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Topic: RE: Felt like I was crazy.....
Well it is RA. Agressive stage. Sooooo educating myself on how I can get my protein in is going to be a challange. Any suggestions out there?? I hear no more milk.....or beef....processed foods and artificial sweetners.
Totally bummed.....
Totally bummed.....
Topic: Felt like I was crazy.....
I am new to the Arthritis Forum,
I had RNY surgery almost a year ago and have been very successful. Over the past 7 months I have noticed certain things happening to my body. First a toe joint, then knee pain after joining the gym, then hip pain on just the right side then over this past 4th of July I was on vacation and my right arm froze up with the worst pain. All down my arm and into my hands. Had an MR and said it was bersitis and tendonitis. It cleared up. Then the other shoulder last week did the same thing, then a couple of fingers started to swell on different hands and now my arms are so weak along with the muscles down my arms. Starting all over again.....??
I went to my Rheum. and he took some blood. The tests came back pretty bad. Looks like RA, The CCP Antibodies test 2x what it should be and the RA Factor was way high. My dr put me on steroids to relieve some of the discomfort while my labs were being taken. I HAVE HAD NOOO RELIEF as of yet.
Could this be the start of RA? I am really scared. I go back to see the doctor is a little over a week. This is a pain that my pain meds are not touching. I hope to get some relief soon.
I will continue to read the forum and get educated on this. I don't want to jump to any conclusions and don't want to freak out. But I did get some foods off the list of what to eat and I will eleminate the foods that may hurt me.
Educating myself is all I can do right now,
Thank you for listening,
Linda
I had RNY surgery almost a year ago and have been very successful. Over the past 7 months I have noticed certain things happening to my body. First a toe joint, then knee pain after joining the gym, then hip pain on just the right side then over this past 4th of July I was on vacation and my right arm froze up with the worst pain. All down my arm and into my hands. Had an MR and said it was bersitis and tendonitis. It cleared up. Then the other shoulder last week did the same thing, then a couple of fingers started to swell on different hands and now my arms are so weak along with the muscles down my arms. Starting all over again.....??
I went to my Rheum. and he took some blood. The tests came back pretty bad. Looks like RA, The CCP Antibodies test 2x what it should be and the RA Factor was way high. My dr put me on steroids to relieve some of the discomfort while my labs were being taken. I HAVE HAD NOOO RELIEF as of yet.
Could this be the start of RA? I am really scared. I go back to see the doctor is a little over a week. This is a pain that my pain meds are not touching. I hope to get some relief soon.
I will continue to read the forum and get educated on this. I don't want to jump to any conclusions and don't want to freak out. But I did get some foods off the list of what to eat and I will eleminate the foods that may hurt me.
Educating myself is all I can do right now,
Thank you for listening,
Linda
Topic: RE: R.A. after RNY
colo_girl: Your rheumatologist is dead on. The studies show that the combination MTX plus a TNF inhibitor is best at achieving remission or stopping the progression of disease. It sounds like you are in good hands.
Don
Topic: RE: RA after RNY X-post
ladybug:
Are you positive for RF or anti-CCP antibody? Or are you negative for the blood tests for RA?
Regarding Plaquenil... it is by far the safest medicine there is for autoimmune disorders such as RA (but also the weakest and least likely to work). Don't worry about the "eye problem". Back in the old days, higher doses of Plaquenil were used and sometimes it would deposit in the retina causing a condition called retinopathy and causing blurred vision and blind spots. It was usually reversible by stopping the Plaquenil. These days we use much lower doses and it is rare for patients to get this any more. Most rheumatologists and ophthalmologists have never even seen a case of it. We just ask our patients to get an eye exam yearly just to make 100% sure... and the eye doctor would see something before you would ever notice a problem. To give yourself extra assurance, use an "Amsler grid" monthly. Just google search "Amsler Grid" and you can download one off the internet and print it out and follow the directions that come with it. That is even a more sensitive test for any retina problems than the eye doctor's exam.
