Ok, so we all know the golden rule of NSAIDS postop, but I wondered if anyone has been taking either NSAIDS or steroids regularly after VSG and if so, how's your tummy and does your doctor recommend any stomach protectants while taking them? BTW, I am 11 months out, so well healed and have no problems with my sleeve.

The reason I'm asking is that I'm having a flair up of a compressed nerve in my neck. I've had C4-C5 fused, but am now having problems at C5-C6. The compression and narrowing of the neural foramen showed up on MRI years ago but has been asymptomatic until now. In the past, prior to my fusion, a 1-2 week course of 800mg ibuprofen 2xday or methylprednisolone would reduce the inflammation and relieve the symptoms. (Until it got so bad I needed surgery, that is). And unfortunately, both meds can put you at risk for ulcers.

I just texted my PCP to see what he suggests, but he is not a bariatric specialist. I also sent an email to my surgeon's office for his advice. But I thought I'd ask if anyone on here has had issues if they absolutely have to take NSAIDS or steroids. If it was just a couple Advil, I wouldn't worry about it, but I'm looking at a longish course of a pretty high dose.

Thanks.

I am 18 months out and have been struggling with a major flare up of sciatica since mid-August. In the last two weeks I've seen my chiropractor, my surgeon and my PCP. - not to mention getting an MRI on Thursday. The surgeon's PA told me that NSAIDs are fine and only restricted for bypass patients, that the only difference in my stomach at this point is that it's smaller. I took oral steroids with no problems (still taking Flexeril nightly). My PCP has now given me a script for Celebrex - as its gentler on the stomach. I have been taking Advil and Tylenol for the last two weeks for pain control. I don't think that's what I would call long term but so far no ill effects. I'm switching to the Celebrex today though.

Kindle, have you ever tried Voltaren Gel?

I had an anterior cervical dissection and fusion at C3, C4, C5 pre-op (2/14/2012) which give me no problem, but I have issues with my thoraxic spine and need a full lumbar fusion. My neurosurgeon is stalling until I can get my weight down. I have lost 65 pounds so far, and need to lose another 35 before surgery will be considered. He feels that my vertibrae will heal a lot better if they have less weight to support.

But what all of that means is that I need some serious pain management for crippling sciatica and femoral nerve pain. I take Lyrica @ 350 mg a day, use lidocain Patches or Voltarin Gel (good stuff) on hot spots, and get spinal epidurals (steroid) every three months. As a matter of fact, I had one as soon as I could lay on my stomach for the procedure. I had my sleeve surgery 12/23/2013 and had epiderals in February, May, August, and recently November. I also had a 3 nerve ablation done a couple of weeks ago.

If you have not had an ablation, you might want too Google to see what it is about. The process is similar to the spinal epidural and can be done with local anesthetic. I got immediate relief for the sciatica. The femoral nerve pain is just now coming around, but at least I can sleep at night without Hydrocodone. A couple of sleeping pills do the trick and I can sleep for hours. Doctor said the relief may last 1-2 years. Nerves can regenerate, so it is just a matter of how slowly that happens.

Other than that, I take Tylenol as needed for other aches and pains. My arthritis and systemic inflammation have really backed off as the pounds drop. The Voltarin Gel helps for topical relief. D.E.M.A.N.D. outstanding pain management. There are enough processes out there to at least improve your quality of life. I hope you can find relief. I wish you good luck and good health.

I get steroids injected in my back. It causes me to have a ravenous appetite for several weeks afterwards. When it hits I grab a SF popsicle and up my protein to the higher amount. It does slow my weight loss every time. But I need to get rid of the pain in my back and down my legs and around my knees so I can walk and exercise. Have some weight off as helped. I hope the next series will last longer.

Thanks everyone. I'll talk to my PCP a about trying Celebrex instead of ibuprofen. I forgot I'd also used purification in the past, too, which was nice because it's once/day. Unfortunately it's ranked pretty high for GI side effects.

No, I haven't tried the Voltaren gel, but according to the the manufacturers website, "Voltaren Gel has not been studied for use on the spine, hip, or shoulder." Obviously Mis Mac is having good luck with it, but it does have higher GI risk than celecoxib. And Ironically, it was Voltaren gel that sent my PCP to the emergency room with a severe allergic reaction (and even more ironic, it was the same ER he works in!). He had been using it on his knees off and on for months and one day, without warning went into anaphylactic shock after putting it on. Something that can happen with any NSAID. I've got another friend that stopped breathing after taking ibuprofen. Neither of them can ever take NSAIDS again.

