Help guys! I have a swollen lymph node on the back of my neck just below the skull. It’s been inflamed since yesterday and is causing a massive headache as well as sharp pain running down my shoulder and arm. I’ve been alternating heat and cold compresses and just about maxed out the Tylenol you can take in a day. I even took a Lortab leftover from my surgery two years ago.

I need to hit this with an anti inflammatory. What’s the best way to take an NSAID to reduce risk of ulcers? Take Pepcid with it? Maybe children’s ibuprofen in liquid form so it’s not sitting in my sleeve? Any advice would be welcome!

I have been taking dicoflenec (generic Voltaren) for at least 10 years. I just take an omeprasole (sp?) once every other day. My surgeon was aware of it and totally cool with it. Over 5 years out and I just have regular appointments with my PCP. The thing about dicoflenec though is that it does not play nice with tylenol, aspirin, cold medicine, heart medicine... you get the idea. It is only available via prescription because of the interactions. I take it for my arthritis and it is nothing short of a miracle drug in my opinion.

One of the reasons that I chose sleeve over by-pass (based on my research) was for the ability to continue to use NSAIDS (Though the joke was on me - sort of -, because after about a month post-op I didn't need them anymore).

In any case, I took them for that month immediately after surgery and had no issue, and didn't do anything different to take them. I did make sure to discuss with my doc first. Generally, sleevers are allowed to continue taking NSAIDS so long as the prescribing doc sees no health risks.

So maybe check with your doc first (just so they are aware and know what to look for if anything should go awry), but I think it should be ok.

Good Luck!

All the information I read pre surgery said no NSAIDS but when I asked my surgeon he said it was ok to take them for random use or for short periods due to injury. Long term daily use was a whole different story & should be avoided.

I agree with @ms.sss advice to speak with your doctor about his recommendation but I’d be talking to your doctor ASAP about the swollen lymph gland & the pain you’re suffering first.

NSAIDS should be fine to take with a sleeved stomach, but yeah, check with your surgeon or primary just to be safe. You could also take Tumeric which is a natural anti-inflammatory.

Ugh...life without diclofenec has been a let down, for sure. I’ve spent the past few hours trying to find more recent study hoping there was something for us post RNY, ...to not much avail.

I had a (failed) microdiscectomy, laminectomy, foraminotomy at L5/S1 fourteen months ago as well as osteoarthritis in my back. Losing 35+ pounds has definitely helped ease some of the pain, but has certainly not eliminated it.

My PCP would prescribe anything that is safe...short of I want no opioids. If anyone has an idea I am SO open. I found a few articles saying an occasional diclofenec with Prilosec followed by 2 weeks of abstinence is usually well tolerated in otherwise healthy post RNY-ers. But again, those were a very few opinions from pain management sites.

actually, a lot of surgeons are now recommending that sleeve patients not take NSAIDs, either. But check with your PCP. Sometimes they're OK with them if it's only very occasional use.

Maybe try Voltaren gel rubbed on your neck? It's now available over-the-counter.

On 6/12/2020 at 1:52 PM, Lily66 said:

Ugh...life without diclofenec has been a let down, for sure. I’ve spent the past few hours trying to find more recent study hoping there was something for us post RNY, ...to not much avail.

I had a (failed) microdiscectomy, laminectomy, foraminotomy at L5/S1 fourteen months ago as well as osteoarthritis in my back. Losing 35+ pounds has definitely helped ease some of the pain, but has certainly not eliminated it.

My PCP would prescribe anything that is safe...short of I want no opioids. If anyone has an idea I am SO open. I found a few articles saying an occasional diclofenec with Prilosec followed by 2 weeks of abstinence is usually well tolerated in otherwise healthy post RNY-ers. But again, those were a very few opinions from pain management sites.

you could ask for PR (rectal) diclofenac, no stomach risks then.

On 6/12/2020 at 1:12 AM, KCgirl061 said:

Help guys! I have a swollen lymph node on the back of my neck just below the skull. It’s been inflamed since yesterday and is causing a massive headache as well as sharp pain running down my shoulder and arm. I’ve been alternating heat and cold compresses and just about maxed out the Tylenol you can take in a day. I even took a Lortab leftover from my surgery two years ago.

I need to hit this with an anti inflammatory. What’s the best way to take an NSAID to reduce risk of ulcers? Take Pepcid with it? Maybe children’s ibuprofen in liquid form so it’s not sitting in my sleeve? Any advice would be welcome!

yoy need to treat whatever is causing your glands to be up, which will reduce your need for nsaids.

32 minutes ago, Bastian said:

you could ask for PR (rectal) diclofenac, no stomach risks then.

WOW! That would be SO Wonderful....will look into this and Thanks!