Question:
Anyone with joint pain due to bacterial polyarthritis due to blind loop syndrome?

I am 3 years post RNY. 8 months ago, after maintaining stable expected weight loss (I was stable at 220 for 2 years), I had an unintentional loss of 30 pounds in 6 weeks accompanied by joint pain in my ankles and feet. PCP and podiatrist tested for and ruled out gout, then sent me to Rheumatologist who ruled out RA and diagnosed me with Blind Loop Syndrome. Said bacterial overgrowth in blind loop (due to RNY) was spilling over into my bloodstream and settling in my joints, causing the pain. PCP put me on standard treatment of antibiotics, and six months later, I am worse; my hands and shoulders are arthritic. My blood panels a few months back showed no abnormalities, but I had another blood panel last week because I insisted on checking again. Bariatric surgeon says he will reverse the RNY if my upcoming consult at Cedar Sanai GI Motility clinic confirms diagnosis of blind loop (Add to that I developed an ulcer while taking NSAIDS for acute inflammation in joints). All agree my case is unique and very unsual, especially since blind loop syndrome is usually related to distal, and not proximal WLS (which is what I had). Does anyone have any similar experience with non-RA joint pain and has anyone had reversal of RNY and if so, did it relieve joint pain?    — MotivatedOne (posted on April 25, 2011)

April 29, 2011
I need clarify: Blind Loop Syndrome has it's history in older WLS where the actually left a remnant of intestine non-functional, thant was a distal WLS, mine is a proximal RNY, and there is really not a blind loop present in RNY, but I am showing all of the symptoms, according to my Doctors.
   — MotivatedOne

July 12, 2011
I had emergency surgery for adhesions and incisional hernias, small ones. Six weeks later, I started having painful, swollen, warm to touch joints. My diagnosis was rheumatoid arthritis, which has never been in remission and I have tried everything out there to treat it. I have never tested positive for rheumatoid factor, ANA negative, sed rate is always very high. My rheumatologist told me that 10% never convert to positive for rheumatoid factor. I would love to know how the consut went and what's going on with you now.
   — noahjordan