I am pre-op and have wanted the bypass and not the sleeve since I started the process. Now I have done more research and have read that after Gastric Bypass you can't take NSAIDS/Anit-Inflammatory meds. No Advil or Aleve or even aspirin. I have pretty bad arthritis and don't know what I would do without those meds for pain relief. Tylenol doesn't come even close to touching the pain. What would be your advice...should I switch to the sleeve or has someone found a substitute to control pain and swelling better than Advil or Aleve? Thanks!!

I would not worry about it too much. I too have bad knees and joints and rely on Meloxicam for daily relief. My surgery [gastric by-pass] was on July 8th and I was off my meds for 10 days before. I did use Tylenol and it helped somewhat. It was a week after surgery that I started to get severe pain in my knees. I put up with it for a day or so and then called my surgeon. He immediately gave me the OK to get back on my meds. I just had to crush them and add to my pudding. It was no big deal. With in hours I started feeling relief. Don't let that worry sway you. I am down 19 pounds in 2 weeks an feel great. Tuesday is my weigh in and I expect to be down another or so. Go for it! and good luck.

Talk to your doctor. Maybe there are alternative medications you can take that would be acceptable?

I was pretty concerned about not being able to take nsaids also. For years I used them on a daily basis for back, knee, and foot pain. I never found Tylenol effective. After the first few months following my RNY my pain gradually disappeared. Losing 120 pounds totally eliminated my pain and the need for any type of pain reliever. I literally have not taken so much as a single Tylenol in a year! Maybe losing weight will help reduce your pain level to the point that a milder medication like Tylenol will help you?

You aren't supposed to have NSAIDS with a sleeve either.

I get bad headaches and especially after surgery I had some doozies.

My Dr prescribed Tramadol. It's a strange drug. Some people have no reaction, some people feel wacky, and some people fall asleep. If I take her dose I fall asleep and I'm just out. Half that and I just feel weird and can't be in charge of kids or drive. A fourth and it doesn't relieve the pain.

If I were you I would talk to your surgeon and PCP. I wonder if you would have enough relief from your arthritis from weight loss that you wouldn't need ad much pain relief.

You could also look into alternative pain relief like herbals, homeopathy, acupuncture, etc. Arnica is supposed to be great for pain.

I got an ulcer from advil tramadol is a better bet.

No pain meds help me, even script except demerol and he won't script it. Pretty much just suffered after surgery. I called my Dr many names. The nurses agreed with me.

Your question is something to consider seriously. I'm post op now and could really use an ibuprofen. This worries me for the rest of my life, not being able to take the one thing non script that does work.

Thank you for all the posts. I have been doing more research on both types of surgeries pretty much all day today. I'm still completely torn and still don't know which surgery I will get. All along I have wanted the RNY because I thought it was a better choice for me personally (I think I might need the dumping syndrome to keep me in line), but what if I fall into the group of folks that the weight loss does not help the pain and/or swelling in joints and lower back? What if I suffer some other injury that causes me pain and Tylenol doesn't work?

I will be talking with the doctor as soon as I can for some medical advice, but I wanted to say thanks to you for answering my post!

I have the same problem. I had VSG march 26th and since surgery have dropped 75 lbs but my knees, hips, back and feet still hurt day and night. My Doc told me to take nothing but Tylenol and it has never worked for me. I guess I'll just live in pain. ????

I take a daily anti inflammatory for bursitis and I hope I will be able to find something to take care of it after I have surgery.

And yes, what Greensleeves said, my husband got sleeved same day I did and he can't do nsaids either.