Are you positive for RF or anti-CCP antibody? Or are you negative for the blood tests for RA?
Regarding Plaquenil... it is by far the safest medicine there is for autoimmune disorders such as RA (but also the weakest and least likely to work). Don't worry about the "eye problem". Back in the old days, higher doses of Plaquenil were used and sometimes it would deposit in the retina causing a condition called retinopathy and causing blurred vision and blind spots. It was usually reversible by stopping the Plaquenil. These days we use much lower doses and it is rare for patients to get this any more. Most rheumatologists and ophthalmologists have never even seen a case of it. We just ask our patients to get an eye exam yearly just to make 100% sure... and the eye doctor would see something before you would ever notice a problem. To give yourself extra assurance, use an "Amsler grid" monthly. Just google search "Amsler Grid" and you can download one off the internet and print it out and follow the directions that come with it. That is even a more sensitive test for any retina problems than the eye doctor's exam.
Don
Topic: RE: RA after RNY X-post
I have had RA for over 10 years, and I would strongly suggest that you locate a rheumatologist. I am really surprised you are not taking a DMARD like Methotrexate in addition to or instead of the steroids. Chronic steroid use can be really hard on the body. There are many good treatment options out there, aside from steriods, NSAIDS, and narcotics. Many of them actually control not just the pain, but the disease itself, preventing permanent damage to your joints.
Its worth the effort to see a rheumatologist. Perhaps the rheumatologist can work with your regular doc regarding treatments, blood work., etc, that way you would only have to make a trip tothe rheumatologist once a year or so....
Hope you feel better soon!
Its worth the effort to see a rheumatologist. Perhaps the rheumatologist can work with your regular doc regarding treatments, blood work., etc, that way you would only have to make a trip tothe rheumatologist once a year or so....
Hope you feel better soon!
Topic: RE: R.A. after RNY
Interesting...developing RA after WLS...I hadn't heard about that....
I have been diagnosed with RA for over 10 years. I was doing great until my divorce. After my divorce....I gained a lot of weight, and got so stiff and sore that i was having trouble excercising. Became a negative feedback loop...the heavier I got, the worse I felt, couldn't excercise, and i became heavier. Not to mention being on and off of prednisone didn't help matters. That is why I looked into weight loss surgery.
I too am allergic to sulfa drugs, so my options are also limited. I take a combination of Enbrel and methotrexate. I don't like taking the methotrexate, but my rheumatologist says the combination is really critical to preventing joint damage.
I have had great luck with the Enbrel. You get used to giving yourself shots, and it is better now that there is a once a week option. Other drugs like Enbrel are Humira and Remicade. I would check with our doc to see if they are an option for you.
Oh, and the poster who said that you should move and excercise as much as you can is spot on. The more excercise you get the better you will feel. Start slow, and progress because excercise is really helpful...but if you overdo it you will be sorry for a couple days.
Good luck!
I have been diagnosed with RA for over 10 years. I was doing great until my divorce. After my divorce....I gained a lot of weight, and got so stiff and sore that i was having trouble excercising. Became a negative feedback loop...the heavier I got, the worse I felt, couldn't excercise, and i became heavier. Not to mention being on and off of prednisone didn't help matters. That is why I looked into weight loss surgery.
I too am allergic to sulfa drugs, so my options are also limited. I take a combination of Enbrel and methotrexate. I don't like taking the methotrexate, but my rheumatologist says the combination is really critical to preventing joint damage.
I have had great luck with the Enbrel. You get used to giving yourself shots, and it is better now that there is a once a week option. Other drugs like Enbrel are Humira and Remicade. I would check with our doc to see if they are an option for you.
Oh, and the poster who said that you should move and excercise as much as you can is spot on. The more excercise you get the better you will feel. Start slow, and progress because excercise is really helpful...but if you overdo it you will be sorry for a couple days.
Good luck!
