thorngarden

Learned a bit more about "topical" meds. There are at least 2 topical (cream or gel) type NSAIDs available by prescription. Found some medical literature on "Pub Med" that indicates they are as effective as oral NSAIDs and fewer side effects. One is Voltaren gel, which my orthopedist uses in her practice, so I will be trying it out soon. As a brand name drug, I will have a much higher co-pay, but my insurance does cover it. I also learned from on-line patient reviews, that patients generally love the Voltaren gel. Any experience from fellow sleevers?

As an older woman with PCOS, my issues have probably been different from younger folks, but here's my story: 50 years of PCOS, undiagnosed, until I found myself at an endocrinologist for pre-diabetes. Yes, you still have PCOS even after the ovaries are gone!. Lost 30 pounds very slowly with metformin and Victoza and intensive nutritional counseling, but finally made the decision to go for gastric sleeve, in face of increasing health issues. At 2 months post surgery and down 20 more pounds, I was able to discontinue 6 RXs, including all the blood pressure and diabetes meds. Also discontinued spironolactone because my BP dropped so low I was dizzy. I've had a few hormonal issues after surgery that you might watch for, annoying, but not disabling. Rapid weight loss releases the estrogen bound to the fat tissue - I got menopausal symptoms of hot flashes and mood swings. These have diminished over time. Without spironolactone, I've had increased facial hair growth and thinning of my scalp hair- very upsetting, of course. Since then, I'm finding my BIG hunger, down a lot after surgery (but not gone), and slowly diminishing even more as my blood sugar is normal and I'm more active. I'm continuing to lose about a pound a week, but finding I have to work pretty hard to keep losing. All in all, I'm very pleased. And size 14 is not too shabby, for now.

The use of NSAIDs is a big question for me. Can't take most of the alternatives (oral steroids). I have back and hip pain that flared up 2 months after surgery and is still troubling me after 6 weeks of Physical Therapy with home exercise program and frequent ice pack applications. Tylenol helps a little with the pain but does not help the inflammation. At 4 months post, I really want to increase my exercise level but the hip/back thing is holding me back and making day to day life difficult. After discussion with my orthopedist, received an RX for Meloxicam, and after 5 days it's helping a lot, with no side effects so far. Did call the WLS office, to discuss mitigating any risk and got what I suspect is the "party line" answer - DC the NSAID - get the orthopedist to prescribe a "topical". Waiting to find out if there is any such that is effective, but dubious. Info in this forum to take Omeprazole sounds like a pretty good answer for risk mitigation; and it looks like the orthopedist made a good choice for me in regard to the Cox 2 issue. Good to know this may be workable. I know to keep both the docs informed of what I do and how it works out, even if they disagree, and I have to make my own best decision.