and I try to avoid taking anything unless it is very severe. I can tell you that even when I was thin (and a child), being smaller did not have any effect on my symptoms. In fact, the worst flare-ups I had were when I was a teenager and I was 130lbs then.

I was also diagnosed with RA as a toddler. Right now I’m going through one of the worse flare ups I can remember in years. I’m 50. I’m hoping surgery is really going to help with the pain. I have so many things I want to do that it’s stopping me from doing.