Topic: RE: OsteoArthritis
Hi Brenda, i chose the sleeve because you can still take nsaids. i have had a bad back most of my life, now i have arthritis in my hip and have lived on ibuprophin? ibuprofin? i bought the 500 pill bottles and took them like candy, I haven't taken any pain meds since the first two weeks pre op. I can't believe the change and i read a post today that said that vit d can help a lot with arthritis,,well any inflammation really. I assumed it was the weight that i have lost, 50 lbs today my three month anniversary. But i think ive heard a lot of people are vit d deficient. And that is a bad thing. i was 30 on the pre op labs and dr prescribed vit d which i got. Then i read on the main forum that the best kind is dry d 3 so i got some, took about 70K a week, i got 5,000 IU and took 2 a day or maybe 4? can't remember now, anyway in a month when i got retested it went from 30-52 and im still taking them. I wonder if this is a response to the weight loss and the vit d3 dry. Anyway i won my appeal because i said i will always need NSAIDs but haven't needed to take them. Funny i still carry them around with me but i haven't taken any. But i'm sure i'll need them again, they are really the only thing that ever worked for me. vicodin codein, all that stuff makes me sick as a dog. gives me itches and hives and i think i'd rather be in pain than sick like that. Anyway, the vit d thing i think has really helped me. I had to stop walking about may of last year, the pain in my leg, i was limping all over, ,moaning and grouning. so look into the vitamin dry d3 best of luck to you jeani
the start of my brand new life was on 5/28/10
Topic: RE: RA after RNY X-post
August 16th, 2010 I woke up and could not walk, close my hnads, and every joint in my body has frozen up. My husband helped me to dress and got a walker and helped me into the car. We went to the ER and the doctors did lab work and told me my RA had all my joints frozen. I was given a shot of steroids and a pain med in the ER and sent home.
The steroids helped me to get better over the course ov a few days. I called my family doctor and he has put me on 10mg of prednisone every other day. YES it is helping me to stay mobile and not ache or have problems at this point. I do not have a rhumatologist close to me. If you find out of another type of management let me know. I have been on almost all the anti inflamatory pills made and I need something that works full time.
Darvacet works for mild pain but other than that you may need something like Hydrocodone or another med. Best of luck.
Tana Mallard (aharleybell)
Topic: NSAID Alternatives???
Hi everyone!
A few years ago I had problems with my left knee and after several x-rays and MRIs found out that the cartilage in my knee joint has several tears. Luckily they were not bad enough to need surgery to correct it, so my Orthopedic doctor recommended Ibuprofen and Naproxen as needed for pain and swelling when inflamed.
I haven't had any flare ups since late 2008 but this week it has been bothering me fiercely to the point I can't bend my knee.
I will be calling my doctor on Monday to make an appointment but want something to help me with the pain until then.
What do you recommend? Is there anything we RNY patients can take that would have the same effect as Ibuprofen and Naproxen?
Thanks!
Rose
A few years ago I had problems with my left knee and after several x-rays and MRIs found out that the cartilage in my knee joint has several tears. Luckily they were not bad enough to need surgery to correct it, so my Orthopedic doctor recommended Ibuprofen and Naproxen as needed for pain and swelling when inflamed.
I haven't had any flare ups since late 2008 but this week it has been bothering me fiercely to the point I can't bend my knee.
I will be calling my doctor on Monday to make an appointment but want something to help me with the pain until then.
What do you recommend? Is there anything we RNY patients can take that would have the same effect as Ibuprofen and Naproxen?
Thanks!
Rose
~Starting Weight: 261 lbs~~Pre-Op Weight: 241 lbs~
~Current Weight: 155 lbs~
"Just when the Caterpillar thought her life was over, She began to fly..."
Topic: RE: who's had a total knee replacement??
I had knee replacement in '06 due to an accident in 1980. It is painful, but by 4 weeks I was walking without assistance. I was put on morphine drip and after 8 days in hospital, went home with Dilaudid(sp?), a type of morphine. It is awesome once you heal. Best of luck to all who need the surgery
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