I undertook this surgery primarily because 18 months ago, I was diagnosed with diabetes. It is a terrible disease and I managed it through diet and exercise although I was told that, in time, I would need meds despite my efforts.

I could have coped with that if I had one chronic illness. But I had been fighting severe inflammatory arthritis for the previous 7 years that saw me taking the maximum dose of Methotrexate, a chemotherapy drug, and injecting Enbrel, a biological therapy, just to keep the arthritis in check and to allow me to live a relatively normal life for as long as possible. But the combo of two chronic conditions meant that, by the start of this year, I was crumbling with month after month of bloods for checking liver and kidneys, feet checks, eye checks, sugar levels ... I felt that I had been branded as being a sick person when I feel anything but and had fought so hard to get on with life and accept my lot.

A gastric sleeve seemed to be the option to tackle my diabetes, so I went for it. Two weeks out, all is looking well on that front. But a huge surprise to me, my rheumatologist and my surgical team is that my arthritis is still in remission, a month after stopping my meds. I have now been cleared to restart taking them but my rheumy has suggested restarting the injections only to see if we can keep the arthritis in check before it comes back with any force.

I can't explain how I feel - the prospect of this surgery giving me a chance to stop the Methotrexate - even if only for a few months - is truly life changing. Keep ur fingers crossed!!!!

It is such an amazing feeling to think you are getting a chance to take control.. I love it! The fact that's am back in control of my life has had me flying high since my surgery.

It is a chance I never expected to get! You are right, the feeling of being back in control is exciting :-))))

That is such an awesome NSV! Perhaps my wife will have your success also as she has dealt with ankylosing spondylitis most of her life. She currently is on remicade injections every 6 weeks, but has done prednisone and embrel in the past. She is going to have VSG in a couple months and would it not be amazing if she had your success.

It would be fantastic if she got some respite as an unexpected side effect of her sleeve. AS is terrible. My arthritis started at 22 years old but I simply ignored it until my mid 40s when it was making life difficult coping using NSAIDs.

No one here can explain why this is happening and I am trying to stay calm... but I will let you know how things progress. Wish your wife well from me x

Well, have done my first injection without also taking Methotrexate, which I had been taking for more than 7 years prior to the sleeve. Surprised myself by bursting into tears!

Been a big couple of weeks and I know that the respite from taking this med may only be temporary. But I can dream....

How wonderful it would be if you could stop taking those strong medications for good! I hope that this surgery can tackle all your ills and that life will only continue to improve for you! Good luck!!

Thank you! Good luck to you too, will update things as I go....

I truly hope your good fortune continues. My thoughts will be with you.

Thank you, I appreciate your support :-)

What wonderful news! - I hope it is long lasting for you. The scale is great, but I find the non-scale victories so much sweeter. Like coming off all of my diabetes meds.

I will keep you in my thoughts. Keep us posted we're all rooting for you!!

That's such a wonderful wonderful thing to hear. I am so happy for you.

That is wonderful! Congrats and will send positive thoughts your way on keeping control of this!

Thank you all so much, very grateful for the positive comments. It is exciting and terrifying all at once but I will be happy with any respite, no matter how long.

Quick update. Another week and just done my second jab - and still no need for Methotrexate. And I have cold hands and feet!!! I have lived for years with hot hands and feet because of my arthritis - had forgotten what it was like :-)))

Still emotional about all of this. I got sleeved to change my life and I will never be able to explain how grateful I am for what is happening. Life is good.