I  was denied twice and decided to go before the Administrative Judge, had to wait a year for that.. When I got the date, the previous people who had worked on the case had not sent any medical issues info in at all. I had documentation from my cardiologist, pulmonologist, GI doctor, Orthopedic Surgeon, and Podiatristand my therapist. They only sent info from GI doctor, so I had to try and get the records I had updated to the present. I got tired of fooling with it and called a SS Disability Rep who told me he really thought I could go in there to the judge and get the disability without him. I told him maybe so, but I'm tired of trying to get my records and them not wanting to release them, so that's what he was geting paid to do. I gave him the list of all the docs I had seen and addresses and phone numbers, all except for Rheumatologist who had moved and I had lost his new address and phone #. This was in May of last year. The guy got the initial hearing changed and eventually had the hearing before the judge in September. It went better than I expected and the judge told me before he left that anyone could clearly see I ws disabled and he was going to approve it. I couldn't believe he actually told me that before the hearing was over. I didn't have to wait for weeks or months to find out if they approved it or not. It took me about 3 weeks to get my initial check for backpay. They take last day you work and add 6 months to it to decide how much bakpay you get. I had last worked in June '07 and this was Oct'08. So addding thee 6 mos that you have to be unemployed to get disability, my effective date was Dec '07 ayntil Oct'08 for my backpay and then monthly checks started coming. on 25th month of receiving disability you start getting Medicare. My efffective date is Dec. 1st of this year, Remember they figured my disability date as Dec '07. I'm not sure how Medicare is gona go but I'll have Tricare for Life effecive Dec 1, too. To be eligible for Tricare you have to have Part A and Part B if eligible to keep Tricare benefits. (husband is retired military) Didn't mean for this to be so long ut I just thought I'd let you know a littleof what I went through. Actually it wasn't that bad, except the people who were supposed to be working on 2nd appeal. Judge told me the people should have given me disability the first time I applied but that they didn't take all the facts into consideration. Well, I'm off now.  Gook Luck to you and hope you have a speedy victory.                     Linda

Hi, Thanks for the reply. I appreciate it. Well since I posted this I found out that I do indeed have hypoglycemia. My endocrinologist diagnosed me. He says he sees it alot in people who have had the surgery and who are approaching goal weight. (at the time I was 162, just 10 pounds away). He put me on a 1900 cal/day high protein/low carb diet, eating every 2-3 hours. I dont know if I eat that many calories, and I try to eat every hour or so. The upshot is that I feel so much better. As long as I can keep my blood sugar about stable I can avoid the lows which is what was making me so sick. It took about a month, but I am fine now. I try to eat a lot of protein in the morning hours, and then start adding carbs in the afternoon when I start getting tired. I found out that I needed the carbs. No energy otherwise.

Was really upset that my regular doctor missed this. Grateful the endo saw it. Was really worried there.
Kim

Hello everyone.  I'm almost 3 years out from RNY.  I've over the past year developed painful joints.  Mostly my hips, which were never painful before wls.  It started becoming so frequent that I saw my primary in February and she ordered a MRI.  However, it showed nothing wrong.  Then about 4 months ago, I started getting pain in my elbows and thumb.  Which I finally went to see a new doc for since I moved.  Now they want me to see a rhuemy.  I go Oct 16th.  I was hoping that this board would educate me a bit about dealing with this after wls.  Now I've always wished I'd gone DS now as I'm reading your posts...I'm really wishing I would have. LOL  For pain management for now, I'm just taking loads of tylenol and using biofreeze to ease the pain. 

So anyway...HELLO everyone. 

Well, as far as I know, there isn't a good option for RNY'ers.  I myself have osteoarthritis and was on NSAIDs for years.  But I weaned myself off over the year before I had RNY surgery (June 25, 2009).  I wanted to see if I could survive without them before I committed to the surgery.  I really didn't think I could because I am 50 years old and had been on them for 20 years.  And indeed, my surgeon tried to get the VSG for me, but my insurance company called it an investigational procedure and would not allow it. 

Surprisingly, I did almost as well without NSAIDs (before surgery) as I had while taking them.  And an added plus, was the swelling that went away after about a month without them.  I was so overweight I didn't realize I had so much swelling until it was gone!  And my blood pressure came down a notch too. 

Now, 3 months post-op, I use tylenol occassionally for debilitating pain.  The main problem this has posed for me has been that it keeps me from walking for exercise like I would really like to be able to do.  Now, I can walk 25-30 minutes most days.  But for the first month or so, I was lucky to get 10 minutes in a day.  I do typically pay for it in my right knee for the rest of the day after I walk, and there are days that I simply cannot do it.  My hope is, that as my weight comes down, it will get easier and easier to walk with less discomfort following. 

Anyway, that's my story!  Good luck with yours!!  connie

I have a VSG.  I have osteoarthris, am taking a great med called Limbrel.  It is working really well for me.  My Surgeon wants NSAIDS as a last resort, and really doesn't want me taking them.  It is some kind of Biologic., no stomach issues.   I don't think this med works for RA.  I am having trouble getting my insurance to pay, my pain is greatly reduced.   I love the stuff and am willing to pay for it even if my insurance will not cover.  I plan on fighting with my insurer over it.