Arthritis Meds. After Surgery

[Donna Ferguson 0]

How long after gastric bypass surgery will I, if he able to use arthritis meds.

[CrankyMagpie 509]

If you mean oral systemics and biologics like methotrexate or Otezla, that's worth a conversation with your team(s). I can tell you that my surgical team wants me to be off methotrexate for a month before and then to wait six weeks after surgery before restarting, and that's with a sleeve; my times might change, as they negotiate with rheumatology, who doesn't want me to stop my meds at all. (Honestly, regardless of what they end up deciding together, I'm not planning to restart methotrexate until my stomach is healed enough for solid foods, because it's pretty hard on the GI tract.) It seems like pills are a little harder on bypass patients, so you might end up having to switch to the injectable kind, to make methotrexate (for instance) work with a sleeve.

If you mean injectables like Humira or Enbrel, again, it's going to require a conversation, but probably more with rheumatology than bariatrics. I don't know how long they want you to be off before surgery, or to wait afterward. But at least that kind of med won't make your stomach irritated!

Now, if you mean NSAIDs (ibuprofen, Celebrex, etc.), the answer I've been given is "never." That's why I went with a sleeve, so I could take ibuprofen now and then, when the pain is too much to bear otherwise.

[ChellNC 162]

My surgeon wanted me off Humira & methotrexate for a month before and a month after. My Rheumatologist was fine with the plan. My surgeon and his team were concerned about the meds affecting the healing process if I couldn't stay off the RA meds for 2 months.

I'm nearly 2 weeks post op and have to say I'm pleasantly surprised at how well I've felt being off my meds.

Two weeks before surgery I had to stop Mobic/meloxicam for good. It's one of those you can never have again after bypass.

Good luck!

[CrankyMagpie 509]

I should be clear: the only reason my rheumatologist is quibbling about this is that the American College of Rheumatology's new guidelines say not to go off methotrexate for surgeries--apparently, the increased risk of infection isn't as high as they previously thought.

But I'm usually a pretty big fan of being over-cautious about health stuff. And if I'm off methotrexate for a month, I can get a flu shot and maybe have it work its full magic!

[Darin'Sharon 19]

I was off humira for 2 weeks before, and 2 weeks after. The surgeon said one month after but my rheumatologist said it was not necessary to wait that long in the absence of any complications.

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[ChellNC 162]

In 2 weeks I can start mine back and I'm still shocked at how well I'm doing without them.