And no, I haven't been on a PPI after the mandatory 2 months Rx'd by my surgeon. Other than once, while I was on vacation and having more sweets and cocktails than I normally do. I took Prilosec for 10 days until my tummy felt better. I figured I would take a PPI while on the NSAID or steroid. I'm waiting to see if the docs think I should add in sucralfate, too, just to be safe.

And boy, MissMac, I sure am sorry to hear about all of your back and neck issues. Besides my neck, I broke L4 and L5 when I was 18, and lived with chronic pain for years. I will look into the ablation. Prior to my fusion surgery, they couldn't give me steroid shots to help with the pain because the foramen was SO narrowed they couldn't even get a needle in. To tell you the truth, the PT and traction treatment plan my chiropractor came up with provided better pain relief than any of the drugs they gave me, including NSAIDS, steroids, hydrocodone, and tramadol. Fortunately at this point, I haven't progressed to the crazy pain stage. Right now the symptoms are just numbness all down my left arm and hand and in my right shoulder. But this is how it started last time and I knew it was just a matter of time considering what the MRI showed.

Edited November 16, 201411 yr by Kindle

Well I heard back from Dr. So at OCC already (I swear, that man never takes a day off!). He said NSAIDS are fine, just to take Prilosec OTC while on them. That's pretty much what I figured, but it's nice to get confirmation. I'll likely pick up some Celebrex tomorrow.

So talked to my PCP and he suggested just blasting it with a few days of pred instead of an NSAID. It'll give a better, quicker idea if the symptoms are related to inflammation. If it responds, great, if not we'll do another MRI. I'm going to start Prilosec for a couple days first and then the pred. If my tummy starts feeling the least bit "funny" I'll throw in some sucralfate, too, while I wean off the pred.

@@Kindle, I hope things work out and I love that your bariatric team all the way in MX still has a vested interest in your overall health and participate in your care. Totally cool.

Well, I did 3 days of high dose pred and am weaning down at this point. Unfortunately I only got about a 25% improvement in symptoms. I also ended up taking both Prilosec and sucralfate to protect my sleeve until I'm off the pred (another 3 days). guess I've got another medical issue to deal with in 2015 ????. at least it's not painful yet.

thanks for everyone's help

I have had a gastric bypass and had to have a 3 week round of prednisone. I found out I was allergic to chloraprep, a skin disinfectant the hard way during pacemaker surgery. Broke out in hives all over my chest, shoulders, and neck. The steroids didn't bother my pouch at all and the doctor was fine with them. I do however take 40 mg of protonix twice a day.

I have had a gastric bypass and had to have a 3 week round of prednisone. I found out I was allergic to chloraprep, a skin disinfectant the hard way during pacemaker surgery. Broke out in hives all over my chest, shoulders, and neck. The steroids didn't bother my pouch at all and the doctor was fine with them. I do however take 40 mg of protonix twice a day.

The protonix probably helped prevent gastric upset from the steroids. Thats why mine recommended Prilosec while on the pred. Sorry to hear about your hives...that sucks!

Thank you for posting this topic...I'm only 8 weeks out, so no NSAIDs except Tylenol for me. I had a knee replacement on 9/22 and my sleeve 10/14. I've had to have two subsequent procedures on my knee since then, and so not having some good NSAIDs has been a struggle. I did talk to my bariatric surgeon about them last week, and they said that if they really needed to use something (Mobic works good for me), a short term stent of them would be fine. However they would recommend taking Prilosec with it and watching for any ulcer issues.

I wish I would have waited for my joint issues to completely resolve before tackling my sleeve...that is the only regret I have so far!

I had shoulder surgery November 1st and have now developed synvositis...inflammation of the lining of the shoulder joint....very painful. Just started 10 day round of prednisone after I called my bariatric surgeon for the OK. Taking otc generic Prilosec just in case although I hate taking it because of the dependency potential. I successfully weaned myself off of it several months ago.

FYI....my bariatric surgeon also was OK with me using Flector Patches....it's an NSAID patch you put right on the spot where you have pain. If you haven't tried it ,you might want to. It takes a few hours to get relief, but it helped me until I got an MRI and diagnosis.

Good luck, I hope you feel better.

Edited December 17, 201411 yr by Chele H