I have psoriasis and psoriatic arthritis. This causes me pain each day, and makes exercise for weight loss (I have always had to do major workouts to lose consistently) very difficult. I have begun the process to be sleeved by September. Anyone else done this procedure with an autoimmune disease? How has it improved or worsened the symptoms?

My rheumatologist tells me that the weight loss will help the medications work better (at lower doses), and my surgeon says they deal with AI issues regularly. He did say he would not put in the band, because that can exacerbate symptoms.

Thanks in advance!

Tina

San Antonio, Texas

I have lupus and RA as well. I have to stop the methotrexate injection 3 weeks before and 3 weeks after surgery. Is there anything out there that would help with the pain? I'm terrified of flair ups and the pain that I know I will have.

My doctor said I could take Tylenol, but to me Tylenol doesn't do crap so I just rested when I needed too and didn't push myself too hard. Sorry that's not much of a help. You can talk to your surgeon or your rheumatologist and they may suggest some other stuff.

My doctor said I could take Tylenol' date=' but to me Tylenol doesn't do crap so I just rested when I needed too and didn't push myself too hard. Sorry that's not much of a help. You can talk to your surgeon or your rheumatologist and they may suggest some other stuff.[/quote']

I'm the same way, Tylenol doesn't help as much as my OxyContin. I see my rheumatologist tomorrow, hopefully he can come up with something. Thank you!

I have been off my methoxtrate since may cause my date for surgery was the 28th then they moved it to June 18th. I never went back on it, cause I wanted the best chance for healing...I've loss some weight which helps, and I'm taking tylenol its help some so far and I'm determine ..so glad I found this group...

I have been off my methoxtrate since may cause my date for surgery was the 28th then they moved it to June 18th. I never went back on it' date=' cause I wanted the best chance for healing...I've loss some weight which helps, and I'm taking tylenol its help some so far and I'm determine ..so glad I found this group...[/quote']

Do you have to go off of the folic acid too? Never thought if that until just now?!?!

I find that cortisone injections help me the most. Actually, closest I feel to normal, ever. Dr gives them to me right in office. They are systemic so works on all joints. I look forward to them and since I can only get them 4 times a year (and they only last a few weeks) I sometimes strategize timing like when i need to go out of town for work, vacations, etc. Now I don't know how these shots are handled before surgery. May need to avoid preop and a little postop. If you haven't tried these shots, I strongly recommend you ask your Dr. Does more than any pain pill. And just an FYI to preops, after surgery you can no longer take NSAIDS... (non steroidal anti inflammatory drugs) like Aleve, my old favorite. Wayyy too hard on little tummy. Only Tylenol (and pain meds).

Do you have to go off of the folic acid too? Never thought if that until just now?!?!

I never had to go off my folic acid, but I did just to be safe. I was only off that a week prior to surgery still off it now,

Im on gabopentin for fibromyalgia...the pain i have every day is unbelievable...i get migranes almost every day and pain in my major joints and muscles and the fatigue just makes me so exhausted after only being awake for a couple of hours...sigh...i cant imagine the pain you all go throughwith RA...im thankful i dont have that

@ ladybug, I stayed on the folic acid, its helps the body rebuild a bitumen my doctor said..

Oops rebuild...and I'm off this week also prior to surgery just in case...

I have AS and use Remicade to help with symptoms, given by IV every six weeks. I'm just starting on my pre- surgery diet for surgery in late June (no date yet- just submitted to insurance). My rheumatologist told me they wanted my last infusion to be at least four weeks before surgery and I can restart Remicade two weeks after surgery. I have been very stable and almost no symptoms since starting Remicade and I'm so excited to be able to exercise after surgery- crew team here I come! I have also been told that the band is contraindicated for folks with autoimmune issues so it's good that you folks are switching to sleeve! Small silver lining about having AS, Lupus, RA etc is that we're already used to lots of pain- chronic, which can be worse than acute and we'll probably have a better pain tolerance right after surgery and that IV will be a piece of cake!

Im on gabopentin for fibromyalgia...the pain i have every day is unbelievable...i get migranes almost every day and pain in my major joints and muscles and the fatigue just makes me so exhausted after only being awake for a couple of hours...sigh...i cant imagine the pain you all go throughwith RA...im thankful i dont have that

Hey fibromyalgia is not fun either. I have both RA and fibro. I can tolerate my RA pain but when my fibro is bad I have a hard time. I've also never found a medication that has helped

My RA so I rely on just knowing what bothers me and working out, which is hard to do with RA.

Well i thought 600mg of gabapentin was helping but i was wrong..im going to try a higher dosage..so far T3s are what dull it out enough...its bad..just about ended up in hospital ER cause my pain gives me lots of migranes..

I have AS and use Remicade to help with symptoms' date=' given by IV every six weeks. I'm just starting on my pre- surgery diet for surgery in late June (no date yet- just submitted to insurance). My rheumatologist told me they wanted my last infusion to be at least four weeks before surgery and I can restart Remicade two weeks after surgery. I have been very stable and almost no symptoms since starting Remicade and I'm so excited to be able to exercise after surgery- crew team here I come! I have also been told that the band is contraindicated for folks with autoimmune issues so it's good that you folks are switching to sleeve! Small silver lining about having AS, Lupus, RA etc is that we're already used to lots of pain- chronic, which can be worse than acute and we'll probably have a better pain tolerance right after surgery and that IV will be a piece of cake! [/quote']

I was thinking the same thing this morning...it is good to be used to a higher level of pain and to have a high tolerance for it when it comes to surgeries if for nothing else, lol....we will all do very well!!!

Well i thought 600mg of gabapentin was helping but i was wrong..im going to try a higher dosage..so far T3s are what dull it out enough...its bad..just about ended up in hospital ER cause my pain gives me lots of migranes..

Hopefully the surgery and resulting weight loss will help all of us and our auto immune disorders!! I want my body to focus on healing itself instead of fighting and destroying itself for a change, forever!

Well on day 11 of preop diet feeling good, have loss 12 more pounds. Cant wait till the 18th to have my surgery. And i totally agree that being used to dealing with chonic pain, and previous surgery b4, this surgery pain will not be a major issues to me, getting fluids is the issue up i will be dealing with up ..:-)